Parque da Catacumba
Avenida Epitácio Pessoa, 3000, Lagoa
About
Part park, part open-air art gallery, Parque da Catacumba sits close to Lagoa - Rio's beautiful city lake - but remains largely undiscovered by tourists. On the site of a favela that was destroyed in 1970 as part of a reforestation plan, the park features tropical plants and nature walks alongside dramatic sculptures by local artists. A great place to escape the crowds, here you're more likely to come across Rio's animal residents than hordes of tourists. Look out for monkeys reclining on the park's benches and exotic birds overhead, and be sure to take the steep trail that leads past bamboo groves to a viewpoint with stunning vistas over the Lagao and out across to Ipanema. Entrance to the park is free, and there are clean public toilets as well as bicycle storage spaces.
