Sítio Roberto Burle Marx - IPHAN — Attraction in Região Geográfica Imediata do Rio de Janeiro

The Foundation has done an exceptional job keeping the Burle Marx Estate not just intact, but alive - a breathing monument to biodiversity, conservation, art, culture, and intellect. And still, it’s comes as a surprise that many Cariocas still have no idea who he was. A Brazilian visionary. A Renaissance force. Hiding in plain sight in spite of his iconic design works all over Copacabana and Ipanema.

We’d booked the guided weekend tour months in advance through Tripadvisor - surprisingly, one of the few agencies offering this particular excursion. It wasn’t cheap, but every Real proved its worth the moment we left the city behind. The hour-long drive passed through many pleasant suburbs as we arrived at the estate, where the grounds unfolded like a paradisiacal oasis - lush, serene, and impossibly beautiful. Every turn revealed a scene more stunning than the last, a balm for weary eyes.

A few minor qualms worth noting—the tablets provided for the English narration were packed with insightful and relevant information, but unfortunately hampered by sluggish connectivity and rather outdated hardware. Then there was the curious case of the gift shop, which charmingly refused all forms of electronic payment, accepting only local cash. Thankfully, our quick-thinking guide turned hero for the day, venturing into town to retrieve cash from an ATM and graciously exchanging it with us. A slight hiccup, but...

"I went with a tour group which was hovered over by an armed guard the entire time. No one was allowed to stray from the group to take pictures even in view of the armed thug. It meant we could not get pics which did not include the entire group of people in the shot. In several places we could not linger to take in the view and seemed to be rushed from one spot to another. In all my garden visiting, I have never been subjected to such heavy handed and unnecessary marshalling. I had visited previously in 2006 and had free run of the property except for interiors. With only a limited time to visit there was fully 35 minutes wasted at the front entrance. Organisation was poor and reception appalling. The authorities ought to take stock of their authoritarian policies, rethink the visitor experience and treat visitors as guests not potential criminals. For all that, the guide was very good though the information was basic and not geared to person educated in the history of gardens." I had the same...

I went with a tour group which was hovered over by an armed guard the entire time. No one was allowed to stray from the group to take pictures even in view of the armed thug. It meant we could not get pics which did not include the entire group of people in the shot. In several places we could not linger to take in the view and seemed to be rushed from one spot to another. In all my garden visiting, I have never been subjected to such heavy handed and unnecessary marshalling. I had visited previously in 2006 and had free run of the property except for interiors. With only a limited time to visit there was fully 35 minutes wasted at the front entrance. Organisation was poor and reception appalling. The authorities ought to take stock of their authoritarian policies, rethink the visitor experience and treat visitors as guests not potential criminals. For all that, the guide was very good though the information was basic and not geared to person educated in the history...