10 Natural History Museums in Brazil That You Shouldn't Miss

Located in a restored mansion in the Historic District of Caravelas, the Brazilian Humpback Whale Institute harbors the research and conservation Project of the same name, sponsored by Petrobras through its Petrobras Socio-Environmental Program, and a small exhibit on whales, dolphins and the Institute's work.

Calm, green and refreshing, the city's botanical garden, situated inside the immense Parque Estadual Fontes do Ipiranga (PEFI) on the south side of town, provides a beautifully appointed sanctuary for thousands of tropical plant and animal species. The garden opened in 1938 to preserve part of the remaining Atlantic coastal forest, and it functions as a research facility focusing on Brazilian flora and fauna. The garden also shelters the source of the Rio Ipiranga, which figures heavily into national patriotic lore.

Created in January 2009, Musa sits on a 100-hectare area at the Adolpho Ducke Forest Reserve, belonging to the Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia [National Institute for Amazonia Research] - INPA, in Manaus, a native dryland forest area that has been passionately studied for the last 50 years. The results of this research, compiled in catalogs that broach topics such as plants, birds and frogs, tell what Musa wants to show visitors. At Musa, one can find exhibitions, an orchid and a bromeliad house, a lake, aquariums, and experimental snake, insect, and butterfly labs. A 42-meter high tower provides a magnificent view of the treetops, unforgettable at 6 am. Forest trails allow visitors to take pleasant walks and make surprising discoveries. At Musa, we develop research on science popularization and scientific and cultural education. A house of culture and science, of relationships and the celebration of diverse beings in the world. A place where humans and non-humans live happily together.