The park was originally founded as the 'Associação Philomathica' before becoming a dedicated museum of natural history.
The grounds feature a specialized aquarium displaying aquatic species endemic to the Amazon and Tocantins river basins.
It is one of the oldest institutions dedicated to the scientific study of the Amazon and its human and natural history.
The museum park functions as an active biological research center, with many animals living here as rescues unable to return to the wild.
The park contains significant examples of Amazonian rubber trees and other commercially and ecologically important flora.
It holds one of the most comprehensive archaeological and ethnographic collections related to indigenous Amazonian cultures.
The Emílio Goeldi Museum of Pará, locally known as the Museu Paraense Emílio Goeldi, is one of Brazil's oldest and most significant research institutions focused on the Amazonian region. Established in 1866, the institution operates a five-hectare zoobotanical park in the heart of Belém that functions as a living laboratory for Amazonian biodiversity. The park serves as a conservation space for native Amazonian fauna, including harpy eagles, giant otters, and various primate species. Its botanical collection features diverse plant species from the Amazon rainforest, integrated into landscaped gardens that mirror regional ecosystems. The park provides critical ex-situ conservation for threatened species while housing historic research collections. The site maintains a research-focused environment, acting as an intersection between scientific inquiry and public education. The grounds contain remnants of Amazonian flora rarely seen in urban settings.
The central lily pond area, which offers excellent perspectives of the surrounding Amazonian vegetation and local bird life.
Wear light, breathable clothing and comfortable walking shoes, as the park features unpaved, uneven forest paths.
Use high-quality insect repellent, as the humid, forested environment is an active habitat for mosquitoes.
Look for the interpretive signage near the animal enclosures to understand the specific rescue history of each individual inhabitant.
Avoid visiting during heavy tropical downpours, as many paths are natural soil and become muddy, and most animals seek shelter, making sightings difficult.
Typically closed on Mondays for maintenance and research activities.
Do not feed or attempt to interact with the animals; keep voices low to avoid disturbing both the wildlife and researchers on-site.
