Traveling in Brazil with kids
With much of the country malaria-free, excellent hotel facilities and good accessibility for pushchair-toting parents, Brazil is a great family destination. In the Pantanal the wildlife is abundant, and can be viewed on foot, boat or horseback, keeping kids amused.
CURIOUSLY, BRAZIL MAY ACTUALLY BE BETTER FOR FAMILIES THAN LONE ADULTS; IT’S A VERY CHILD-FRIENDLY NATION WHERE YOU CAN BE CONFIDENT YOUR LITTLE ONES WILL BE WELL LOOKED-AFTER.![]()
There are beaches, snorkelling, ziplining and caves to explore; plus dance schools, live music, cable cars and interactive museums. In fact, the main deterrent for families will be the prices; a budget trip is rarely an option here, with food, flights and accommodation all needing to be taken into account.
Activities for families in Brazil
The fishing village of Praia do Forte, near Salvador, offers traditional family activities including an exquisite golden-sand beach with rock pools at low tide, horseriding and bicycle hire. But what really draws visitors is the Tamar Project for endangered sea turtles. The visitors’ center has tours led by biologists and vets, and you might even have the chance to help a newly hatched turtle on its journey to the ocean.
Fun-loving Rio has many child-friendly enclaves and attractions. Visit the Museo do Indio to learn about indigenous cultures; the living quarters of several tribes are recreated in the gardens. Kids will love the cable car ride up the 369m-high Sugarloaf Mountain, as well as the panoramic city and bay views from the top.
Older children can join a flotation tour in a “Natural Aquarium” – the clear waters of the Baía Bonita Ecological Reserve near the southern Pantanal. Wearing a wetsuit and snorkeling gear, you can float almost 1km, immersed in the underwater world. The journey there leads you through various ecosystems, and at the end there is a zipline in the forest.
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Traveling in Brazil with kids
Guy Marks, from our supplier Tribes Travel, on traveling in Brazil with kids:
“Brazil is very, very expensive – even just to fly there. Ten years ago it was cheap, so once you got there it negated the cost of the flights. But nowadays with the prices of food and drink and accommodation it’s not a cheap destination. Some families do want to go for the wildlife and for them it’s great because there is tremendous diversity; seeing a bit of wildlife, going into the jungle, doing a boat trip, having time on a beach – there’s a whole mix of stuff and it’s great for families if they can afford it.”
“Brazil is very, very expensive – even just to fly there. Ten years ago it was cheap, so once you got there it negated the cost of the flights. But nowadays with the prices of food and drink and accommodation it’s not a cheap destination. Some families do want to go for the wildlife and for them it’s great because there is tremendous diversity; seeing a bit of wildlife, going into the jungle, doing a boat trip, having time on a beach – there’s a whole mix of stuff and it’s great for families if they can afford it.”
Anna Scrivens, from our supplier Audley Travel, shares her tips for traveling in Brazil with kids:
“I think Brazil works well for families – as long as they’re aware of all the traveling involved. Children would love the wildlife in the Pantanal or the jungle in the Amazon or the waterfalls, it’s all very visual. In Rio there are some really good family tours. You can do cycling trips around the beaches, walking, kayaking... It’s a very active country, so even if you just go to the beach, there are kayaks you can hire or boat trips you can take.”
“I think Brazil works well for families – as long as they’re aware of all the traveling involved. Children would love the wildlife in the Pantanal or the jungle in the Amazon or the waterfalls, it’s all very visual. In Rio there are some really good family tours. You can do cycling trips around the beaches, walking, kayaking... It’s a very active country, so even if you just go to the beach, there are kayaks you can hire or boat trips you can take.”
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