Brazil with the Family: Our Best Tips

Family Road Trip in Brazil

Brazil is one of those countries where you can go on vacation endlessly without ever seeing the same thing twice. Beautiful beaches, big cities, small villages, breathtaking nature, and so much more. You’ll find it all in Brazil. We took a family road trip through Brazil, visiting major tourist cities like Rio de Janeiro, of course, but also smaller, local spots. Read our travelogue below, which includes our top tips from the trip—and who knows, maybe you’ll find some inspiration for a vacation to this beautiful country!

Rio de Janeiro

We started our trip in Rio. There’s so much to do here that we couldn’t see everything in just three days. A fun way to explore a lot of the city right away is a bike tour with Rio by Bike. They have Dutch-speaking guides, which is handy because not much English is spoken in Brazil. Afterward, we got some great recommendations for fun spots and restaurants.

Of course, you can’t miss Sugarloaf Mountain. From the top, you have a stunning view of Rio. You can hike up the first part of the mountain yourself and then take the cable car the rest of the way, or you can take the cable car the entire way. We chose to hike. It’s a good workout, but the roughly 30-minute walk through the forest is absolutely worth it.

One of the Seven New Wonders of the World is located in Rio. You might have guessed it already, but the Christ the Redeemer statue is another must-see. It’s best to go in the morning, as it can get crowded quickly. Want to see Rio in a different, unique way? Then you can take a helicopter flight over the city—and, of course, past the statue. It’s not cheap, but it’s a truly special experience.

One of the tips from our bike tour guide was to have lunch in the old city center on Rua do Ouvidor. Here you’ll find delicious local food and immediately get a feel for Rio’s atmosphere. We thought it was a nice spot, especially because it’s a bit away from the touristy part of the city.

Of course, you can’t miss Rio’s famous beaches. Stop by Copacabana or Ipanema and soak up the quintessential Brazilian vibe. People exercising, samba music, and young people playing soccer all contribute to the lively atmosphere here.

Paraty

From Rio, we drove about four hours to the medieval town of Paraty. We were taken there by Paraty Tours. The old town is very charming, with a lively street atmosphere and cozy restaurants and spots to grab a drink. We stayed at a nice pousada in the old town: Pousada da Marquesa. In Paraty, you can also book various tours, such as a boat tour, where you’ll cruise past all kinds of beautiful spots and enjoy nature at a leisurely pace.

There are also some very beautiful beaches near Paraty that are definitely worth visiting. These beaches are about a half-hour taxi ride away, where you can take a dip in the ocean, enjoy the beautiful scenery, and have a delicious lunch at one of the restaurants. The beaches start at Praia dos Ranchos and stretch southward all the way to Piscina Natural do Cachadaço.

The Foz do Iguaçu Waterfalls

After a few busy days in Rio and Paraty, we flew all the way to the western part of the country. There, we visited the famous Foz do Iguaçu Falls on the border between Brazil and Argentina. On the Brazilian side, there’s a beautiful walking trail along the falls that you absolutely must see while you’re here, but the Argentine side is definitely worth a visit as well. There’s an entire park built around these waterfalls, and you can even take a boat to see them up close (tip: wear a raincoat). It’s truly special to see these waterfalls up close. The weather wasn’t great when we were there, especially on the Argentine side. Despite that, I can say with certainty that Foz do Iguaçu was one of the highlights of this trip.

Pantanal

Another truly special experience on this trip was our short week in the Pantanal. The Pantanal is the largest freshwater wetland in the world. We rented a car in Campo Grande and drove toward the small town of Bonito. There, we took part in a wide range of activities. For example, you can go to a park to spot birds, explore beautiful caves, or go snorkeling at stunning locations (tip: check out BonitoWay for all the activities). 

After three nights at Pousada Olho d’Água in Bonito, we drove further into the Pantanal toward Miranda. There, we stayed at Fazenda San Francisco, which organized the activities itself. The focus here was mainly on wildlife spotting and experiencing nature up close deep in the Pantanal. For example, on the night safari, we saw animals like jaguars, pumas, and ocelots, while during the day you’ll mainly find caimans, capybaras, and birds of prey. There are also fun boat tours available here, which give you a beautiful view of what the Pantanal looks like from the water. It was a nice change of pace to spend some time in this uninhabited area full of nature after visiting the cities and waterfalls.

Morro de São Paulo

The last domestic flight of our trip was to Salvador. At first, we didn’t have much to do here, since we were setting off early the next day on a catamaran to the island of Morro de São Paulo. There, we stayed at the second little beach near the Pousada Via das Pedras. It was a nice chance to relax after a long vacation packed with activities. Of course, there are things to do here. For example, you can book various tours with Júnior Turismo. You can book boat tours, ride a jet ski yourself, or simply enjoy browsing the many little shops. There are also a number of good restaurants, which I’ll list below. So Morro de São Paulo is definitely a lovely spot to enjoy the beach, the pool, and the sun at the end of your vacation before flying back home.

Salvador

After Morro de São Paulo, we spent one more day in Salvador before heading home. We walked through the historic center of Pelourinho and discovered lots of cute souvenir shops there. Because Salvador has a vibrant carnival culture, this part of the city is very colorful, with music everywhere. In the evening, there’s also a lively atmosphere in the city with plenty of music. So Salvador is definitely one to add to your list if you’re going to Brazil.

Our top tips

Rio de Janeiro

Rua do Ouvidor—A local lunch spot in an alley in the historic center. Highly recommended!
Majórica —A delicious BBQ restaurant in Flamengo.
Praia Vermelha—A small, local beach at the foot of Sugarloaf Mountain.

Paraty

Peró Restaurante – Top-rated restaurant in Paraty with friendly service.
BalacoBacco Beach Bar – Beautiful beach bar within walking distance of downtown.
Sarau Paraty – Great spot for a drink in the afternoon or evening.

Foz do Iguaçu

Bendito Bar e Restaurante – A wide menu, so it’s great for the whole family.
Di Paolo Foz do Iguaçu – A great option if you want to combine Brazilian and Italian cuisines.
Búfalo Branco BBQ – A good BBQ restaurant in Foz do Iguaçu.

Pantanal

Cantina Romana – A very tasty Italian restaurant in Campo Grande.
Gruta do Lago Azul – A beautiful cave with very blue water near Bonito.
Fazenda San Francisco – A lovely place to stay where everything is well organized.

Morro de São Paulo

Bossa Nova Bistrô – Restaurant – A lovely restaurant with a view of the sea.
NU Gastrobar – A cozy restaurant overlooking the square.
SambaSS Restaurante – A lively beach bar for lunch, dinner, or just a drink.

Salvador

Soho Restaurante —Delicious sushi by the sea.
Amado Restaurante —Excellent Italian restaurant by the water.
Odoyá Restaurante—Atmospheric restaurant for lunch in Pelourinho.

Practical tips

• Transportation: Uber works very well almost everywhere. Be sure to take advantage of it for low fares in the cities.
• Travel: We booked our trip through Riksja Travel. They took good care of all the arrangements for us and handle any issues that come up effectively.
• When: You can visit Brazil year-round, as the weather is very pleasant even in the winter. So you can easily travel to Brazil during our summer vacation.
• Safety: South America is known for crime, especially street theft. In practice, it wasn’t as bad as we expected. As long as you use common sense when out on the streets, always stay in groups, and stick to main roads, the chances of anything happening are slim.

In Conclusion

We saw and did so much during our trip, and it was precisely this variety that made this vacation so special—from the bustling streets of Rio de Janeiro and the impressive waterfalls of Foz do Iguaçu to the tranquility of the Pantanal and the beaches of Morro de São Paulo. Hopefully, you’ll find our experiences helpful, and—just like us—you’ll be inspired to take a road trip through Brazil yourself. It’s a huge country, and there’s so much more to discover, so one thing we know for sure: we’d go back in a heartbeat.

Photo credits: OpstapmetLisa