Brazil family holidays

The hardest part of planning a family holiday in Brazil is choosing what to visit first – from the lush Amazon rainforest and jaguars of the Pantanal to white sand beaches on peaceful islands, colonial towns and buzzing modern cities which beat to a samba soundtrack. It’s a destination that’s hard to top for teens, with a chance to surf, hike and snorkel among other adventures, but it’s just as tempting with younger kids, who’ll love Brazil’s vibrant colours and sunny disposition. Fitting in everything from your wishlist can be a struggle in this famously vast country, so we’ve put together some advice and inspiration to help you plan your perfect Brazil family holiday.

Brazil makes a fantastic destination for a family holiday – Brazilians love kids so younger ones in particular will get indulged and welcomed wherever you go. It’s even better for teens, with a mix of active adventures, glorious natural wonders, beaches, cool cities and more to discover.

You’ll discover unique landscapes and cityscapes, including the rich diversity of the Amazon and the wildlife of the Pantanal, the Afro-Brazilian culture of Salvador and the samba beats of Rio, historic cities like colonial Paraty, and the astonishing Iguazu Falls, a curtain of white water on the border with Argentina, that you should enjoy from both the Brazilian and Argentinian sides.

The largest economy in South America, modern cities meet the great outdoors, and there’s always a chance to embrace their laid-back attitude to life – ‘fique tranquilo’ as they say, relax. Forget precise schedules, save time to linger, and you’ll find more than you ever expected to here.

It pays to take sensible precautions on a family holiday in Brazil. While the majority of travellers have a trouble-free trip, there are some areas best avoided (or at least to be wary of) while there’s also opportunist theft and pickpocketing, especially among crowds or busy events like Carnaval. Avoid wearing expensive jewellery or watches, keep your money safe and hidden, along with other valuables where possible.

Unlicensed taxis scams are rife, with everything from extra zeros appearing on the final bill to people getting fake notes back in change or another card in place of their own. It’s best to avoid flagging down cabs and to be wary of companies found online; consider ride sharing apps which tend to have a better reputation. You may also find similar scams among beach vendors, while card cloning can be an issue in shops and at some ATMs, so stick to withdrawing cash inside banks if possible.

If you’re hoping to visit a favela, this isn’t something to do alone. While not all deserve their reputation as places of high crime, they’re best explored with a knowledgeable local guide, while others can be genuinely dangerous. It’s also worth avoiding the beaches in Rio de Janeiro after dark; somewhere like Copacabana is fantastic during the day, but far riskier to visit at night.

In terms of health risks, malaria is present in Brazil and antimalarials are essential for the Amazon, as is insect repellent to protect against Zika and dengue fever. Tap water isn’t safe to drink across the whole of Brazil so it’s best to stick to bottled water throughout. If you’re visiting the beaches, be aware of any risks from strong currents and always look for warning flags.

Brazil is huge, the fifth largest country in the world, so as you might expect, the weather also varies a lot depending where you’re visiting. On the plus side, that means you can find good weather across the country at almost every point of the year, so your choice of when to go can often depend on where you’re going.

If you’re looking for sun and good conditions across most of the country, one of the best times to visit is during December or February half-term if you only have time for a shorter trip to Brazil with kids. You could also find yourself enjoying one of the country’s famous samba-fuelled celebrations at New Year and Carnaval, although bear in mind it’s busy and pricy then, and can be hot and humid.

If you’re hoping to explore the Amazon, it’s hot, humid and rainy year-round – this is a rainforest after all, but the best months to visit are during July and August, while April is another good bet if you’re hoping to escape the biggest crowds. The Pantanal also has a consistent temperature throughout the year, so the best time to see animals is during the dry season from around April to October, and it stays warm with daytime high temperatures of around 20C even in the midwinter months of June and July.

In southern Brazil, including Rio, the driest months are from March to November, so Easter and the summer holidays are a good option to escape the wettest weather. Do expect it to be cooler in the evenings during the winter months, especially June and July, with more cloud and some rain, especially as you head further south.

Or if you’re heading to the tropical north-east, it’s hot year-round here, with highs hovering between 26C and 30C, but it’s driest from August to February if you’re hoping to hit the beaches, while March to July gets a bit more rain.

– Rio de Janeiro – gorgeous beaches, fantastic views, its own little rainforest in the city’s national park, and the iconic statue of Christ the Redeemer looking down from above, plus the world’s biggest party at Carnaval.

– The Amazon rainforest – Brazil is home to around 60% of the Amazon rainforest, the world’s largest tropical rainforest and one of the globe’s most biodiverse places, home to tens of thousands of plant species, 1,500 species of birds and hundreds of types of mammals.

– The Iguazu Falls – the largest waterfall system in the world, there are 275 separate cascades thundering 80m down the cliffs on the border of Brazil and Argentina in a spectacular crash of white water

– The beaches – you’re spoiled for choice when it comes to coast in Brazil. Copacabana might be among the most famous, but there’s also the white sands of former pirate hideout Ilha Grande, the wide-open stretches of gold in Bahia, and the laid-back coastline around Recife to name just a few.

When you’re travelling around Brazil with your family, you’ll be staying in a mix of accommodation from our hand-picked selection, all chosen to combine individual character with essential facilities. You could find yourself relaxing in a jungle lodge in the Amazon or Pantanal or cruising down the Amazon river, checking in to cosy pousadas in one of Brazil’s historic towns, a stylish eco-resort by the beach and comfortable hotels where you can upgrade to get a pool.

Just let your travel specialist know your preferences and they’ll do everything they can to get things just right for your family.

Brazil stretches for around 2,700 miles from north to south – it’s around 1,600 miles from Manaus in the Amazon to the Iguazu Falls on the Argentinian border, so you’ll probably be covering some serious distances during your family holiday in Brazil. Unsurprisingly, that means you’ll need to take internal flights as well as driving, especially if you’re heading down to Iguazu or up to the Amazon, but also if you’re travelling to Salvador in the north-east.

You may also be taking long-distance buses, with good connections to Sao Paolo, along with a private driver to collect you from airports or to cover the journey down Brazil’s coast. In the Amazon, you can find yourself travelling by boat as the river is often the quickest way to get from A to B, while there’s sometimes the option to self-drive the Recife coast and in the Pantanal – but if you’d prefer not to get behind the wheel on your Brazil family holiday, we can also arrange a private driver for the latter.

You won’t struggle to find western food in Brazil, particularly in the cities, with everything from burgers to pizza among the options. But if your family loves meat, you’ll also be in heaven at Brazil’s churrascaria, where endless slices of delicious roasted and barbecued meats are sliced onto your plate. Or try feijoada, a traditional stew of black beans and pork. There’s also fish stew, moqueca, which comes in a hot clay pot, and lots of wonderful fresh fish at the coast.

If you’re vegetarian (and even if you aren’t), look out for pão de queijo, cheesy bread bites made using cassava flour, as well as pastel in the south-east, pastry filled with cheese and hearts of palm, plus sweet options (and savoury meat versions). Brazil’s often meat-centric cuisine can make it tricky if you’re veggie, with meat unexpectedly appearing in salads or being used in cooking, so look out for the country’s ‘per kilo’ restaurants, big buffets where they’ll have plenty of vegetarian choices to fill up on.

You’ll be spoiled for choice when it comes dessert with a whole range of tropical fruits (and juices), and the very more-ish brigadeiros, the country’s take on the chocolate truffle.

– Plan your itinerary carefully – you won’t escape without some long travel days and internal flights, but if you’ve got younger kids, you don’t want the journeys to outweigh the fun at the destination.

– Allow as much time as you can – Brazil isn’t somewhere you can explore in a week; there’s simply too much to do, and too much country to criss-cross, so it’s best to concentrate on a few areas and set aside as much time as possible to make the most of this fascinating destination.

– Embrace the natural world – for many families, the Amazon and Pantanal are highlights but even if you’re sticking to southern Brazil you can head to Rio’s Tijuca National Forest, the world’s largest urban forest for some hiking and monkey-spotting.

– Hit the beach – Brazil is famous for its beaches, whether you fancy surfing off Ipanema, snorkelling in remote Fernando de Noronha, or just lounging on one of the many glorious stretches of golden sand along the coast, including car-free Ilha Grande. Perfect for chilling out after a busy few days exploring and sightseeing.