A great option for families any time of the year, Praia do Forte, just about an hour north of Salvador, is the perfect place to spend a few days on the beach with children. The waters here are calm, making it worry-free for parents to enjoy the beach with small children. For bigger kids, there is plenty of space to snorkel in the natural pools near the shore, and for everyone, there is Projeto Tamar, a marine animal conservation project. The project has activities for children and adults of all ages, tons of learning opportunities, and you may even get to pet a shark! Besides this, there are accommodation options for all families and budgets. From small B&Bs to high end resorts, there are options for everyone.

Caldas Novas & Rio Quente – Goiás

Did you know Brazil has hot springs? And one of the country’s favorite destination to visit hot spring water parks is Caldas Novas, in the state of Goiás, 4 hours south of the country capital, Brasília. The town has its own airport, so access is easy for even the most difficult little traveler. The town and neighboring Rio Quente have several water parks, such as the “Parque das Fontes,” and “Hot Park,” in the Rio Quente Resort, or the “Di Roma Acqua Park.”

Besides the water parks, this is a beautiful region and perfect for some ecotourism as well. The Corumbá Lake is ideal for water sports, and nearby trails in the Serra das Caldas state park, many easy enough to hike with children over 6 or 7.

Gramado and Canela – Rio Grande do Sul

The Gramado region is just a couple of hours south of Porto Alegre. Brazilians love to visit during the winter to feel a bit of the chilly weather here, and also during the holidays for the extravagant Christmas decorations and shows. Our recommendation though, is to visit in the shoulder seasons, September to November, and March to May. The weather is better, and the prices too!

And why is this a perfect destination for kids? Essentially, there are so many attractions geared towards children and families! For small children, there is the Gramado Zoo, Snowland, and the Mini Mundo. For bigger kids, there are activities in Canela, like the theme park Alpen Parque, cable cars, and Restaurante Magnolia! Beyond activities in the city, we also love Ecoparque Sperry, in Vale do Quilombo, so you can enjoy fun activities while taking in views of this lush valley.

The Amazon (Really, Just the Whole Region)

Be it a jungle lodge an hour or three from Manaus, or swimming in the banks of the Tapajós River in Alter do Chão, the region is fun and educational for the whole nature loving family. You can fish for piranha, see pink dolphins swimming in the river, swim in the river yourself, visit riverine or indigenous communities to see a different way of life, and of course, sight lots of interesting wildlife.

It’s a magical destination!

São Paulo – The “Interior”

Not far from the sprawling capital of the state, there lies beautiful Atlantic Rainforest, rivers, farms, and more, filled with activities for the whole family. Some of the towns with more to explore for families are:

• Itu and Salto, just an hour or so from São Paulo City, whre you’ll find parks such as Cidade da Criança and Parque do Lago;
• Olímpia has tons fo hot springs, but the biggest is Thermas de Olímpia;
• Amparo and the “Circuito das Águas,” or “Wter Circuit,” is perfect for ecotourism. A small resort with nature activities we love, is Canto da Floresta EcoResort; and
• Brotas, which is the ecotourism capital of the state! Ideally for bigger kids (and adults!), who want to go for rafting or zipline experiences!

Need help planning a trip to Brazil with children and don’t really know where to start? Get in touch with us, we’d love to help!