1 Week in Brazil - 5 Family-Friendly Itinerary Ideas

Itinerary #1: Brazil Family Getaway: Rio de Janeiro & Salvador

Families with young children will appreciate the kid-friendly activities and gentle pace of this relaxed coastal getaway. You'll start in Rio de Janeiro, nabbing panoramic views and family photo ops at the Christ the Redeemer statue and learning about marine life at South America's largest aquarium. Fly up the coast to experience Afro-Brazilian music and martial arts in Salvador, and end with a family beach day on the golden sands of Praia do Forte. 

On arrival in Rio de Janeiro, you can opt for a relaxing start at Leblon Beach or quiet rumbling tummies with a food tour. The next morning, take a cable car up Mount Corcovado to see the 98-foot (30 m) Christ the Redeemer statue and snap family photos with views over Guanabara Bay. Then, help the little ones spot monkeys on a walk in Floresta da Tijuca, the largest urban rainforest in the world. Let the kids choose their next adventure, perhaps an afternoon at the beach, a cooking class, or a visit to The Museum of Tomorrow, where curious young minds can engage with interactive futuristic exhibits.

Watch your children's faces light up as they walk the tunnel at Rio de Janeiro Marine Aquarium, surrounded by marine life. Then you'll catch a flight to Salvador, where the kids will be captivated by Afro-Brazilian music and capoeira (martial arts) in the Pelourinho district. The dino-loving family members will also enjoy a visit to Lagoa dos Dinossauros, home to life-size velociraptor replicas and more. Cap off your trip with a family beach day under the swaying palm trees at Praia do Forte and then learn about conservation efforts at the TAMAR Project, a sea turtle rescue and preservation center. Learn more

Itinerary #2: Family Expedition to Iguaçu Falls & the Brazilian Amazon

This intrepid waterfalls and rainforest itinerary is a great choice for families that enjoy outdoor activities and wildlife encounters. Split your time between the UNESCO-listed wonders of Iguaçu and a comfortable rainforest lodge in the Amazon. Highlights include a hike and speedboat ride at Iguaçu Falls, the chance to observe nearly 200 species of birds at Parque das Aves, river canoeing, piranha fishing, and a night hike to see nocturnal animals in the Amazon. 

Kick off your family vacation at Foz do Iguaçu, where you and the kids can experience the thrill of the thundering waterfalls with a hike on the Brazilian side followed by a speedboat ride through the canyons on the Argentine side. You'll also have a chance to delight your little animal lovers with a visit to Parque das Aves, home to 180 species of birds. Next, you'll fly north to Manaus, your gateway to the Amazon. Set off on a family adventure, traveling by speedboat, bus, and another boat to reach Juma, your rainforest lodge, where you'll paddle the flooded forest and embark on a night hike to observe nocturnal wildlife. 

Wake your crew up early and be rewarded with birdsong and sunrise views before you head out for piranha fishing (if the kids want to keep their catch, the guide can prepare the piranha in a traditional soup). On your final full day, your guide will treat the kids to a forest picnic on your hike to a local village, where you'll have the chance to learn about Indigenous culture and traditions. There's one more surprise the wildlife lovers in the family are sure to enjoy: on the journey back to Manaus, you'll observe pirarucu, giant fish that can reach up to 10 feet (3 m) and weigh 440 pounds (200 kg)! Learn more

Itinerary #3: Brazil Family Discovery Tour: Culture & Nature in Salvador & Pantanal

Families with a variety of interests and ages will appreciate the mix of historical, outdoor, and culinary experiences on this fun-filled culture and nature tour. You'll dive into Salvador's history and music on a Pelourinho African heritage tour, then venture into the North Pantanal to spot capybaras on safari and play cowboy for the day on a family-friendly horseback ride. End back in Salvador, where young chefs will have the opportunity to shop in the market and prepare a seafood stew during a Brazilian cooking class. 

Your family adventure begins in Salvador, where you can invite the kids to choose a souvenir at Mercado Central before embarking on a Pelourinho African heritage tour—a good introduction to the city's history and culture, including capoeira and samba-reggae. Refuel with some acarajé (deep-fried dough of black-eyed peas filled with salad, sauces, and shrimp) before taking your budding archaeologists to check out the exhibits at the Museu de História Natural. In the morning, you'll catch a flight to North Pantanal and help the kids spot alligators and capybaras on the ride to Ueso Pantanal Lodge.

Take a horseback ride before setting off on safari to see armadillos, anteaters, and other wildlife as well as local panteneiros (cowboys). On your final day at the lodge, tour the river on kayaks, then encourage the kids to participate in conservation efforts with a tree-planting activity. Return to Salvador and spend free time recounting your favorite Patanal memories while you relax on the Stella Maris or Flamengo beaches. If you have time before your departing flight, take your young chefs and foodies to the market, where they'll select ingredients and then learn to cook a seafood stew with a local chef. Learn more

Itinerary #4: Relaxed Family Vacation in Rio de Janeiro

This laid-back Rio de Janeiro vacation is well-suited to families who want to avoid domestic flights and long drives. On arrival in the "Marvelous City," a week of fun for of all ages awaits—including dance lessons in Cidade do Samba, a cable car ride up Sugarloaf Mountain, a beach day in Copacabana, a farm experience at Novo Leblon, a ride on a historic tram and Latin America's largest Ferris wheel, a kid-friendly cooking lesson, and more. 

Get your first taste of Brazilian culture with a salsa lesson and Carnival-style family photo shoot at Cidade do Samba. Then, climb the colorful Selarón Steps and grab biscoito globos (a typical Rio snack) for the kids at a nearby café before boarding the cable car up Sugarloaf Mountain. Let the little ones stretch their legs in the city's green spaces as you stroll between towering palm trees at the Botanical Garden. A children's play area called Baixo Bebê awaits at Leblon Beach, where you'll have a free day to unwind, then feast on seafood at Toca da Traíra, where another play zone keeps kids entertained.

Next, your little animal lovers can interact with goats, rabbits, and other farm animals at Novo Leblon before riding Latin America's largest Ferris wheel. On your last full day, you'll board a historic tram and cruise the hills up to Santa Teresa, Rio's artistic district; time your trip for the first or third Saturday of the month, and you can experience the drums and samba celebrations at Mercado das Pulgas. Fit in one final memory-making activity before departure as you work together to prepare feijoada (a black bean stew) and a traditional dessert in a Brazilian cooking class. Learn more

Itinerary #5: Active Family Adventure in Brazil: Wildlife, Caves & Forests

Ideal for energetic, outdoorsy families with older children this western Brazil adventure includes ample opportunities to see wildlife in the South Pantanal and Bonito regions. You'll put your young photographers in charge of the camera on a photo safari, kayak and snorkel in shallow rivers, and witness red and green macaws at Buraco das Araras. A visit to the Lago Azul grotto and a descent into the Abismo Anhumas caverns are a treat for thrill-seekers and blossoming geologists. 

After touching down in Campo Grande, your driver will whisk you away to a pousada (a traditional farm surrounded by nature) in South Pantanal. See who'll be first in the family to catch a piranha on your sunset fishing trip, then bring the fresh fish back to enjoy in a stew. In the morning, hop in an open-topped 4WD vehicle and encourage the kids to keep an eye out for tapirs, monkeys, and more on a photo safari. Your wildlife adventures continue with a motorboat ride on the Rio Aquidauana—where you may spot capybara, anaconda, and other wildlife—and a night drive in search of ocelots and nocturnal creatures. 

Your next stop is Bonito, your base for an excursion to the wetland forests of Estância Mimosa, where the whole family can take a dip in the natural pools. Your intrepid kids and budding geologists will be thrilled with a trip to the cavern and grotto of Lago Azul, followed by a 236-foot (72 m) descent into the Abismo Anhumas caverns. You'll also have time to take a nature walk along the Rio de Prata and jump in for a leisurely float. On your final morning, pay a visit to the Buraco das Araras sinkhole and experience the chorus and colorful feathers of red and green macaws before returning to Campo Grande. Learn more

More Great 7-Day Brazil Itineraries

Looking for more inspiration for your family trip to Brazil? Check out these other 7-day Brazil itineraries, with outdoor adventures, cultural trips, and kid-friendly tours to hit the highlights.