Brazil unexpectedly became a new favorite travel destination for us!
So welcome fellow adventurers, let’s talk about the stunning landscapes and vibrant culture it has to offer.
But first, I’ll preface by saying we only visited 2 cities. And I learned during our research that Brazil is a humongous country – 5th largest country in the world and 2x ALL of the European Union (Western Europe)! So visiting Brazilian coastal cities and the Amazon rainforest are totally different vacations. It’s like comparing Toronto and Nunavut…
To keep it simple, this is a who, when, where, what breakdown of our trip.
Who are we?
We’re a family of 3, with a 5 year old. It’s our first time in South America. And what a welcome Rio was to the continent! We absolutely fell in love, and can’t wait to explore more.
A question I get often – is it safe to travel to Rio with kids? And I always reply back with a quote I read a while back – “If kids can live there, they can visit”. Of course we have to prepare and take the necessary precautions no matter where you go, especially when traveling with kids. You’ll find a list of precautions below, but if you also had the same question, yes absolutely! Our son loved Rio, and I would go back with him any day.
When to visit?
Brazil’s in the Southern Hemisphere so their seasons are opposite ours. We went in mid-June, which was their Fall, the weather was between 20-25*C every day. Dec-March is their busy season, during their summer. I definitely liked our timing and preferred the milder weather and less crowds.
Where did we go?
Rio de Janeiro – Known as the “Cidade Maravilhosa” (Marvelous City), Rio de Janeiro has landmarks like Christ the Redeemer statue, the world-famous Copacabana and Ipanema beaches, and depending on the time of the year, a vibrant Carnival atmosphere. We stayed at this AirBnB.
Buzios – A town east of Rio de Janeiro that’s known as an upscale vacation destination with numerous beaches. We stayed at this AirBnB.
What’s there to do?
Visit Christ the Redeemer – Take the ride up Corcovado Mountain and enjoy the panoramic views of Rio de Janeiro. You’re sure to find a crowd, but grab that perfect family photo!
Explore the beaches – Brazil is known for its stunning coastline. Spend quality time with your family and enjoy water activities like swimming, surfing, and building sandcastles. Copacabana and Ipanema are the two most famous ones, but there are plenty more with a totally different vibe, like Praia da Urca.
Jardim Botânico (Botanical Garden): Take a stroll through the lush greenery of this tropical paradise. You’re likely to spot colorful birds, butterflies, and even monkeys among the exotic plants and towering palm trees. I recommend paying a little extra and getting the hop-on-hop-off train tickets, especially if you’re traveling with kids.
Sugarloaf Mountain: Hop on a cable car and ascend to the top of Sugarloaf, offering a jaw-dropping view of Rio’s coastline, mountains, and the city below. If you’re feeling adventurous, we saw mountain climbers going up the side and people hang gliding down! We’re not about it, just elevators and walks for us. What we didn’t anticipate was how much there is to do around Sugarloaf Mountain. There are lookouts, small stores where we had a great Acai bowl, restaurant with an epic view, and little walking trail too. Worth taking your time there.
Tijuca National Park: Lose yourselves in the wonders of nature at Tijuca, the world’s largest urban rainforest. Hike through the trails, discover hidden waterfalls, and encounter fascinating wildlife. We only explored a piece of it!
Selaron Steps: 215 vibrant steps! The Chilean artist, Joaquim Silva, created this mosaic with over 2000 tiles collected from over 60 countries (people mailed it in from around the world!)
Portuguese Reading Room: This iconic space was built by Portuguese immigrants to spread and preserve their literature and culture. Today, with 400,000 titles, it’s the largest collection of Portuguese books outside of Portugal.
What about the food?
As Muslims, we eat halal meat, which was hard to find in Brazil. However, there are plenty of seafood and vegetarian options which worked for us. We stayed at AirBnB’s to have our own kitchen, we made eggs and toast for breakfast, and went out for lunch and dinner. We also ate plenty of Pao de Queijo, which is a Brazilian cheese bread and Açaí bowls with different toppings! We also picked up fresh tropical fruits from the markets and snacked on those.
One of my favourite meals was at Terra Brasilis – it’s right by Red Beach and has stunning views of the water!
Another favourite was Restaurante Marius Degustare – with thousands of reviews, it’s quite a sensory experience with colorful decor and delicious food!
How much did the trip cost?
Return flights from Toronto – $700 per person (we got a great deal from Next Departure)
AirBnB – $1200 for 10 nights (for all 3 of us)
Food – $1500 for 10 days (for all 3 of us)
Activities/Tours/Taxi/Shopping, etc – $1300 (for all 3 of us)
In total, we paid about $6000 for the 3 of us, or about $2k each.
Precautions to Take When Traveling to Brazil
While Brazil is a beautiful destination, like any major city, you have to be mindful of safety. Few things to consider:
Theft – don’t be flashy with cash, jewelry and electronics.
Avoid unsafe areas and stick to well-known tourist attractions.
Timing – we didn’t stay out too late
Health risks – Consult a healthcare professional before traveling to Brazil and ensure that you and your family are up to date with routine vaccinations. Depending on your situation, considering precautions against mosquito-borne diseases by wearing long sleeves, using insect repellent, and staying in accommodations with air conditioning.
Things to think about:
eSIM – we bought it through Airalo for ~$25, well worth it
Uber – most of our travel was using Uber. Once we tried to get into a taxi, but they would’ve charged way more than Uber, so we waited for our car instead.
Activities – I researched through GetYourGuide, used it twice. There are many comparable sites and worth checking the vendor’s prices to see which is better.
Communication – Whatsapp friendly and Translation app
Tour Guide – Pirates Rio – we had a wonderful tour with Arthur | Instagram
Credit cards are okay to use in most places
Cash – I used ATM there, took $200 USD but didn’t need to use it
Visiting Brazil as Muslims
I’ve gotten a few questions about halal food, as well as traveling as a hijabi to Rio. While we heard there are some halal restaurants, we didn’t go to any. There’s lots of seafood and vegeterian options that worked for us. As for my hijab, I did not see anyone else wearing the hijab but no one gave me “that” look (iykyk). People were very friendly, and we felt safe and comfortable!
If you’re thinking about visiting Rio, I say go for it! If you have any questions or concerns, please leave a comment below and I’ll be happy to answer.
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