Experience the colours and sounds of Brazil on a luxury family adventure that’s as inspiring as it is fun. Begin with the glamour of Rio de Janeiro, then experience an extraordinary sustainability and conservation project in Minas Gerais before finishing on the golden beaches of Bahia.
The rainy season in southern Bahia is from April to June. If travelling in December/January, then the Emerald Coast south of Rio de Janeiro is an additional option.
Price depends on the experiences and accommodation included, and your time of travel. It is based on a family of four travelling for 12 nights and does not include international flights.
3 nights in Rio de Janeiro, 3 nights in Lima Duarte, 2 nights in Belo Horizonte and 4 nights in Trancoso.
What makes this Brazil family holiday special?
- Experience Rio de Janeiro from an insider’s perspective with the best restaurants, beaches, music venues and views at your fingertips.
- See pioneering conservation and community initiatives in action at world-class Ibiti Project in the mountains of Minas Gerais.
- Explore the dynamic culinary scene of Belo Horizonte, Brazil’s gastronomic capital.
- Relax on the golden palm-fringed beaches of Bahia in beautiful Trancoso.
Your Brazil private family holiday itinerary
Sun, sand & swaying sambas
Rio De Janeiro
Few cities have Rio’s irrepressible joie de vivre. Add to this a wondrous natural setting, endless fun things to do and the genuine adoration that cariocas have for children, and you have everything you need for the most rewarding of shared family experiences. With the legendary Copacabana Palace as your base–and assuming you can drag yourselves away from the pleasures of the beach–we’ll set you up with expert local hosts to bring Rio to life for you.
Of course there’s Christ the Redeemer and the Sugar Loaf. And helicopters and yachts that we can charter for you to enjoy the sensational views in sensational style. We dare you to go a little deeper, though. Practice your voltas and batucadas with a samba pro. Polish your cutbacks with a national surf champion. Shop Rio’s most exclusive boutiques and flea markets with a leading designer. Lay down a studio track with one of the greats. Or hone your skills with Brazil’s future stars in a spontaneous game of beach football. Just make sure you don’t stint on the pleasure–purely out of respect for your hosts.
A model of the future
Ibitipoca National Park
Up in the mountains of Minas Gerais–a few hours by road from Rio or faster by helicopter–is a magical place that, for twenty or so years, has been leading a quiet revolution. That place is Ibiti Project. Part luxury farmstead, part social and ecological regeneration project, Ibiti Project is perfect for families who love outdoors adventures and who want to inspire conservation- and community-forward values in their children.
Stay at the beautiful main plantation house, in the restored homes of a former ghost town, at a remote fazenda deep in the hinterland, or at a combination of all of these. All allow exploration of the area’s pristine waterfalls, caves and orchid-filled Atlantic rainforest where toucans, monkeys and, if you’re lucky, tapir and maned wolf can be seen. Spend your days hitting the trails on foot, horseback or e-bike. Join researchers studying the critically endangered woolly spider monkeys who spend much of their time hugging each other. Or visit the local village school, where children are taught how to be better global citizens. Ibiti Project is that rare place whose inner beauty shines as brightly as the landscapes around.
Art and gastronomy in Brazil’s most up-and-coming city
Belo Horizonte
Belo Horizonte has stayed off the radar of many, but these days the Minas Gerais capital might just be Brazil’s biggest undiscovered secret. With a thriving culinary scene and one of South America’s best food markets, it is awash with pioneering chefs and great restaurants where you can enjoy Brazilian soul food at its best.
We’ll set you up with a brilliant local guide to take you to the best places, and arrange cooking lessons if you’d like to learn the secrets of making a perfect feijoada. An hour from BH, discover the wonders of Inhotim, a private estate filled with incredible outdoor sculptures and permanent exhibitions. It’s wacky enough to engage young minds, but serious enough to provoke the thoughts of the most considered art aficionado.
Bahia beach bliss
Trancoso
It would be plain wrong to go to Brazil and not experience its seductive beach lifestyle, and there are few more enchanting places to do so than Trancoso on Bahia’s southern coast. Here, the vibe is slow and uncomplicated. Holed up in the rustic luxury of Uxua Casa, you can enjoy guilt-free days swinging in a hammock, lounging poolside or strolling the golden beaches. Indeed we’d venture to say you’ll never have more fun expending less effort anywhere else on Earth.
If you simply must be active, then we can arrange horseback rides along the beach, speedboats to explore the remotest and loveliest beaches, reef snorkelling, kayaking trips through the mangroves, or capoeira classes. Mostly, though, we’d suggest succumbing to the local pace of life governed by the daily rhythms of live music and games of soccer around the village church.
Where you'll stay on your Brazil family adventure
Great journeys need great places to lay your head. These are our tried and tested suggestions.
Belmond Copacabana Palace
An icon of Rio de Janeiro, Belmond Copacabana Palace has been the epitome of glamour and sophistication since 1923. Overlooking the golden sands of Copacabana Beach, this Art Deco landmark blends timeless elegance with modern luxury. Its sun-drenched pool, Michelin-starred dining and opulent suites have hosted royalty, Hollywood stars, and global jetsetters. From sipping caipirinhas on the terrace to dancing through Rio’s electric nightlife, every moment here feels cinematic. It’s not just a hotel—it’s a front-row seat to the soul of Rio.
Ibiti Project
Set amid the rolling hills and Atlantic rainforest of Minas Gerais, Ibiti Project is one of the world’s leading regeneration-focused retreats blending sustainable design with untouched nature. From a main lodge to satellite accommodations in ghost towns the project has brought back to life, Ibiti offers luxurious accommodations that blend perfectly with the landscape. Spend your days exploring crystalline waterfalls, hiking and biking forest trails and tracking the critically endangered and completely charming woolly spider monkey. Ibiti is more than a destination—it’s a transformative experience rooted in harmony with the natural world.
Fasano Belo Horizonte
Located in Belo Horizonte’s upscale Lourdes district, the Fasano Belo Horizonte is a masterclass in understated luxury that’s ideally positioned for exploring the city’s top shopping and cultural spots. The hotel’s sleek interiors—think rich wood paneling, soft leather furnishings and ambient lighting—strike a perfect balance between modern sophistication and timeless warmth. There’s a fantastic rooftop pool, an excellent spa and— best of all—the Fasano’s signature restaurant, Gero, which lures in both locals and guests with its faultless execution of Northern Italian classics.
Uxua Casa Hotel & Spa
Discreetly blending into Trancoso’s historic Quadrado, Uxua Casa Hotel & Spa is one of South America’s most sought after beach retreats. Effortlessly blending shabby chic, refined luxury and a strong sustainability ethos, Uxua is the epitome of Brazilian beach allure. Designed by ex-Diesel Wilbert Das, Uxua’s collection of restored one-, two- and three-bedroom fisherman’s cottages seamlessly merges local tradition with modern comforts. Each casa is uniquely styled, with reclaimed wood, artisanal touches and lush private gardens. Unwind at the atmospheric beach bar, or enjoy fresh Bahian cuisine overlooking the Atlantic.
Customise your luxury Brazil family holiday
All of our journeys are fully bespoke, and can be customised to meet your needs, interests and preferences. Here are a few ideas to inspire you.
If you’re travelling over Christmas and New Year, consider ending your trip at a private villa on Brazil’s Emerald Coast.
If you’d like to help protect the woolly spider monkey at Ibiti Project (only a thousand or so remain in the wild), we can have one of the world’s leading primatologists Karen Strier join you.
Wildlife-loving families will relish the chance to look for jaguar, giant anteater, giant river otter and much else besides in the Pantanal (best from April to October).
Swap the beaches of Trancoso for the Amazon’s incredible white-sand river beaches and pink dolphins on a private riverboat cruise from Santarem.
Looking for more inspiration?
We have a huge range of inspiring private experiences and accommodation options available. Get in touch with our Brazil specialists.
ENQUIRELearn more about our luxury holidays, or call our expert Latin America team on +44 1367 850566 / 1-855-216-5040 (toll free) to discuss how we can turn your dreams into something truly magical.
“Young people need models, not critics.”