Brazil travel guide with a 15-month toddler
- dimple verma
- Oct 7, 2020
- 13 min read
Updated: Apr 6
I wholeheartedly recommend that anyone take their kids to Brazil!! Why? Well, because Brazilians love kids, and my kid loved Brazil.
Our first South American country had to be special, and that too with a little one (then 15 months). When I started researching our first South American trip with our 15-month-old, I couldn't find a single guide written by someone who had actually done it with a baby in tow. So here's the one I wish I'd had.
When we were choosing places to visit in Brazil, we realized, Brazil is BIG, and not just big, it’s HUGE! The travel time from one location to another surprised us. We ended up spending 10 days between Rio de Janeiro and Salvador, Bahia. See my full blog post on 10 day itinerary to Rio and Salvador in Brazil.
Rio for their world-famous beaches and, of course, Christ Redeemer.
Salvador- famous for its roots of Afro-Brazilian culture through Bahian cuisine
We really wanted to extend our stay for the Iguazu Falls and the Amazon rainforest. Maybe for some other time 😊
Is Brazil Safe for Families With Toddlers?
Let me debunk the biggest myth first: Brazil is not unsafe for families. Not once did I feel unsafe, and that's coming from a mom with a 15-month-old.
The key is the same as anywhere: stay aware, use Uber instead of street taxis, and stick to tourist-friendly neighborhoods like Copacabana, Ipanema, and Pelourinho in Salvador.Brazilians are genuinely, wonderfully obsessed with children. Don't be surprised if waitstaff offers to hold your baby while you eat, or if strangers stop to coo over your toddler on the beach.
Brazil Entry Requirements & Visa
⚠️ Important update for Canadians and Americans: As of April 10, 2025, Brazil reinstated visa requirements for Canadian, American, and Australian citizens. You can no longer enter visa-free. You must apply for an e-Visa before you travel.
Apply online through the VFSeVisa portal (Brazil's official government platform), the fee will be about USD $80-90 per person, including children. Airlines will check your e-Visa barcode at check-in — you will be denied boarding without it
Quick Facts: Brazil Travel Basics
Detail | Info |
Currency | Brazilian Real (R$). ~R$5 = US$1 |
Language | Portuguese. Download Google Translate offline — use it everywhere |
Time Zone | UTC-3 (Rio, Salvador, São Paulo) |
Voltage | 127V/220V depending on the city. Bring a universal adapter |
Tap Water | Not drinkable. Buy bottled water. It's cheap and everywhere |
Best transport app | Uber. Use it instead of street taxis at all times |
Best time to visit | April–June or September–November (see section below) |
Flights from Toronto/NYC | ~10–11 hours direct to Rio (GIG) |
What I packed for my toddler in Brazil:
Of course, you will be carrying a lot more items for your little ones, but here is the list of non-negotiables that are must-haves for the Brazil trip. Read the full list of my top 10 essentials to pack for kids.
Health & Safety
Yellow fever and Hep A vaccinations before you go (consult your travel doctor at least 6 weeks ahead
Mosquito repellent with DEET (essential, especially outside the cities) or a mosquito patch
Sunscreen SPF 60+ (the sun is intense, and we travelled during their winter time in November)
Hydrocortisone cream for rashes and insect bites
Electrolytes for diarrhea
Beach essentials
Bathrobe or bath towel for the beach
hat (gets too sunny)
On-the-Go Gear
Umbrella stroller (sturdy, good wheels for cobblestones). We used our Summer Infant stroller
Baby carrier. I used my LilleBaby, and it was a lifesaver in Salvador
Portable changing mat - easier to change diapers on the go and in strollers
Water bottle
Accessibility & mobility with Kids
Although I found most places to be stroller-friendly for my 15-month-old toddler, I’ll go ahead and provide a point of view for mobility across the areas we visited.
Places in Rio de Janeiro | Stroller | Carrier |
Beaches | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
Christ Redeemer | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes (recommended) |
Sugarloaf Mountain | ❌ No | ✅ Yes |
Favela | ❌ No | ✅ Yes |
Telegraph Rock | ❌ No | ✅ Yes |
Centro | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
Most places in Rio | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
Places in Salvador, Bahia | Stroller | Carrier |
Pelourinho street | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes (recommended) |
Nossa Senhora do Bomfim Church | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
Farol da Barra | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
Igreja e Convento de São Francisco | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
Mercado Modelo | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes (recommended) |
Pro tip: In Salvador's Pelourinho district, the cobblestone streets are charming but relentless. Use your baby carrier as the primary option and have the stroller as backup.Where to Stay in Brazil With a Baby
Ø Rio de Janeiro: Ipanema/Copacabana
TRAVEL TIP: I would highly recommend staying in either Ipanema (my preference) or Copacabana to experience the real vibe of Brazilian beaches.
We stayed in Ipanema for the first 4 nights and in Copacabana for the next 3 nights. And I could tell a big difference. The waves are better for swimming in Ipanema, the beach is much cleaner, the view is better with more youths.
Windsor Excelsior Copacabana — This was perfect. Sea view, pool overlooking Copacabana Beach with Christ Redeemer in the backdrop, and a beach section reserved for hotel guests. The staff was warm and helpful with our little one.
Atlantis Copacabana Hotel (Ipanema) — A few blocks from the beach, but the rooftop terrace pool has incredible views. Staff loved playing with our daughter. They even provided a crib without us asking.
Other good options: Hotel Astoria Copacabana, Grand Mercure Rio de Janeiro, Orla Copacabana.
TRAVEL TIP: Stay beachfront if you can. Being steps away from the sand with a toddler makes a huge difference.
Ø Salvador, Bahia- Pelourinho
Hotel Casa do Amarelindo — Book this. Seriously. The location is just so perfect, you're right at the main squares.
It's in the heart of Pelourinho; the breakfast is freshly cooked to order every morning (fruit, juice, eggs, banana cake, carrot cake...); the pool has bay views; and the dinner is the best food we had in all of Brazil. They welcomed us with caipirinhas and gave us a king-size room overlooking All Saints Bay.
Other good options: Hotel Villa Bahia, Monte Pascoal Praia Hotel.
TRAVEL TIP: If its your first time or staying in Salvador for dew days, base yourself in Pelourinho district
Getting Around Brazil With a Toddler
Uber is your best friend.
It's cheaper than taxis, easy to use with a baby, and widely available in both Rio and Salvador.
Download the Uber app
You do not need to bring a car seat here. The drivers are calm, and it's standard practice to hold your baby in Brazilian Uber and taxis.
Domestic flights: Book at least 3 weeks in advance, or prices skyrocket.
We paid nearly double by leaving it too late. If you have checked luggage, pay for both legs at once; it's cheaper.
We paid R380 for both ways for two bags; otherwise, it would have been R440.
Buy a local SIM card at the airport. It's more expensive there (~$40 USD for 7 days), but you'll have data from the moment you land. Buying in the city often requires a local Brazilian ID.
Foods to try with a toddler
In general, Traditional Brazilian food is delicious, colorful, diverse, and exciting. Brazil is such a melting pot of colors and customs; its cuisine varies from one region to another, reflecting the country’s diverse backgrounds and vast territory.
The good news: finger food is everywhere.
Beach vendors constantly walk by with snacks, coconut water, fruits, and treats, and trust me, your toddler will be in heaven.
Local favorites to try with kids include pão de queijo (warm cheese bread) and brigadeiro (chocolate truffle).
We found that food in Brazil is expensive. Budget around R$100 per meal at a sit-down restaurant. Street food and beach snacks are the affordable option.
Water: Do not drink tap water. Bottled water is cheap and available everywhere, so stock up.
My daughter enjoyed savoring the BBQ meats on skewers in the Arpoador area.
Vaccinations for Baby Travel to Brazil
Vaccination is a must! We got yellow fever and Hepatitis A shots for our daughter before the trip. Check the CDC websites for vaccination lists for the regions you are traveling to. She didn't get sick once - no fever, no stomach upset, nothing. I still packed a full medicine kit just in case. Talk to your pediatric travel doctor at least 6 weeks before departure.
My Top Tips for Traveling Brazil With a Toddler
Hotels will extend checkout for you
We got a free extension from 11 am to 5 pm on our last day. The staff adored our daughter and were happy to help.
Most hotels have cribs
Even if not listed on the website. Just ask.
Change diapers on the stroller
Public restrooms are tiny and rarely have changing tables. A portable changing mat on the stroller is your best setup.
Download offline Google Translate
it handles menus, Uber conversations, airports, and vendor negotiations. Genuinely life-changing for a Portuguese-speaking country.
Shop in Centro Rio, not Ipanema or Copa
same items, dramatically lower prices in the historic centre.
Strollers (umbrella, travel, or regular) work perfectly fine.
Just make sure they are sturdy and have good wheels to take you around the unpaved streets.
Visit Centro during the weekdays
Naturally, you'll encounter plenty of foot traffic and hagglers on the weekend.
Also, Most museums are free on Tuesdays, so plan your museum trips that day.
It is cheaper to Uber in Brazil than to hail a taxi
You do not need to bring a car seat here. The drivers are calm, and it's standard practice to hold your baby in Brazilian Uber and taxis.
Bring a universal adapter as the voltage is 127V/220V depending on the city.
Print your e-Visa as a backup. Don't rely solely on your phone. The airport Wi-Fi is unreliable, and you don't want to be scrambling at the immigration desk with a tired baby on your hip.
Get some cash at the airport- ATMs (Bradesco or Itaú) are inside the terminal. Exchange bureaus at the airport have poor rates; use ATMs instead.
Demystifying some common myths
1. It’s unsafe- Nope! Not even once did I feel unsafe (that's coming from a mom). People come up to you, and you say no, and then they don't bother. Of course, just coz I didn't experience it doesn't mean things don't happen. Be cautious of your surroundings. Take the precautions that you would take anywhere in the world while traveling.
2. Lots of mosquitoes- I didn't feel any in Rio or Salvador. Having said that, it might be coz we traveled during Oct- Nov time and not their peak season. Keep mosquito repellent handy with DEET
Truth in some rumors
1. Expensive food- Yes, overall food is actually expensive in Brazil. Even if you are in Rio or Salvador, the average cost is R100 for a good meal. The snack foods on the beach are cheaper, of course.
2. Ipanema better than Copa- Def yes. We stayed in Ipanema for the first 4 nights and to Copacabana for 3 nights. And I could tell a big difference. The waves are better for swimming in Ipa, the beach is much cleaner. The view is better, more youths.
3. Brazilians know how to beach- 100% yes. What we see on the beaches of US is not even 50% of what actual beaching looks like. You have beach workouts, football, loud music, hammocks, tan lines, beach food, and not to forget, their beach fashion!
Tips from first-hand experience- Brazil Overall
1. Strollers (umbrella, travel or regular) work perfectly. Just make sure they are sturdy and have good wheels to take you around the unpaved streets.
2. Use a baby carrier for Salvador, especially Pelourinho area. I used my favorite Lillebaby carrier and carried her almost everywhere.
3. You can find finger food almost everywhere for your baby/kid. Especially on beaches, where vendors will keep coming with different kinds of snacks or coconut water.
4. Everyone in Brazil (staff, tourists or general public) loveeee kids! Don’t be surprised if they offer you to babysit them while you sit in peace and eat your food.
5. Most of the hotels provide baby cribs as well. Even if they don't mention it, just ask. Remember they love kids?
6. Our return flight was at night, and when we asked how much can we extend our 11 am checkout, our hotel extended the time until 5 pm (without an extra fee). Thanks to our little monster for that :)
7. You don't need to carry your car seat for the baby. Just hold your baby when in Uber or taxis. The drive isn't rash for you to worry about the safety.
8. Most washrooms don’t come with changing tables. They are usually pretty small to just squeeze yourself in and wash your hands. I mostly changed her on the stroller itself was so much easier. Just have baby wipes with you and a portable changing mat.
9. Vaccination is a must! We got yellow fever shots and hep A shots for my daughter. She didn't get sick (no fever, no upset stomach) the entire trip with any food or water. I did, however, bring all the medicines with me just in case.
10. It is cheaper to Uber in Brazil than hail a taxi
Tips from first-hand experience– Rio
1. Visit Centro during the weekday instead of weekends (of course you’ll find lot of foot traffic and hagglers on weekend
2. Most museums are free on Tuesdays, so plan your museum trips that day.
3. You can do day trips to Paraty, Illha Grande. Petropolis, Arraial do Cabo from Rio. These trips can either be booked directly from the hotel or from Tripadvisor. See different tours you can take from Rio.
a. You can take Costa Verde bus to go to Paraty which leaves Rio every 2 hours.
b. Buses from Rio to Petropolis leave daily from a long-distance bus terminal, Rodoviário Novo Rio, which is located five minutes away from the downtown district (Centro) in a somewhat seedy part of town, so it’s best to take a taxi there.
4. For a good Samba experience try a Samba school such as Vila Isabel or Mangueira
Some normal tips
1. Language is a barrier, yes, but we didn’t feel much. Download Google Translate and off you go. We used it in Uber, restaurants, haggling with vendors, airports.. pretty much everywhere. You can have a conversation, hear what anyone around is saying (which comes in handy at airports), and type, and translate menus. I loved it! The best part you can even download this and use it offline.
2. Download the Uber app and use it everywhere. it was so easy, especially with the little one.
3. buy water bottles (no tap drinking). They are so cheap and readily available.
4. Buy a local SIM card from the airport. if you buy in the city, there are higher chances they will ask for a local Brazilian ID. It is bit expensive at the airport (we got it for 40$ for 7 days) but we had it from the start of our trip and funnily it worked until our last day as well.
5. If you want to shop, I would suggest shop when you are in Centro. So a much cheaper price and great variety. Unlike in Copacabana and Ipanema areas where it's so expensive coz of the tourist spot.
6. Def visit the Christ early morning and try for weekdays instead.
7. Try the BBQ meats on skewer in Arpoadar area.
8. If you are tired from eating all the Brazilian food, def try other cuisines. They are really good in Rio.
Things I regret
1. Frankly I didn’t like Petropolis. It wasn’t worth the hype. Yes it’s beautiful but honestly not worth the day trip. Just watching some rooms in palace, or a cathedral that you can see almost anywhere. Our tour took us to a restaurant there-meh! Noone in our tour enjoyed the food.
2. Parque lage- yes beautiful place to see Christ. Not worth the food inside. The prices are high for not so good food. The waiters make you wait and wait for your food. I’ve had better food.
3. Book domestic flights at least 3 weeks in advance. The prices go way up afterwards. We paid 900$ (for two) for a flight that could have been bought for 400$ (for two). And on top of that, you pay extra for your check-in baggage's. Also, If you have check-in luggage make sure you pay the return together, it’s cheaper that way. We paid R380 for both ways for two bags otherwise it would have been R440.
4. 7 nights in Rio was way too much. We did a day tour to Illha Grande and Petropolis but i wish i could have used 2 days to visit the Iguazu falls or some other place in Brazil.
5. I did a day trip to Arraial do Cabo which easily took 2.5 hours one way from Rio. Not a preferred time with a small kid. In hindsight, I wish I stayed a night in Cabo Frio and move to Arrail (40 minute between the two)
Highlights from trip
1. Balé Folclórico folk dance in Salvador- My oh my! best one hour of our trip. It started at 8 pm at night and surprisingly my little one didn't make a single noise and saw the whole show. It was a beautiful performance. Must visit!!
Ø Go to Teatro Miguel Santana in the heart of Pelourinho. Tickets are usually R$60/ US$20 and need to be purchased on the same day you intend to go. I recommend front-row seats and be prepared for a vibrant, full of life and color spectacle with drumming, singing and brilliant costuming.
2. I got Brazilian braids in Salvador for like 10$. Even the locals thought I was Brazilian, lol. I just loved it.
3. Drinking fresh orange juice and coconut water whenever I want wherever i want.
4. Sugarloaf Mountain at sunset. Ah, what a sight for eyes. Take the cable car to go up.
5. Free walking tour for Centro- I would suggest this to everyone. They take you around the center in like 3-4 hours covering so much than you can do yourself. its a walking tour so be prepared.
6. Samba night in Pedra do Sal- With a baby, we couldn't go for samba nights in the Lapa area but on Mondays in Pedra du Sal they have samba nights starting as early as 7pm. We had a glimpse of the crowd (before little one started screaming bloody murder) and Oh my god! the gathering on a Monday was unbelievable.
7. Salvador’s Afro-Brazilian people have created a culture that’s unrivaled anywhere else in Brazil, or in the world for that matter. Their influence is reflected in the food, the music, the religious practices.
8. Bonfim church colored ribbons- Called wish ribbons, they are tied everywhere, handrails to fences and
Special mentions
Have questions about our trip? Drop them in the comments below — I'm happy to help you plan. For a more detailed itinerary, read my blog post for 10 day in Brazil with a toddler itinearry. HAPPY TRAVELING!!