A Guide To Traveling With Kids To Buzios

Known as the St Topez of Brazil, Buzios has a reputation as a party town. While its cocktail bars, pounding nightclubs and superb beaches certainly reel in the young and single crowd, it’s easy to escape that and enjoy a peaceful family vacation. With an abundance of family-friendly hotels and fun-filled activities, Buzios offers a tropical retreat for adults while keeping children entertained. Here’s how to travel to Buzios with kids.

What to do

Kid-friendly beaches, exciting boat trips and turtle-spotting are some of the activities that will keep children of all ages happily entertained, while still creating pleasant afternoons for adults too.

Play at the Beach

With over 20 stunning beaches, Buzios is not short of opportunities to spend the days lazing on white sandy shores and taking the occasional dip in crystal clear waters. It’s best to avoid Buzios’s surfing hotspots with little ones in tow, as the strong currents and big waves could be dangerous for young swimmers. One of the best beaches in the region for kids is Praia da Ferradura, known for its clean sand and calm waters. João Fernandes beach is also popular for families thanks to its calm sea, and it offers ample opportunities for kids to make new friends and blissfully play in the sand.

Hire a Bike

Going for an afternoon bike ride as a family is not only something the kids will love but it’s also a pleasant way of discovering Buzios. Bike rental is available in several spots throughout the town centre and ranges from hourly to daily rental. Bike along the coastline to discover the natural surroundings and take in the pristine beaches. A gentle meander along the Orla Bardot promenade is also an enjoyable excursion with cozy cafés and restaurants on one side and sweeping views across the bay on the other.

Rua das Pedras

Rua das Pedras is Buzios’s liveliest strip with an abundance of bars, restaurants and cafés to explore. However, it’s not all drinking and eating, as there are also plenty of art galleries and boutique shops selling locally-made items. Kids will love checking out the quirky items for sale and picking up a few keepsakes to remember their trip by.

Boat Trip

The boat trips leave Buzios’s centre daily and offer enjoyable excursions to some of Buzios’s 20 beaches and its countless inhabited islands. One of the most pleasant stops is at Praia do Forno, known for its reddish-orange sands and contrasting turquoise waters. The calm waters and collection of natural pools make it ideal for families and young children. Turtles also frequent the coast of Buzios and a boat trip offers one of the best chances to spot them coming to the surface for air.

Radical Park

A great rainy day activity is the Radical Park which has several fun-filled activities sure to be popular with adults and children alike. Gentle activities include bowling and cinema 6D, but for a bigger adrenaline boost try the water ball, paintball, go-karting, or indoor rock-climbing.

Where to eat

From seafood specialties to casual, low-key pizza, Buzios caters for all food preferences and needs. There are a handful of upscale restaurants that do welcome kids, but the casual eateries tend to be better tailored to being family-friendly with a wider range of children’s options on the menu.

Chez Michou

The crepes at Chez Michou are not just a hit with children but with adults too. The family-friendly venue is perfect for young children and the food is quick, simple, yet deliciously satisfying. Crepes are big and packed with fillings including savory and dessert options.

Chez Michou, Rua das Pedras, 90 – Centro, Búzios, Brazil +55 (22) 2623 2169

La Pizza Quadrada

When in doubt, you can’t go far wrong with pizza. La Pizza Quadrada is ideal when you are hungry as the rodizio de pizza – an all you can eat option where waiters bring a steady stream of pizza to your table for you to choose from – will certainly satisfy even the biggest of appetites. The thin-crust pizza is tasty and the range of toppings include both savory and sweet flavors.

La Pizza Quadrada, 1416, Av. José Bento Ribeiro Dantas, 1240 – Lot. Triangulo de Buzios, Buzios, Brazil +55 (22) 2620 8085

Buzin

For a hearty, family meal, head to Buzin for a buffet-style lunch or dinner choice. There are plenty of seafood options including freshly cooked prawns and squid. Children will love the fried fish, grilled meat, chips, rice and even sushi. If you fancy something sweet afterwards, there is a wide range of dessert options priced on the weight of your selection, allowing you to try a little bit of everything.

Buzin, Rua Manoel Turíbio de Farias, 273 – Centro, Búzios, Brazil +55 (22) 2633 7051

Where to stay

Buzios is not short of family-friendly hotels and resorts with some places going the extra mile to make children feel right at home.

Pousada Corais & Conchas, Rio de Janeiro

Hotel

Details such as the thatched roofs, wooden decking and spacious modern rooms will please parents. Yet it’s the children who will love Corais e Conchas the most. One of the most kid-friendly hotels in Buzios, Corais e Conchas has everything to let parents relax by the pool or enjoy the sauna while kids will be merrily entertained for hours. The hotel features several pools, lifeguards on watch, a high-quality restaurant and a complete games room that will provide hours of fun.

Hotel Ville La Plage & Beach Club, Rio de Janeiro

Resort, Hotel

Spacious rooms and modern infrastructure define Hotel Ville La Plage, providing a comfortable and pleasant stay in Buzios. Its location next to the João Fernandes beach is a plus as the calm waters and soft sand make it an ideal playground for children. That’s if you can drag them from the hotel which goes above and beyond for children’s entertainment. Make the most of the Kids Area and Playground, filled with fun things for children to do while parents chill by the pool.

Ferradura Hotel, Rua Q

Resort, Hotel

Ferradura Resort is ideal for families or travelers with children. The spacious rooms with ocean views give plenty of room for energetic children and the hotel has several options of sleeping arrangements to help you tailor your needs. Entertain the children at one of the three pools at the hotel or head to the Ferradura beach in front of the hotel, one of the best beaches for children in Buzios thanks its peaceful waters and lifeguard presence. The hotel has a wonderful bar and restaurant onsite, perfect if little ones get tired and you don’t want to venture too far.

About the author

Sarah Brown

Sarah is a British freelance journalist and writer based in Rio de Janeiro. Her favourite travel experiences so far include swimming with whale sharks in Mexico, trekking through Rio's urban forest and enjoying the city life in Madrid. Find her on Instagram @sbgrio