What to visit in Brazil in March?

Hi there, we’ve decided to head to Brazil at the end of March for 2.5 weeks with our 13-year-old son. From what I’ve gathered from some research, Rio seems like a great destination at this time of year, and I’m thinking around 4-5 days to explore it—does that sound right to you? Copacabana, Ipanema, Sugarloaf Mountain, Christ the Redeemer, maybe a favela tour, or any other ideas?

How’s the best way to get around locally? I’ve heard about Bonito or Angra dos Reis and Ilha Grande—what do you think of those? Fernando de Noronha for snorkeling or even diving? Is Recife a good option at this time of year?

If you’ve got any suggestions, we’re all ears—it’s for our 50th birthdays! :-) Thanks so much for your help and tips. See you soon.

There’s plenty to do without rushing: Copacabana and Ipanema, of course, Sugarloaf Mountain, Christ the Redeemer, but also Santa Teresa, Lapa, the botanical garden, and a walk in the Tijuca Forest. Rio also has a real natural dimension, with numerous trails and waterfalls in the forest.

You could also plan a slightly different activity: hiking and a boat trip. For getting around, the metro is very practical for the main tourist areas; it’s also integrated with buses, trains, BRT, and VLT.

Personally, I’d choose Ilha Grande over Angra dos Reis if you’re looking for a few days of escapism and beaches. It fits much better with Rio and lets you slow down a bit after the city. You can hike, take boat trips, swim, and snorkel there.

Fernando de Noronha, on the other hand, is a great idea if snorkeling or diving is a priority. The waters are warm and rich in marine life, with turtles, rays, and dolphins. The official site mentions an average water temperature of around 26°C and visibility up to 50 m for diving.

However, keep in mind that March marks the start of the wetter season in Noronha. There may be more clouds and rain, but that doesn’t mean water activities are off the table. The island’s administration notes that snorkeling and diving are still possible during this period, and rain doesn’t necessarily affect underwater visibility.

There’s also the natural pool of Atalaia, but access is regulated and limited daily, with prior booking required through ICMBio.

Recife is definitely doable at the end of March. The climate is warm year-round (around 26-28°C on average), and the rainiest period is June-August. You could even combine Recife with Olinda, which is really worth a visit.

Bonito is stunning for its crystal-clear rivers, fish, and natural activities, but it’s quite a detour from Rio/Ilha Grande. With only 17-18 days, I’m not sure I’d add it unless you’re particularly drawn to river snorkeling and ecotourism.

March is the end of summer in Brazil, and right after Carnival, it’s a great time to explore the country. For getting around, apps like Uber and Bolt are widely used. There’s also public transport: buses, the subway... If you get the chance to visit Recife, you won’t regret it! About two hours from Recife, you’ll find the beaches in the Maragogi area (Peroba, Antunes, etc.), with their natural pools and a much more "real life" vibe than Fernando de Noronha.

Thanks for your feedback. I think we’ll have plenty to do in Rio—I’m not worried about that. But it’s the rest of the trip that’s got me thinking, since our 12-year-old son isn’t really the type to sit quietly on the beach for hours, if you know what I mean. From what I’ve seen in travelers’ videos, Ilha Grande seems pretty beach-focused, right? I was thinking 4-5 days in Rio, the same for Bonito, and the same for Recife—do you think that’s doable? Thanks!

Then, personally, I’d pick Ilha Grande over Angra dos Reis if you’re looking for a few days of escapism and beaches. It fits much better with Rio and lets you slow down a bit after the city. You can hike, take boat trips, swim, and snorkel there.

Same question for July—what’s it like? I’m worried the sea will be cold...😕

Thanks

4/5 days in Rio, absolutely, no hesitation. With a 12-year-old, there’s plenty to mix it up: Corcovado/Sugarloaf Mountain, biking, neighborhoods, boat trips, maybe even surfing, etc. You won’t risk running out of things to do.

For Ilha Grande, that’s where I’d cut back. 3 days would be better than 4/5. You could do a day combining hiking and beaches, especially Lopes Mendes, a second day on a boat with Lagoa Azul/Lagoa Verde and snorkeling, and then a more relaxed final day or another hike. So there’s definitely more than just beaches, but after 3 days, if your son needs action, you might start feeling the repetition.

Bonito in 4/5 days seems like a smart move—it’s probably even the stop that fits your son best. Here, it’s all about adventure: snorkeling in crystal-clear rivers, waterfalls, caves, tubing, kayaking, zip-lining, hiking… Bonito is exactly the kind of place where water activities are super varied. At 12, he can join in on tons of activities. For example, Rio da Prata allows kids as young as 6 for floating, and some of the more adventurous activities start at that age too.

Recife isn’t uninteresting, but if you spend 4/5 days *only* there, you might run into the same beach-heavy issue. I’d think more in terms of alternating between Recife, Olinda, and Porto de Galinhas to mix things up.

So if you’ve got, say, 16-18 days, I could picture 4 nights in Rio, 3 nights on Ilha Grande, 4/5 nights in Bonito, and 4/5 nights in Recife and the surrounding area. That seems way more balanced for a family with a 12-year-old than doing 5 nights in each place, since the latter would mean more transfers and a few stops that might feel repetitive.

And most importantly, I’d keep Bonito for a good chunk of time—it’s really the stop where you can string together totally different experiences without feeling like you’re doing “just another beach.” Brazilian tourism sources highlight the region’s rivers, caves, waterfalls, wildlife, and adventure activities: https://www.visitbrasil.com/fr/location/bonito/

July changes things a bit, and your intuition is spot on.

At Ilha Grande, the sea hovers around 21.5–22 °C, with possible variations between 20 and 23 °C: https://seatemperature.info/fr/juillet/ilha-grande-temperature-de-leau-de-la-mer.html

In Rio, it’s in the same ballpark: about 22.4 °C on average for the same month: https://seatemperature.info/july/rio-de-janeiro-water-temperature.html

So it’s not freezing, but you might find it a bit chilly. And after a cloudy day or with some wind, it can feel downright less pleasant. On the other hand, in Porto de Galinhas, it’s around 26.5–27 °C. No problem for swimming there: https://seatemperature.info/july/porto-de-galinhas-water-temperature.html

Thanks so much for your feedback—we’ll definitely take it into account. My husband noticed we might also be able to do the Amazon in Manaus. If I remember right, we did something similar in Costa Rica with our son, and all three of us loved the activities. Thanks again—I’ll look into all of this! :-) I can’t wait to go!!!

Hi, for 2.5 weeks with a teen, I’d do Rio for 4 days, Ilha Grande for the beach and hikes, then Bonito for river snorkeling—often a hit with kids. Noronha is gorgeous, but way pricier (tourist tax and flights). Between stops, flying saves a ton of time on long distances. Are you arriving and leaving via Rio?