Our summer vacation to the Patanal, Bonito, and Paraty

If you've been following me for a while, you know that at the heart of my husband's and my connection is travel. Well before we met, we were venturing abroad, seeking some piece of ourselves that didn't yet feel whole. Now that we have a family, we work to inspire this sense of adventure and wonderment in them, and we've been blessed with some amazing adventures over the last few years, including travels to the Olympic Peninsula, Morocco and Greece.

This summer we set our gaze towards colorful Brazil, where exotic wildlife, glistening beaches, and crystalline springs felt provide a variety of family-friendly activities. Plus, I'm studying Portuguese, so this was a perfect opportunity to put it into practice.

Part 1 | The Patanal

Our adventures started in the Patanal, a vast region of grasslands, forests, and rivers, where macaws, jaguars, and capybaras roam freely amongst the cattle farmers who reside here. Many of the fazendas of the region, including our lodging at Pousada Pequi, maintain an authentic experience to preserve the history of the region. After evening safaris and fishing for piranha, we enjoyed food grown and caught right at the farm.

A highlight was spotting the Tamanduá Bandeira (giant anteater) on our jeep safari at dusk.

Close-up of a bright red heliconia tropical flower with green leaves and tiny ants.
Colorful blue and yellow macaw parrot resting among dark tropical green palm leaves, Brazil.
Two scarlet macaws in flight among dense green tropical forest trees.
A large vulture foraging through dense green bushes in a natural wildlife habitat.
Young boy in blue cap fishing from a dock at golden sunset over calm river.
Aerial view of a dark jacare head partially submerged in murky water.
Close-up of vibrant blue macaw feathers with stunning gradient teal and navy tones.
Three scarlet macaws in flight near a red sandstone cliff above lush jungle canopy in Buraco das Araras.

Parte 2 | Bonito

From the Pantanal, we made our way to another beautiful region of Mato Grosso do Sul, Bonito and were greeted by ethereal waterfalls, aquamarine rivers, and subterranean caves. Many of my images and videos from this part of the trip, I took with my iPhone with a waterproof satchel, but this one below takes the cake from our hike at Estancia Mimosa.

Person standing in turquoise pool beneath a stunning multi-tiered tropical waterfall in sunlight in Bonito, Brazil.

Part 3 | Paraty

I had no intentions of traveling all the way to Brazil and missing the beach. Twenty years ago, I visited a little colonial town, Paraty, and vowed to one day return. We found an amazing AirBnb complete with a housekeeper-cook and a boat captain, who took us on several tours to nearby islands and beaches. Our favorites: Praia Vermelha and Saco de Mamanguá. If you venture to Paraty and the surrounding areas, do not miss a meal at Banana da Terra and an afternoon shopping and strolling the streets of this beautiful little city.

A young toddler in white shorts stands on a rock surrounded by large tropical leaves in a sunlit forest setting.
Small child walking past three vibrant yellow doors with blue frames on cobblestone street.
Tropical cliffside resort with blue buildings nestled among lush green trees overlooking rocky ocean shore.
Tropical beach with golden sand, turquoise water, a boat, and people walking near lush green hills under a clear blue sky.
Aerial view of a child in a sun hat walking along a sandy beach near rocky shoreline.
Arched yellow wooden door casting dramatic shadows with green agave plant in foreground.
Young boy in yellow shirt sitting on mustard cushion by blue door in warm sunlight.
Young boy peeking over the edge of a fringed macrame hammock in a tropical garden at sunset near Paraty, Brazil.
Colorful blue wooden boats moored on calm water near a stone wall with palm trees in golden light.
Boy in yellow shirt sitting on steps in front of a vibrant red arched door in Paraty, Brazil surrounded by tropical plants.
Smiling woman in red swimsuit posing against a large rock in a lush tropical jungle setting.
Young child sleeping peacefully in bed with blue wooden wardrobe panels in the background.
Toddler in sun hat walking along a golden sandy tropical beach with lush green jungle and turquoise water.
Young child playing at the water's edge on a sandy beach with mountains in the background.