MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR DAYS BY THE SEA
Praia da Ferradura with children: which end to choose and how to enjoy it
Generally calm seas, playtime and pedal boats: find out how to choose between the end with kiosks and the stretch without beach stalls, with tips on food and getting there.
Along the curve of Praia da Ferradura, in Búzios, a family day out can bring together sandcastles, swimming in the sea and a pedal boat ride. The horseshoe-shaped bay has generally calm, shallow waters, but there is another feature worth considering when choosing where to spread your beach wrap: its two ends offer different experiences on land.
On the left, the kiosks offer chairs, drinks and snacks close to where the children are playing. On the right, the absence of beach stalls means families need to bring their own snacks. This choice helps shape the outing, from arrival to the moment hunger strikes.
Kiosks nearby or a stretch without beach stalls?
The left end suits those who want to make the beach the main activity of the day and have services close at hand. The kiosks rent out chairs and serve drinks and snacks, so you can alternate swimming with a break at a table without turning every snack into a trip away from the beach. For families who prefer to bring fewer things, these facilities are a factor in the decision. Beach umbrellas are also available to rent for anyone who wants a shady spot without bringing their own.
Before settling in, check the chair rental terms and look for a menu that suits both adults and children. If you plan to have lunch there, the food options are also concentrated at the left end; it is worth deciding whether to snack throughout the outing or sit down for a meal.
The right end offers a different way to enjoy the sand: there are no kiosks or beach stalls. It is an alternative for those who prefer to stay away from the cluster of businesses and already plan to bring food and drinks. The advantage lies in this difference in facilities, not in any promise of an empty beach—Ferradura can get busy in summer and on holidays.
There are toilets in the area around the beach. Before getting the family settled, locate the one you plan to use and ask the establishment about its access conditions.
From the sand to a pedal boat
The generally calm, shallow sea helps explain why Ferradura attracts families. This combination invites you to alternate playing on the sand with swimming: building a castle, tracing paths or taking a family walk along the water’s edge are simple ways to enjoy the bay. Even when the sea is generally calm, keep children under constant supervision in the water.
To add an excursion to the day, pedal boats are available to rent on the beach. This offers something different from playing by the shore: leaving the sand to see the curve of the bay from the water, surrounded by houses and native vegetation. At the entrance to the bay, the passage to the open sea narrows between hills. The setting gives pedal boating a charm of its own: here, the ride takes place at sea, not on a little park lake.
Before renting, ask the operator about capacity, life jackets, suitability for the children in your group, price and rental duration.
Planning your arrival around your spot on the sand
Getting to Ferradura does not involve steep slopes or flights of steps, which makes things easier for anyone arriving with children and beach gear. If coming by car, however, it is worth choosing your entrance according to the stretch where your family plans to settle: access at the left end is busier and has few parking options.
At the right end, you arrive via residential streets, with passages between the houses leading to the beach. For a stay focused on this bay, the Praia da Ferradura villa is in the central section, facing the sea, with direct, private access to the sand through the property—making it easier to come and go with children.
The castle can stay half-finished while the family heads out on a pedal boat. On your return, carrying on with the building is a good reason to sit down on the sand again.