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Parents and children alike enjoy fine dining, dancing, fishing and more at a beautiful Brazilian resort.

Over a spring school break, my son and I visited the new Superclubs Breezes Costa do Sauipe resort in Bahia, Brazil with friends, and found children and Easter eggs everywhere! Bursting out of the resort's 324 sold-out rooms were 96 children under 18 years having a very, very good time.

We chose Brazil (despite the 22-hour, two plane travel) above other Breezes family resorts in Curaçao and the Dominican Republic because of my career-long interest in ecotourism and my 11-year-old's study of rain forest ecology. We had read that the Costa do Sauipe (55/71/2104.8470) recreation complex was developed during the 1990's in an Environmental Protection Area known as Costa dos Coqueiros (Coconut Tree Coast, in conjunction with a flora and fauna rescue and monitoring program.

The 425-acre site is magnificent in its diversity: the gold sand beach facing the ocean borders mangrove, dunes, several rivers including the Sauipe, sweet water lagoons, coconut plantations, cattle ranches, lively fishing ports and a portion of the Mata Atlantica rain forest. Opened in October 2000 and immediately proclaimed "Brazil's Cancún," Costa do Sauipe contains five international-calibre, lowrise, beachfront resorts (Breezes, a Sofitel Hotel, Sofitel Suites, the deluxe Renaissance and the five-star Marriott) comprising 1,461 rooms and suites. Clustered discreetly inland are several community activity centers for all ages and interests. A favorite of ours was the Nautical Center, which featured small boats and pedalos for rent at a man-made lagoon, plus a waterview cafe. The big draw was the Tiroleza, a tower with a Tarzan-like zipline slide that harnessed kids and parents could "fly" across. Additionally, the complex's free shuttle buses led to a sophisticated Equestrian Center; an 18-hole standard PGA golf course; the tennis and soccer Sports Complex, and the charming replica of a colonial village called Vila Nova do Praia.

Although we preferred the complimentary horse-drawn carriages, it was only a few minutes' sidewalk or beachfront walk to Vila Nova do Praia. The village's small stucco pastel houses roofed in red tiles are actually six small pousadsas (little inns or pensions with B&B rooms). There is a public, drop-in Kids Club, a fun play area and supervised amusement park with little electric Jeeps, slides, a trampolene and organized games, busiest in the early evening. The other two pedestrian lanes led to an old church, a town square in which free concerts are staged, crafts stands with artisans hard at work, casual clothing shops, outdoor cafes with ornate wrought-iron furniture, and several Brazilian restaurants. Because we had an all-inclusive, self-contained resort alongside sports facilities and a lively pedestrian village, our families felt safe, yet part of the local culture.

On the minus side, English-speaking families will find it difficult for their kids to make friends. The majority of staff and guests are very friendly Brazilians, but they speak Portuguese. English is not widely spoken or particularly well understood. Until the number of international guests or multilingual staff increases, the adventurous and self-contained family will find Costa do Sauipe offers terrific value for money and a wonderful vacation.