So, you’re ready to hit the beach for some famous Brazilian sun. Florianópolis / Floripa beaches are breathtaking, but here’s the problem – which beach is the perfect one for you?
There are numerous beaches along the extensive coastline of Santa Catarina Island. From urban beaches to wild beaches, follow this quick guide to determine which one is the best for you. Beaches are listed in rough order from north to south.
Northern Beaches
Brava Beach
Most Florianópolis’s northern beaches are family friendly places with flat, warm sea. Here, you can do most of the common beach activities such as swimming and diving, and you’ll find plenty of hotels, restaurants, bars and nightclubs. The area gets very busy during the summer months.
Ingleses and Canasvieiras are the most popular northern beaches, followed by Jurerê and Cacupé. Praia Brava combines warm waters and waves, and is known to be a surfers’ paradise. Ponta das Canas, together with Cachoeira do Bom Jesus and Canasvieiras, actually form an uninterrupted sandy stretch, with no division among them. On the northwestern side of the island, Santo Antônio de Lisboa and Sambaqui beaches are set on the bucolic Portuguese/Azorean neighbourhoods that preserve their rural village identity.
Eastern Beaches
Gravatá Beach
Eastern beaches are quite different from those up north. Uncrowded and facing the open sea, eastern beaches have cooler waters. This region includes Lagoa da Conceição that offers a stunning natural landscape of a beautiful lagoon surrounded by mountains. For the best views, climb to the Manoel de Menezes viewpoint. This area is also famous for having the best shrimp restaurants in South America.
From the lagoon to the beaches, Joaquina is a surfers’ hotspot, receiving several national and international surf contests. Praia Mole is another a surf destination. There’s also the quiet Galheta beach, accessible only by a trail. Barra da Lagoa beach is ideal for beginner surfers, and it has several nice seafood restaurants.
Southern Beaches
Campeche Beach
Heading south, you’ll find some of the wildest, unspoiled beaches on Santa Catarina Island, also important surf destinations. The long sandy stretch from the Campeche beach to Morro das Pedras is perfect for beach walks. Armação is filled with anchored small fishing boats forming a beautiful scenery. Naufragados has a lighthouse and offers a stunning natural landscape. A visit to the fishing villages is also an interesting way to spend some time. Go to Pântano do Sul to learn something about the traditional fishing arts.
