Florianópolis
Florianópolis is exceptionally beautiful. This is the home of the 100 most enchanting beaches in the South of Brazil, with magnificent landscapes and breathtaking scenery. So much beauty has attracted both leisure tourism and national and international business.
This is a magical setting that combines sand dunes, bays, lagoons and lakes, mangroves, mountains, smaller neighbouring islands and, of course, beautiful and friendly people. The area was colonized by settlers from the islands of the Azores and their influence can be seen in the local architecture, culture and cuisine. The beaches in the North of the island are the most sought-after and have the best facilities for tourism. Ingleses beach and Ponta das Canas beach are the pick of the North beaches. Simply irresistible.
The average temperature varies from 20° C to 24° C (68° F to 75° F). The average maximum temperature during summer months varies from 28° C to 31° C (82° F to 89° F) and the average minimum temperature during the winter months varies from 7.5° C to 12° C (45½° F to 54° F). Average relative humidity is 82% for the whole year and annual rainfall is around 1,200 mm. The municipal area of 436.5 km2 (169 square miles) includes parts of the city that are on the mainland as well as the island. The population in 2003 was 369,781 inhabitants, according to estimates by the Brazilian census authorities.
Nowadays tourists are not only attracted by the magnificent beaches; they also come to the state capital to visit the places where the first Azorean immigrants established their communities – picturesque villages such as Ribeirão da Ilha, Lagoa da Conceição and Santo Antônio de Lisboa and also the historic old quarter of the city of Florianópolis itself.
Nature Trails
The trails are very popular all year round. Florianópolis has more than 80 km (50 miles) of footpaths and trails, but few are as well signposted as they could be. It is for this reason that we recommend that if you wish to explore the trails you should contract a specialist local guide who will make your trip much more pleasant and ensure your satisfaction.
Nightlife
In Florianópolis, nightlife is a serious business and it is as intense as it is varied. The city’s bars are the perfect setting to appreciate a short drink or a cocktail made with cachaça and make friends with people from all over Brazil as well as tourists from other parts of the world. Cachaça is the national spirit, a type of clear rum made from sugar cane, and the local varieties made in the traditional way are considered some of the best. The nightclubs are throbbing with life all year round, catering for those who are wild about dance music, hip-hop or forró. Forró is a popular Brazilian dance style with its own rhythm. The name is a corruption of the English “for all”, since in the past these clubs were the only places that people of all races could dance together.
Activities for Children
Florianópolis has many parks and nature reserves that are an invitation to combine leisure with nature that’s just waiting to be taken up. Guided or self-guided trekking provides excellent opportunities for children to appreciate nature. Horse riding, mountain biking, snorkelling, scuba diving and sandboarding are just a few of the activities available for children. When they’ve had their fill of nature-related activities, you can take the children to waterparks, theme parks and a range of museums. The Acqua Show waterpark is a great favourite, located at the entrance to Praia dos Ingleses resort and the BrincaMundi amusement park is on the road to town (SC 401). The city has a wide range of museums including some with themes of interest to children, such as prehistoric archaeology, shipwrecks and the Nativity.
City Tour
City center – Visits to Largo da Alfândega (the old customs building) the Metropolitan Cathedral (1675) in 15 de Novembro square, Cruz e Sousa palace, Álvaro de Carvalho theatre, Tancredo Neves square, City Council building, Hercílio Luz bridge and observation point, Beira Mar Norte bayside avenue, Morro da Cruz, the Governor’s official residence and the University campus.
East: Morro das Sete Voltas (literally the Hill of Seven Switchbacks), Mirante Leste da Ilha (a panoramic view of the East of the island), Lagoa da Conceição, the Nossa Senhora da Conceição colonial style church (1743), Joaquina beach, Mole beach and Barra da Lagoa fishing village.
Note: Departures daily at 2 pm – Duration 3 hours
Floripa Total
City center: Visits to Largo da Alfândega (the old customs building) the Metropolitan Cathedral (1675) in 15 de Novembro square, the Cruz e Sousa palace and the Hercílio Luz bridge and observation point.
South: Morro das Pedras, Mirante Sul da Ilha (a panoramic view of the South of the island), Peri lagoon, Armação beach and Ribeirão da Ilha fishing village.
East: Conceição lagoon (with a stop to take photographs and videos, Joaquina beach, Mole beach and Barra da Lagoa fishing village).
North: Ingleses and Ponta das Canas beaches, Praia Brava observation point, Cachoeira, Canavieiras and Jurere beaches, visit to the Fort of São Jose da Ponta Grossa (1740).
Note: Departures at 9 am (Tuesdays, Saturdays and Sundays) – Duration 8 hours.
Schooner Trip
Itinerary:
- Departure from the Scuna Sul quay in Canasvieiras;
- Sailing along the beaches at Canasvieiras, Jurerê, Daniela and Forte;
- Panoramic view of Ratones island;
- Stop at Anhatomirim island – an 18th century fortress;
- Stop for lunch (Optional);
- Panoramic view of Baía dos Golfinhos (literally Dolphin bay);
- Stop for swimming at Francês island;
- Return to the Scuna Sul quay in Canasvieiras.
- Note: Daily departures – Duration 5 hours.
Diving:
- Speed boat trip
- Scuba tank
- Scuba regulator
- B.C. vest
- Neoprene wetsuit
- Basic
- Free diving with basic
- Camera with film
- Instructor: Free of charge
Paragliding:
Tandem flights
- Location: Santo Amaro(on mainland)
- Duration: 25 min
- Location: Florianópolis
- Duration: 15 min
Paramotor tandem flight
- Duration: 20 min
Arborism (Tree Walking)
Costão:The longest route in South Brazil. There are 29 acrobatic activities suspended at a height of 10 m (33 ft). Challenges include bridges, aerial cables and nets and we finish with a 120 m (400 ft) zip line that reaches speeds of up to 25 km per hour (16 mph).
Average duration: 1 hour and 30 minutes. Minimum height to take part: 1.50 m (4 ft 11 in).
Engenho: This route has a total of 13 activities, suspended at a height of 8 m (26 ft).Challenges include: bridges, aerial cables and nets, finishing with two high-speed zip lines over a river.
Average duration: 40 minutes. Minimum height to take part: 1.40 m (4 ft 7 in).
Surfing
The surf course takes place at our base at Ingleses beach and is dependent only on weather conditions.All necessary equipment is provided.
Surf Rafting
Personalized lessons are available every day on the beach at Ingleses, with a range of options depending on the level desired and with emphasis on the safety of participants, on surfing ethics and on raising ecological awareness.Surf rafting is a new modality of rafting practised on the sea – a delicious mix of surfing and rafting. There are three levels of difficulty: easy, medium and extreme.
Canoeing
Touring kayaks are used for all canoeing activities. Matafome and Francês islands are two of the destinations close to Florianópolis island that can be reached paddling. Kayaking on Peri lagoon is also a great option for photographic tours. No other type of boat offers the chance of interacting so harmoniously with the environment.
Abseiling
This exciting adventure starts with a light walk along the headland that divides the Ingleses beach from Praia do Santinho, leading to a cleft rock (pedra rachada) that juts out over Ingleses beach. A variety of rappel and climbing activities are performed up and down the huge blocks that make up the rocky cliffs. The adventure finishes with a visit to Gruta Chuá (Chuá cave).
Trails and Trekking
The island of Santa Catarina has some of the most important and complex ecosystems in South America. There are hillside forests, high plateau forests and coastal forests, mangrove swamps, marshes, estuaries, sand dunes, lakes and lagoons, beaches and headlands. The perfect habitat for flora, fauna and human beings. There are trails and footpaths providing access to hilly areas, forests and beaches that cannot be reached by motorized transport, bringing people into greater contact with nature and providing a chance to simply observe.
Dunes
The sand dunes at Joaquina beach and Ingleses beach are yet another of the attractions on the island of Santa Catarina. This is the place to try out sandboarding, which is a delicious mixture of surfing with skateboarding and snowboarding that’s fun for adults and kids alike.
All trips are led by trained guides who will provide all the instructions and help you need to have a fun ride in safety.
Normal Trip:
- Departs: any time
* Duration: approximately 2:00 hours.
Special Trips:
- Full Moon Ride
* Departs: 9 pm, every month at the full moon
* Duration: approximately 2:00 hours
Note: There will be a barbecue with salad buffet at the end of the ride (included).
Sunset Ride
* Departs: 5 pm, once a month (booking via and-mail)
* Duration: approximately 2:00 hours
Note: There will be a colonial-style buffet for tea at the end of the ride, (included).
Trips away from Florianópolis:
Beto Carrero World Them Park
Visit the largest leisure park in Latin America, with live shows, an amusement park, a zoo and many other surprises – a whole day’s leisure and entertainment R$ 113.00 per person. (Children aged 4 to 9 – R$ 82.50)
Note: Departures at 9 am (Saturdays and Sundays) – Duration: 12 hours
City Shopping Tour – Blumenau, Camboriú and Brusque:
Camboriú: Drive down the 7 km (4¼ mile) Avenida Atlântica seafront road and a 20 minute stop.
Blumenau: Drive along the Rio Itajaí-Açu valley through landscape that is reminiscent of Europe dotted with German-style architecture. City Tour, free time for lunch, and then browse the local shops.
Brusque: Shopping tour to Havan hypermarket, a textiles fair and a footwear fair in São João Batista.
Note: Departures at 9 am (Wednesdays and Fridays) – Duration: 11 hours
Santa Paulina e Brusque
Nova Trento: Religious tour of the hometown of Santa Paulina, the first saint from Brazil. Visit to a chapel, churches and a sanctuary, and time for tasting wines and local delicacies. Stop for lunch at a typical Italian restaurant. (Mass)
Brusque: Shopping tour to Havan hypermarket, a textiles fair and a footwear fair in São João Batista.
Note: Departures at 9 am (please check in advance – Duration: 10 hours
Rafting
Rafting in Santo Amaro da Imperatriz, on the Rio Cubatão with several runs over rapids and lots of adrenaline. The water is clean and transparent and a real invitation to take a dip. The vegetation and the landscape are of rare beauty and the mountains of the Serra do Tabuleiro reserve make an impressive backdrop. Duration: approximately 2 hours.
Floating // Level I
Normal // Level II
Radical // Level III
Expedition in Ducks (inflatable kayaks) // Levels II, III and IV // R$ 120.00 per person. Includes: guides, equipment, insurance and transport. Minimum: two people
Things to do on a rainy day.
Shopping Center
Beiramar Shopping
Rua Bocaiúva, 2468 – Centro
(48) 3223-6425
Opening hours
Shops: Monday to Saturday from 10 am to 10 pm. Sunday from 2 pm to 8 pm.
Food hall: Monday to Saturday from 10 am to 10 pm. Sunday from 11 am to 10 pm.
Shopping Iguatemi
Av. Madre Benvenuta, 687 – Santa Mônica
(48) 3239-8700
Opening hours
Shops: Monday to Saturday from 10 am to 10 pm and Sunday from 2 pm to 8 pm.
Food hall: Monday to Saturday from 10 am to 10 pm and Sunday from 11 am to 10 pm.
Floripa Shopping
Rodovia SC-401, 3116 – Monte Verde
(48) 3331-1000
Opening hours
Shops: Monday to Saturday from 10 am to 10 pm. Sunday and holidays from 3 pm to 9 pm.
Food hall: Monday to Saturday from 10 am to 10 pm. Sunday and holidays from midday to 9 pm.
Shopping Casa e Design
SC 401 km 5 – Saco Grande
(48) 3238-9311
Opening hours
Shops: Monday to Friday from 10 am to 8 pm. Saturday from 10 am to 7 pm.
Food hall: opening hours are the same as for the shops.
Jurerê Open Shopping
Avenida das Raias, 711 – Jurere
(48) 3261-5595
Opening hours
Shops From March to November, Tuesday to Sunday from 2 pm to 8 pm. From November to March, Tuesday to Sunday from 10 am to midnight.
Food hall: opening hours are the same as for the shops. Some shops open all day.
Shopping Barra Norte
Est. Dom João Becker, 145 – Ingleses (48) 3269-2211
Opening hours
Shops: During winter, Monday to Saturday from 10 am to 8 pm and Sunday from 1 pm to 8 pm. From mid October, every day from 10 am to 10 pm. During summer, every day from 10 am to midnight.
Food hall: opening hours are the same as for the shops.
Shopping Itaguaçu
Rua Gerôncio Thives, 1079 – Barreiros – São José
0800-480055
Opening hours
Shops: Monday to Saturday from 10 am to 10 pm. Sunday from 2 pm to 8 pm.
Food hall: Monday to Saturday from 10 am to 10 pm. Sunday from midday to 9 pm.
Cinemas/Teatros
Em Florianópolis
Beiramar I, II and III
Address: inside the Beiramar Shopping mall, Rua Bocaiúva, 2468 – Centro
Tel: 3222-3435
Cine Clube Sol da Terra
Address: Av. Afonso Delambert Neto, 165 – Lagoa da Conceição
Tel: 3232-2303
Cinema do CIC – Cine Clube Nossa Senhora do Desterro
Address: Av. Irineu Bornhausen, 5600 – Agronômica
Tel: 3953-2301
UFSC Theatre – At the Departamento Artístico-Cultural of the Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina in Trindade
São José
Bar Cine York
Endereço: Na Praça Central de São José
Fone: 3212-2301 ou 3247-5409
Itaguaçu I, II e III
Address: In São José central square
Tel: 3246-0744