Florianópolis City Guide A city in two parts, Florianopolis is a top beach holiday destination in Latin America for international and national tourists. Located in southern Brazil, half of Florianopolis can be found on the m...
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A city in two parts, Florianopolis is a top beach holiday destination in Latin America for international and national tourists. Located in southern Brazil, half of Florianopolis can be found on the mainland, while the other half is on Santa Catarina Island. Dubbed the “Island of Magic”, Florianopolis has over forty picturesque beaches, plus glitzy bars and clubs, high-end restaurants and shopping malls to capture the hearts of all who visit.
Floripa, as it is lovingly called, has over the centuries flourished into a modern city that’s hard to leave once you get there. Floripa is more than just a party destination. Brazilians come to feast on seafood platters, surf the best waves and hike breathtaking trails, but mostly to enjoy a better quality of life.
Things to Do
Floripa is the kind of city you can either dial it down and have a very chilled beach vacation, or you can go all out and have an action-packed trip complete with hikes, sandboarding and street parties lasting into the early hours. The 33 mile-long island has a plethora of beaches and many even have secluded coves perfect relaxing and sunbathing in private. If you love less crowded beaches then the general rule of thumb is to stick to those stretches of sand lying south of the island. Floripa is undoubtedly a surfer’s paradise. Novice surfers can head to Barra de Lagoa to conquer its gentle waves. Advanced surfers can get their thrill on the fierce waves crashing onto Praia Mole beach.
But the adventure doesn’t just stop at the beach. The island is the perfect spot to put on your hiking boots and explore its terrain. Start your hike at any one of the hiking trails located in the south and discover some of the island’s natural beauties on foot. If you follow the right trail you might just end up at Lagoinha do Leste, arguably one of Floripa’s most stunning beach. As with most hidden gems in the world, this beach can only be reached on foot. To keep the adventure going, hop over to Sao Joaquim National Park where 50,000 acres of forest, native plants and wildlife await. It’s advised to take a guide with you to avoid getting lost!
Brazil is notorious as the number one party capital of the world. Floripa does its country proud with many spots offering a night of music, good food, caipirinhas and samba. Lagoa de Conceicao, renowned for kitesurfing and its sand dunes perfect for sandboarding, is a great spot to let your hair down. Fridays and Saturdays are particularly fun at night when the village’s bars and cafes come to life to give you a night you won’t soon forget. Wherever you are on the island, feasting on oysters and Floripa’s signature dish, which is quite literally a sequence of seafood, will be unmissable.
When to Go
If there’s one thing you can bank on, it’s that you’ll be blessed with beach-worthy weather all year round. January to March are typically the best months to visit as they are the warmest of the year. But while they are the warmest months, they are also the busiest ones. January through February also sees the real Latin American party comes to life. The Carnival is not a party only reserved for Rio de Janeiro. Floripa comes to life with a giant outdoor party, including food, parades, drinks and lots of dancing. This is the ultimate time to visit the island.
Getting Around
If you’re not the world’s greatest hiker, have no fear as Floripa has its own bus network servicing the island. There are air conditioned yellow buses that can take up to sixty minutes from the city center to get to the island’s coast. While the bus is there for your convenience, it’s not the most reliable means of transport. A car is your best bet to get around in comfort and ease. The only drawback with renting a car is that it’s not exactly cheap, plus there’s the traffic to take into consideration during peak season.
Sleep
Whether you’re planning on exploring the city’s natural beauties, laze on the beach, or have a full on party every night, the one thing you’re bound to do is sleep during your stay. Take a look at available accommodation on the island and find something perfect for you and your trip. One word of advice, if you’re going around Carnival season it’s better to book your stay sooner rather than later to secure your bed