Florianópolis travel guide
Florianópolis, capital of Santa Catarina, spreads largely across the Island of Santa Catarina in southern Brazil. It gathers more than forty beaches of very different character, from surf breaks to calm bays, alongside lagoons, dunes and a historic centre with Azorean heritage. With good seafood and a relaxed atmosphere, it is a beach-and-nature stop for diversifying a programme towards the south of the country.
Season by month
When to travel- Peak season
- Shoulder season
- Low season
What to do in Florianópolis
- The northern beaches approx. 5 h A long half-day; calm water, structure and the area best suited to families.
- Lagoa da Conceição and the dunes approx. 4 h A half-day; lagoon, sandboarding and the island's liveliest hub.
- The historic centre and the Public Market approx. 2 h Two hours; the urban side the island usually hides behind the beach.
- Campeche island by boat approx. 6 h A protected island with clear water; eight hundred visitors a day, on a ticket issued online beforehand.
- Oysters at Santo Antônio de Lisboa approx. 3 h Bay oysters in an Azorean village; it is the sunset side of the island.
- A schooner around the bays approx. 4 h The island seen from the water, with a stop to swim.
Neighbourhoods in Florianópolis
- Ribeirão da Ilha Founded by Azorean settlers in the 18th century, the island's second-oldest district, on its calmer southern bay side, preserving one of the largest collections of Luso-Azorean colonial houses in Santa Catarina and working oyster farms along the waterfront.
Beaches in Florianópolis
- Jurerê Internacional The island's most upscale beach, lined with beach clubs, known for flat, warm, shallow water that stays calm for most of the year.
- Praia dos Ingleses A developed northern beach roughly 30km from downtown, facing the open ocean with rougher surf on its western stretch and some of the island's largest dunes for sandboarding.
- Praia do Santinho A quieter beach east of Ingleses, with hard-packed sand suited to running, notable sunrise views, ancient petroglyphs nearby, and regular paragliding activity.
- Barra da Lagoa A former fishing village turned popular mid-island beach about 15km from downtown, with a river mouth, natural pools, generally rough open-water conditions, and easy surf-lesson access.
Where to eat in Florianópolis
- Ostradamus An oyster-specialist restaurant in Ribeirão da Ilha, running its own oyster cultivation and depuration operation, served raw, smoked or gratinéed alongside other seafood.
- Box 32 (Mercado Público) A stall inside Florianópolis' historic Public Market known for fresh oysters and prawn pastries.
- Marisqueira Sintra A Portuguese-style seafood restaurant in Santo Antônio de Lisboa, named after the Portuguese town of Sintra, known for arroz de marisco (seafood rice).
What to do in Florianópolis without booking an excursion
- Fortaleza de São José da Ponta Grossa An 18th-century fort (construction began 1740) between Praia do Forte and Jurerê beaches, open daily to independent public visits by car via highway SC-401, with exhibitions on fortress life and regional history.
- Walking the Hercílio Luz Bridge Brazil's longest suspension bridge and the first link between the island and the mainland (completed 1926), reopened in 2019 with a dedicated pedestrian and bicycle path, walkable independently.
Who to offer it to
When to go
The southern summer (December to March) is warm and sunny, ideal for the beaches but also the busiest. Spring and autumn offer good weather with fewer crowds; winter is cool.
How many days
Three or four nights allow you to combine several island beaches with the Lagoa da Conceição and the historic centre.
What not to miss
The Lagoa da Conceição, the beaches of Joaquina and Praia Mole, the historic centre, the dunes and the Costa da Lagoa.
What to offer and why
Four nights with the zone decided before the hotel: north for families, south and east for an active client. They are two different islands, and the transfer between them costs an hour.
When to book
Four to six weeks. For January and February, four to six months, because it competes with Brazilian and Argentine demand at once.
Practical and operational
The island is large and the north–south transfer can take an hour or more: a hotel chosen on price alone at the wrong end costs the client a day. Winter changes the product entirely.
How we arrange it
The beaches are spread across the whole island and transfers are advisable, as internal distances are considerable; we arrange vehicles with local operators.
Hotels
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Combines well with
Booking & policies
Are the prices shown net or retail?
Rates are net (wholesale) and reserved for travel agencies and tour operators, who sign in to see them and add their own margin. Public visitors see a reference “from” price, indicative and subject to availability; the net rate is never shown outside the B2B Portal.
What happens after I book?
When you book, we receive your booking and start working on it: it shows as “In process” and we let you know of every update. Vouchers are sent once payments have been received.
What is the cancellation policy?
Cancellations are governed by the conditions stated in each quotation. The standard conditions are: more than 30 days before arrival, the deposit is non-refundable; 30 to 15 days before arrival, 50% of the total price is charged; less than 15 days before arrival or a no-show, 100%. They may vary on peak dates and depend on the policy of each hotel and service. Certain destinations — Patagonia, the Amazon region and high-demand dates in peak season — apply stricter terms, stated in the quotation. Conditions stated in the quotation and accepted by the agency at booking take precedence over the general schedule in Clause 7.1 of the Terms.
Can dates or passenger names be changed after booking?
Amendment requests must reach RUMBO LIBRE at least 72 business hours before the service begins. Changes are managed subject to availability, and any resulting rate difference applies. For private services, a name change may require re-issuing the booking at the current rate.
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