Campeche Beach

The Safest Place in Brazil: Welcome to Floripa

Florianópolis, commonly called Floripa, is the capital city of Santa Catarina state in Southern Brazil. As the state's second-largest city, it spans the entire Santa Catarina Island plus a small area of the mainland, linked together by the Hercílio Luz Bridge—one of the longest suspension bridges in Brazil. The entire island is extremely clean and well-maintained, with pollution-free streets, manicured landscapes, and clear waters. It has one of the lowest crime rates among Brazilian cities (and South American cities in general), making it an ideal vacation destination. There is an overall good quality of life in Floripa: beyond the safety and cleanliness, there are so many outdoor and family-friendly activities. In fact, Brazilian weekly Veja named Florianópolis "the best place to live in Brazil", and locals lovingly call it "Magic Island".

The panoramic view of Santa Catarina Island from the overlook on the Trilha Do Dólmen Da Oração (Dólmen of Prayer Trail).

Florianópolis is on the rise as a must-visit gem, yet it's still under the radar globally. While it's quite a popular vacation destination for Brazilians and other South Americans, it's lesser known internationally. We were looking for somewhere really safe, clean, and gorgeous, with lots to do—perfect for our usual 1-3 month stays. After researching a bunch of places in Brazil, Floripa popped up and absolutely sold us. The photos looked insane, it wasn't too far from Rio (which we definitely wanted to visit for a few days), and then we found out about how safe it is... we booked our flights shortly after!

With over 40 beautiful beaches and excellent waves, Floripa is widely regarded as the surfing capital of Brazil—home to iconic spots like Joaquina that've hosted world tour events and produced lots of pro surfers. While you're here, take a surf lesson, soak in the sun on beautiful beaches & lagoons, trek through dense jungles, visit offshore islands, sand-board, or dance at lively festivals. It's such a balanced mix of activities, so it's perfect whether you're solo, a couple, friends, or family.

Getting Around Florianópolis

To travel around Floripa, public buses are a cheap, solid option, covering the whole island pretty well, with fares around R$6-8 (via Pix/QR code or at terminal bilheterias; cheaper with the "Passe Rápido" card you can top up at terminals). Note: You can only pay cash on-bus from terminals. You can download the Floripa no Ponto 2.0 app for schedules, routes, and stops. Uber or 99 are super reliable in my experience—drivers were almost always available, no matter the time of day. Renting a car gives you the most freedom, especially for hitting multiple places in one day and going at your own pace.

For shorter, local trips—especially in busier areas like Centro, Campeche, or Lagoa da Conceição—walk or grab a bicycle/scooter rental! E-bikes and e-scooters are popping up more around the island, though availability varies by neighborhood and are mostly in Centro/Itacorubi/Continente areas. You can download apps like Tembici (for bikes), Whoosh, or JET (for scooters) to find ones near you.

It takes around 1.5 hours to drive from the northernmost spot of the island (around Praia da Lagoinha da Ponta das Canas) to the southernmost drivable spot (near Praia de Naufragados). Some of Floripa’s most beautiful, untouched beaches—like Naufragados or Lagoinha do Leste—are only accessible on foot via hiking trails of varying length and difficulty. Vehicle transportation can get you to the trailhead, but the real gems are hidden and will reward a bit of effort!

Where to Stay in Florianópolis

Though all of Floripa is beautiful, I recommend basing yourself on either the eastern or northern coast of the island. We stayed for two months in Campeche, on the east coast, and it turned out to be an ideal spot—conveniently located close to the island's most popular beaches and hikes. Campeche is very close to Lagoa da Conceição, another great, more affordable area to lodge in. It's a large, vibrant lagoon-front area surrounded by a delicious dining scene, fun activities like stand-up paddleboarding, and laid-back nightlife. We ended up spending tons of time here!

Compilation video of Campeche

In general, the east coast has longer beaches backed by nature preserves, with significantly better (and more consistent) waves for surfing and kitesurfing—on the other hand, this same fact makes the east less ideal for swimming due to the swells and stronger currents. The north coast, by contrast, feels more developed with resort hotels. It has lots of smaller, more intimate beaches with calmer, swimmable waters, and fewer waves. Ultimately where you choose to stay really depends on what vibe you want: local vibe with surf and long dunes on the east, or slower, relaxing beach days on the north.

I don’t recommend staying in the downtown city center (Centro/Central)—it's definitely worth a day trip to explore the markets and history, but there is significantly less outdoor activities, and, in my opinion, Floripa is too stunning not to have top beaches or jungle right outside your door.

Best Time of Year to Visit Florianópolis

Pick your season in 10 seconds!!

• 🐋 Whale Watching: July to November (peak Aug-Oct/Sep) for Southern Right Whales—head south to Imbituba or Garopaba for boat tours or shore sightings
• 🏄 Surfing: June-September (winter swells are the biggest and most consistent)
• 🎉 Festivals & Events: December to February for Carnival vibes and beach parties; March to May & September to November for calmer local festivals
• 🥾 Hiking & Outdoors: Year-round, but shoulder seasons (March to May & September to November) offer better temps without extreme heat, humidity, or cold

The best time to visit Florianópolis is either during the Brazilian summer (December-February) or during shoulder seasons (March-May & September-November). Personally, I recommend Sept-Nov. There's no true "dry" season here: rain is common year-round due to the subtropical climate, and summer is actually the wettest (short, heavy showers that usually pass quickly). Let's break it down:

• December-February (Brazilian summer, high season): Hot (highs 27-29°C, lows ~22°C), warm seas (~25°-26°C), but the rainiest season (Jan-Mar heaviest, ~170-190mm/month). Busiest season, higher prices especially around the holidays (Christmas, New Year's, Carnival). Great for beach days, it just comes with occasional rains
• June-August (Brazilian winter, low season): Coldest and driest months (highs 19-22°C, lows 13-17°C), no crowds, cheaper stays. Ideal for surfers—consistent, bigger waves—but too chilly for swimming/sunbathing (sea temps ~18-20°C), so skip if you want beach days
• March-May (Autumn shoulder): Mild and pleasant (highs 22-25°C), less rain than summer, quieter beaches. Warm enough for outdoor activities with fewer tourists and lower costs. Water will start cooling, but swimmable early on
• September-November (Spring shoulder): Warming temps (highs 23-26°C), increase in sunny days, minimal crowds until late Nov. Perfect balance for activities—hiking, exploring, beach time. Water is still pretty cold until later in the season

We visited during the months of September-November, and it was perfect! The weather was beautiful: though we had occasional chilly days and cool evenings, it was mostly warm and sunny for plenty of beach days, and no crowds. Sunbathing was great, but the water was pretty cold for swimming. I'd say this is the best time of year to visit Floripa.

Top Things to Do in Florianópolis

1 Visit the Beaches

Florianópolis has dozens of incredible beaches, from long stretches of white sand to smaller, secluded gems often tucked away in nature preserves. Some of the most beautiful spots require a short-to-moderate hike to get there, which means they're peacefully surrounded by untouched wildlife and feel so far from civilization.

(L) Gravatá Beach (R) Canajurê Beach

Depending on the beach (as each has unique features), activities range from long walks and sunbathing to swimming, surfing/kitesurfing, kayaking, or beach sports. For example, one beach—Praia da Joaquina—has expansive sand dunes (called the Dunes of Joaquina) right behind it where you can go sand-boarding. Located in an ecological park with pretty ocean views, you can rent a board for around R$30/hour (or feel free to bring your own): there are smaller and larger dunes depending on age and skills!

(L) Campeche Beach (R) Joaquina Beach

My personal must-visit beaches in Florianópolis are [1]Praia do Campeche (Campeche Beach), [2]Praia da Joaquina (Joaquina Beach), [3]Praia de Canajurê (Canajurê Beach), and [4]Praia do Gravatá (Gravatá Beach—access via hike only!). For full detail on these, visit my blog post Top 4 Beaches in Florianópolis, Brazil!

2 Go Hiking

Right alongside visiting the beaches, one of the absolute top things to do in Floripa is hiking. One of the most memorable hikes I’ve done around the world was here! The natural beauty and diversity in Brazil is truly unreal: on one hike, trek deep in a rainforest, find yourself cliffside with ocean views, and finish on a gorgeous sandy beach where you can take off your sneakers and cool off in the ocean (yes - all in a single hike!).

Lagoinha do Leste Trail

Varying in difficulty and length, and each with breathtaking views, my favorite hikes in Florianópolis are [1]Trilha Praia do Gravatá (Gravatá Trail), [2]Trilha Do Dólmen Da Oração (Dólmen of Prayer Trail), and [3]Trilha Lagoinha do Leste (Lagoinha do Leste Trail). For a full guide to each hike, visit my blog post A Guide to the Best Hikes in Florianópolis (Santa Catarina Island)!

(L) Dólmen of Prayer Trail (R) Gravatá Trail

3 Catch a Festival or Concert

Florianópolis has more to offer than hikes, water sports, and beaches. Every year, the island hosts multiple festivals, most of which occur during the busy summer season. From jazz & rock concerts to art & beer festivals, there are a lot of opportunities to catch a fun celebration while you’re visiting. Of course Floripa, along with the rest of Brazil, celebrates Carnival. While it’s not as massive as big cities like Rio de Janeiro, it’s still huge—the island knows how to party! The grand parade takes place in the city center (Centro) at the Florianópolis Sambadrome, and there are tons of street and beach blocos all week long. Plus, Floripa is close enough to Rio (about a 1.5 hour direct flight) that you could go to Carnival for a day or two there, before retreating back to the way less crowded island.

Floripa Eco Festival

While visiting we were able to go to the Floripa Eco Festival—food trucks, bars, small business shopping, and hip-hop & reggae concerts. Part of what makes it eco-friendly is that you receive a single reusable cup to fill throughout the day, eliminating a lot of the waste that usually comes with such events—I had never seen this before, and all festivals/concerts should definitely take notes! We saw popular international performers such as Matuê (Brazil) and Ziggy Alberts (Australia): we accidentally saw Ziggy the night before the festival in a small local bar in Campeche, a few blocks from our apartment. A small crowd formed around this amazing singer while we were having drinks, so we joined to watch him perform, and only found out the next day at the festival who he was!

4 Explore Centro

Though I don't recommend basing yourself in Centro, I certainly recommend making time in your itinerary for a day or half-day visit! Many of the historic center's attractions are close together, so it's doable on foot. Located on the island side of the picturesque bridge that leads to the mainland, it's considered a business district that blends culture, shopping, and delicious food.

Centro Histórico de Florianópolis

Some top things to do in Centro:

• Stroll the scenic 'beach walk' (Beira-Mar) promenade
• Palácio Cruz e Sousa—an 18th-century palace-turned-museum
• Mercado Municipal—a large public market with cheap souvenirs and local food
• Catedral Metropolitana de Florianópolis—a beautiful Catholic Church whose construction began in 1753
• Shopping at Beiramar Mall
• Morro da Cruz—panoramic city views

Tips & Advice

[1] When in Brazil, you have to eat Brazilian açaí—it's the most delicious in the world (yes, bold statement, but trust me!). Pretty much any açaí spot in Florianópolis is delicious, but my go-to while living in Campeche was Açailand—just thinking about it makes my mouth water!

[2] Definitely rent a bike and ride around! My favorite spot was looping around Lagoa da Conceição on the nice biking path (flat, scenic views, with easy stops for coffee), or cruising along the length of Campeche Beach—if you’re going on the sand, be sure to rent one with the right tires. It's such a great way to get around and explore!

[3] Floripa has a thriving vegetarian/vegan scene, especially in Lagoa da Conceição, Campeche, and Centro. Some of the best places are Kulturas, Taboo Tiki Bar, DESVIO-Rio Tavares and Porongo-Comida Brasileira, but there's so many more that adapt classic Brazilian dishes to be meat-free—you can also always ask for "sem carne"! Vegan feijoada is a game-changer.

[4] Grab a stand-up paddleboard (SUP) rental right on Lagoa da Conceição—it's super easy and one of the best ways to enjoy the calm lagoon waters. Spots along the shore (like near the bridges or rental bases) let you hop on quickly for a peaceful paddle with mountain and town views. Perfect for beginners or just chilling on the water and was SUCH a fun activity. Prices start around R$50–R$100/hour.

I hope this inspires you to visit Florianópolis because it really deserves all the love and lives up to its nickname as the "Magic Island." You'll be hooked on the lush trails that drop you onto hidden beaches, big surf-perfect waves, and mix of laid-back vibes with adventures. So, if you're looking for a spot in Brazil that's super safe, has stunning nature, good food, festivals, and real quality of life without the massive crowds at cities like Rio, Floripa is it. You won't regret it! 🌴🩵