Florianópolis's main attraction is the more than
40 beaches scattered across the island. Each has its own
character. Starting clockwise from the northern part of
the island, the most visited beaches are Canasvieiras, Jururê,
and Praia dos Ingleses. Canasvieiras and Jururê lie
on the bay side of the island and have pleasant calm waters
with almost no waves. Praia dos Ingleses faces the open
ocean and often has rougher surf. All three are very urbanized
and packed in the summer months when tourists flock here
from all over Brazil. Jururê is popular with Brazilian
celebrities, many of whom own houses or condos in the exclusive
subdivisions. At the northern tip of the peninsula in between
Praia dos Ingleses and Canasvieiras sits Lagoinha, a lovely
small beach backed by a small fishing village. This is one
of the best sunset spots on the island. Moving clockwise
along the eastern coast of the island you come to Praia
do Moçambique, at 19km (12 miles) the longest stretch
of strand on the island. An ecological reserve runs alongside
for the beach's entire length, forming a construction-free
buffer zone of thick vegetation between beach and road.
Heading south from Praia do Moçambique, you'll come
to Praia Mole, the hotshot surf beach at the moment. Largely
unspoiled, the beach is framed by green hills and rocky
outcrops and the sand is white and very soft. Only accessible
on foot from Praia Mole, Praia da Galheta is the island's
clothing-optional beach. Just south of Praia Mole is Praia
da Joaquina. To reach this beach you drive past the shifting
sand dunes east of the Lagoa. It was once one of the island's
more popular beaches, particularly with surfers, but these
days Praia Mole seems to get most of the action.
Campeche is far enough south that even in high season it's
not hard to find a quiet spot here. The beach is very wide,
but large waves can make it dangerous for swimming. Another
favorite surf destination (and a spot where one can often
see dolphins) is Praia da Armação, just south
of Campeche. For even more isolated bliss check out Lagoinha
de Leste. Sandwiched between Armação and Pântano
do Sul, this environmentally protected headland is only
accessible by foot along a 4km (2.5-mile) trail. The beach
sits nestled at the bottom of a large hill and is cut in
half by a small river that flows into the ocean.
Following the SC-406 all the way to the end will lead you
to Pântano do Sul, located on the eastern side of
the skinny southern tip of the island. It's one of the main
fishing communities on the island and has a busy, bustling
atmosphere. However, the boat traffic (and dirty gray sand)
make it less than ideal for swimming. From Pântano
do Sul, the only access to the western side of the island
is on foot. Drivers will have to backtrack all the way to
the junction at Praia da Armação before heading
west.
The Lagoa da Conceição sits almost at the
center of the island, to the east of the city of Florianópolis
and west of Praia Mole. The lagoon is about 30% freshwater.
The water temperature is balmy -- in the summer it can reach
80°F (26°C). Watersports are allowed on the lagoon,
but jet skis have been banned.
