Florianópolis is located both on Santa Catarina Island and on the mainland; more than 100 beaches are spread across both parts of the city. The coast is therefore one of the defining themes of a trip, but the city also offers other options for planning your days.
Beaches, Lagoon and Nature
At Lagoa da Conceição, you can enjoy excursions and water sports. This focus differs from the wide range of beach options: if you plan your days around activities rather than types of places, beaches and the lagoon can be treated as separate considerations when planning your trip.
The Galheta Municipal Natural Monument covers 251.07 hectares of dense ombrophilous forest and restinga; natural viewpoints are among its attractions. This area offers a different focus from the beach- and water-sports-related options: here, the emphasis is on the natural monument, its vegetation and its viewpoints. For travellers who want to make landscapes a focus of their trip, Galheta adds a clearly defined nature theme to the options.
Island Culture and History
On Ilha do Campeche, heritage protection and a very ancient archaeological history come together. The Instituto do Patrimônio Histórico e Artístico Nacional (IPHAN) protects the island as a heritage site. There are also rock inscriptions there dating back more than 5,000 years. The protected status and the dating draw attention to different aspects of the island: its cultural heritage and the age of the inscriptions. This adds a distinct cultural theme to the city’s beaches and water sports.
Cultural History in Santa Catarina
In the Santa Catarina destination, the Sistema de Fortificações da Ilha de Santa Catarina is one of Florianópolis’s most important cultural tourism attractions. It was built in the 18th century to consolidate Portuguese rule in the south of the continent. Alongside island heritage and rock inscriptions, this history also highlights the historical role of fortifications.
Culinary Traditions
Florianópolis holds the UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy designation. The Festa Nacional da Ostra e da Cultura Açoriana is a local tradition. An account published in 2018 gives October as the time of the event and reports more than 100 seafood-based dishes, mainly oysters and mussels. This gives gastronomy its own importance alongside the coast and culture when choosing a destination. If the festival is important to your trip, check the current dates in advance.
A Programme in Two Formats
The Fundação Projeto Tamar Florianópolis Visitor Centre offers the “Biólogo Por Um Dia” programme in two formats: for children aged 6 to 12 in small groups of up to six participants, and for mixed-age groups. This second format lasts about 1.5 hours. The options differ in age range, group size and duration, so you can first consider which one suits your group. Check the programme’s availability before your trip.
Discover more destinations: Guaraciaba, Palhoça, Urupema, Turvo, Imaruí, Rancho Queimado, Presidente Nereu, Bocaina do Sul
For the broader travel overview: Santa Catarina.
