Florianópolis: TravelGuide

The natural beauties of Florianópolis attract thousands of visitors every year. Especially in the summer, Brazilians and natives of other South American countries such as Argentineans, Uruguayans and Chileans seek the diversity of the Santa Catarina coastline. On the island, side by side, the... More

The natural beauties of Florianópolis attract thousands of visitors every year. Especially in the summer, Brazilians and natives of other South American countries – such as Argentineans, Uruguayans and Chileans – seek the diversity of the Santa Catarina coastline. On the island, side by side, the most varied types of beaches can be found – the long ones, with large strips of sand; the small ones, embedded in backwaters; those with strong waves; and the ones with calm waters, resembling lagoons; urban beaches full of bathers; and deserted beaches, with access by trail only. It is a paradise for surf, windsurf, sailing and fishing enthusiasts. The Northern and Central regions of Florianópolis are the most sought after by tourists and offer a complete infrastructure of services, resorts, hotels and lodges. Further south, some districts also preserve their countryside village identity, and the heritage left by their ancestors (who came from the Portuguese archipelago of Açores during the 18th century) is noticeable in their manner of speaking, in their handicraft activities, and typical feasts. On the other side, the city has taken on a cosmopolitan air with the arrival of Brazilians from other States and foreigners who chose to live there. The island, which in the beginning of the colonization period, was an important whale hunting centre, is today the technological pole of the IT industry. A State Capital of interest to tourism, Florianópolis is currently inhabited by about 300 thousand people, a number that triples every summer. Less