FLORIANÓPOLIS - BRASIL
Florianópolis is the capital of Santa Catarina state, in southern Brazil, split between the mainland and the island of Santa Catarina. The island holds the tourist draw, with more than forty beaches, dunes, Lagoa da Conceição and the old centre by the Hercílio Luz bridge. The north has the more built-up beaches; the east and south offer more open, surf-oriented options.
Lodging is organised by area: Jurerê and Canasvieiras in the north, with resorts and hotels; Lagoa da Conceição, central and with nightlife; Campeche and the south, quieter in profile. The choice depends on the type of trip and the beaches you prioritise.
Distances within the island are sizeable and traffic rises in summer. Plan transfers, arrange a vehicle or transfers and group visits by area to optimise travel times.
Useful information
Access
Hercílio Luz Airport (FLN), about 14 km from downtown; 20 to 30 minute transfer. Further to the beaches: around 36 km to Jurerê.
Season
High season December to March (austral summer), with heavy crowds; quieter the rest of the year.
Currency · time zone · language
Brazilian real (BRL) · UTC-3 · Portuguese.
Operations
The island has dozens of beaches across the north, east and south; internal distances are long, so a vehicle or transfers are advisable. Book lodging ahead in high season. A minimum of three nights is advisable to combine beaches and Lagoa da Conceição.