Florianópolis · Backpacking
ON A BUDGET
An island of forty-odd beaches with a surf hostel scene and buses that reach almost all of them.
Sleep at Lagoa da Conceição
Hostels ring the lagoon and the bar strip on Avenida das Rendeiras; Barra da Lagoa is cheaper, quieter and closer to the surf.
What a day costs
Dorm R$60–110 outside January, food R$45–80, buses R$25. Reckon R$130–230 a day, roughly $25–45. High summer doubles the bed.
Getting around cheap
Municipal buses run through three interchange terminals, so one fare and a transfer reaches most beaches. Buy a Cartão Passe Rápido to skip the cash queue.
Free by day
The Lagoinha do Leste trail over the ridge, the Morro da Cruz viewpoint above the centre, and the sand at Praia Mole and Joaquina.
Mercado Público
The old market's bars fill from late afternoon with a mix of locals, students and travellers; the Lagoa strip takes over after dark.