Florianópolis · Things to do

A protected island off the south-east coast with one white-sand beach and IPHAN-listed rock carvings; visitor numbers are capped and access is by licensed boat only. Associations run from Praia da Armação (30–45 min), Praia do Campeche (5–15 min) and Barra da Lagoa (schooner, about an hour); guided land trails cost roughly R$15–45.

The sea-turtle programme's Florianópolis station, 50m from the beach on Rua Professor Ademir Francisco, with tanks, exhibits and rescued turtles. Open Wednesday to Monday 9.30am–5pm; R$44 full, R$22 concession, free for under-5s.

The island's least developed beach, reachable only on foot — the shorter approach climbs the hill from Pântano do Sul, the longer one comes over from Matadeiro near Armação. There is nothing there: no kiosk, no shade, patchy signal, so carry water and start early.

An Azorean fishing village on the sheltered west side, with a colonial church square and oyster racks out in the channel. The restaurants along Rodovia Baldicero Filomeno are where Florianópolis eats its own oysters; go for a long lunch and stay for the sunset over the mainland.

The east-coast surf beach that made the island's name, with a large dune field behind it where boards are rented for sandboarding. The water is cold and the current is real — the dunes are the safer half of the day.