Joaquina Beach
Wide surf beach backed by tall sand dunes. Sandboarding down the dunes is a popular activity, and the waves draw surfers throughout the year.
Florianopolis
In the south, this island city draws South American visitors with surf spots, lagoons and dozens of beaches.
Attractive locations
Mole Beach
Lively beach on the east of the island, with a mix of surfers, young crowds and cafes. Paths lead over the headland to quieter nearby coves.
Campeche Island
Small island off the southeast coast with clear water for snorkelling and rock carvings made by ancient inhabitants. Boat trips to the island leave from Armação beach.
Lagoa do Peri
Freshwater lake surrounded by forested hills in the south of the island, where visitors can swim, paddle, walk the shore and escape the busier coast.
Fortress of Santa Cruz de Anhatomirim
Colonial fortress built in the 18th century on a small island in the bay. Boat trips take visitors there, and dolphins are often seen on the way.
Fortaleza de São José da Ponta Grossa
18th-century Portuguese fort on a headland in the north of the island, with restored stone buildings and good views over the sea.
Lagoa da Conceição
A large lagoon on the east side of Santa Catarina Island, ringed by hills, with restaurants, watersports such as windsurfing and sandboarding dunes nearby. The lagoon district is lively after dark.
Airports
Hercílio Luz International Airport FLN
It is about 9 km in a straight line from Florianopolis.
Ministro Victor Konder International Airport NVT
It is about 80 km in a straight line from Florianopolis.
Humberto Ghizzo Bortoluzzi Regional Airport JJG
It is about 130 km in a straight line from Florianopolis.
Scams and safe taxis
Weather by month
Each month shows its average temperature in °C and its mm of rain per month.
- Jan24.4 °C189 mm
- Feb24.6 °C146 mm
- Mar23.7 °C141 mm
- Apr21.7 °C101 mm
- May18.5 °C114 mm
- Jun16.8 °C96 mm
- Jul15.9 °C96 mm
- Aug16.6 °C103 mm
- Sep17.8 °C152 mm
- Oct19.7 °C144 mm
- Nov21.2 °C134 mm
- Dec23.2 °C153 mm
Driest months: Apr, Jun, Jul. Wettest months: Jan, Sep, Dec.
Costs
Prices here are about 46% of US prices (World Bank, 2025). This compares a country's overall prices, not the cost of a trip.
Who can help
Emergency
Police 190. Ambulance 192. Fire 193.
local government
Military Police emergency number 190
Helps with: Brazil's national telecom regulator lists 190 as the Military Police code. The same list gives 192 for the SAMU ambulance, 193 for fire, 194 for Federal Police and 197 for Civil Police.
Who qualifies: Anyone in Brazil who needs the police urgently, including visitors.
Phone: 190
local government
Civil Defence (Defesa Civil) number 199
Helps with: Brazil's civil defence service for floods, landslides and other disasters, listed by the national telecom regulator and the Ministry of Communications as the Defesa Civil emergency number.
Who qualifies: Anyone in Brazil affected by a disaster or at risk from one.
Phone: 199
ngo
Brazilian Red Cross (Cruz Vermelha Brasileira)
Helps with: Brazil's national Red Cross society, headquartered in Rio de Janeiro. Its site describes first aid courses, health care in disasters, disaster risk management and work reconnecting migrants with their families.
Who qualifies: People in Brazil who need its first aid, health, disaster or family-reconnection services.
Address: Praca Cruz Vermelha 10, Centro, Rio de Janeiro
un agency
International Organization for Migration (IOM) Brazil
Helps with: The UN migration agency, in Brazil since 2016. It supports migrants, returnees, displaced people and host communities, and works with governments on migration. Its office is in Brasilia.
Who qualifies: Migrants, returnees and displaced people in Brazil. It is not a help service for ordinary tourists.
Address: SAUS Quadra 5, Bloco N, Ed. OAB, Salas 401 a 412, Asa Sul, Brasilia-DF, 70070-913