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Florianópolis. The magic island
By: Andréia Dorneles Jouglard | Sotaque Brasileiro, Number 2, Fall 2003
with over 42 beaches, the capital of Santa Catarina boasts a beautiful landscape that captivates the visitor upon arrival.
Bathed by the Atlantic Ocean, midway between Rio de Janeiro and Buenos Aires, Florianópolis Island was founded by Portuguese in the year 1662. State capital of Santa Catarina, Floripa - as it is known among the youth - has throughout its 451 km², fertile land and generous forests. For this reason, since the sixteenth century, it was the point of greed among explorers of many nationalities. For over a century, the island was the point of supply, ship repair and rest for sailors traveling south or on their way to the Pacific Ocean.
Because of an incentive from the Portuguese government, thousands of families from the islands of Madeira and Azores settled on the island. The Portuguese families, blended with other cultures, overcame the challenges and surpassed the immigration expectations. The Azorean men left significant marks on this historic trajectory. Their accent, religion, customs, cuisine, folklore, handicrafts, fishing and especially their simple and hospitable ways, are still striking features in Florianopolis. The historical traces of the Portuguese are easily visible. Unadorned houses, churches and the layout of the streets, still live in harmony with the modern.
Over time, Florianópolis became known as the Magic Island. Natural beauty, charming people and carefully preserved architecture from the colonial times delight the most demanding visitors. On the island there are beaches for all tastes: from calm waters to rough seas, of easy access or by trails, with infrastructure or nearly all natural wild.
Florianópolis has over 42 beaches. Because there are too many, they ended up being divided into groups: the beaches of the North, East and South. Each beach has its own characteristics and a more-or-less defined public. The North Island, for example, is the most developed region, with many hotels, restaurants, nightclubs, among other services. In the South, the beaches are more rustic and wild. The East of the island, in turn, grows every year and has perfect beaches for surfing.
Here are suggestions of beaches for those who want the best beaches on the Magic Island.
Northern Beaches:
Sambaqui – the region of Azorean roots is a traditional fishing village and home to those who are looking for peace and quiet. Its community struggles to preserve old customs and often promotes religious festivals and encourages folk dance groups. One of the greatest qualities of this beach is the panoramic view of North Bay and the mainland.
Jurerê and Jurerê International - the first is the favorite beach of families, with calm and warm seas. The second is the more aristocratic area, which accounts for some of the largest mansions in the south of Brazil. Yachts and boats moored at the Yacht Club of SC makes up part of the beautiful view of the beach, which is a magnet for those who enjoy water sports.
Daniela Beach - The place is a heaven for children: a wide area of fine sand, warm water and no waves. The right itinerary to escape the hustle and bustle is to take a walk through the sand to the left corner of the beach, to the mangrove. There you can watch the fishing of shrimp, crab and clams.
Santinho Beach - the main attractions are the stone writings made by hunters, fishermen and collectors more than five thousand years ago. One can easily see the signals recorded in the rocks, such as circles, parallel lines and stylized figures of men. Almost untouched by humans, Santinho beach is visited by tourists who love nature.
Canasvieiras Beach – it’s the preferred resort for tourists. The sand strip is narrow and in warmer weather, it is advisable to arrive early to get a place to sit. There you can rent from chairs to kayaks. The beach also has schooner rides, banana-boat rides and diving. The centre area feels like a small town: complete with a police station, health centre, 24-hour supermarket, banks, post office and travel agencies. There are many lodging options depending on your style and pocketbook.
Brava Beach - is one of the most prestigious of the city. Upscale condominiums and high architectural standard, high points with amazing views, seaside bars and restaurants fill the eyes of the tourists. Brava’s sea is rough with rolling waves and attracts mainly surfers.
Ingleses Beach - is the second resort in the tourist preference, second only to Canasvieiras. The great dune separating the Ingleses Beach and Santinho Beach is must-see attraction. This is the perfect place for the practice of sandboarding, a sport that consists of sliding down the dunes on a board, doing tricks or not. Those looking for a different outing can walk over four miles of dunes.
Eastern Beaches:
Mozambique Beach or Grande - is the largest of the island, with 13 km of white sand and almost wild nature. The explanation lies on its banks, which belong to the Red River National Forest, a reserve of approximately 400 square meters. There are no constructions in the area and only the dunes are the dividing line between the bush and the sea.
Barra da Lagoa - is considered one of the most popular beaches on the East and is also the largest fishing nucleus of the island. Surrounded by Azorean style construction, Barra has a nice bridge that connects the lagoon to the ocean.
Mole Beach - is the point of the youth. The main visitors are surfers and paragliding - that take advantage of the southern slope with take-off ramps.
Galheta Beach - despite being located between the bustling Mole and Barra da Lagoa, it is semi-desert. Access is through a trail of 300 meters from the north coast of Mole. Without the option of bars and restaurants, Galheta is ideal for those who enjoy nature and simplicity. Since the 70’s, the place is frequented by nudists, but the practice is not mandatory.
Joaquina Beach - is one of the most popular, receiving tourists from Brazil and abroad. Joaca, as it is known, gained fame in the 70's, when its waves were discovered by surfers worldwide. Several championships take place on site.
Southern Beaches:
Campeche Beach - with its rough seas is compared by South African surfers to Jeffrey's Bay, for its waves that seem to have no end. Hype aside, the place offers varied entertainment, like a soccer game on the old airfield, or throw-fishing. At night, Campeche is not lacking entertainment. The huge reflector that illuminates the beach favours the hype crowd and the fishermen who use the light to remove their nets from the sea.
Morro das Pedras Beach - despite the poor infrastructure, the scenery is stunning: the ocean crashes against the rocks, causing the water to be thrown several feet high. A visit to the retreat house of the Jesuit Fathers, built on top of a hill with local stones, is a must. The beach remains intact, with no buildings or kiosks by the sea.
Armação Beach - with an air of small village, it is one of the major fishing centers of the island. Tourists and surfing practitioners live in harmony with the locals. It is in Armação that is located one of the most important archaeological sites in Santa Catarina.
Lagoinha do Leste Beach - is the perfect place, with a beach, pond, waterfall and native forest. One of the last strongholds of Atlantic forest still preserved in Florianopolis, the municipal park of Lagoinha do Leste was created by law in 1992. The best way to reach it is by foot. Another option is to go by sea, with precarious landing because of the surf. This relative lack of access serves as a protective shield for the place.
Naufragados Beach - access is difficult and through a path full of beautiful surprises. The beach has heavy sand and open sea. With minimal infrastructure, is ideal for those who enjoy camping, fishing or tracking. Opposite the beach is the island of Araçatuba, with the Fort of Nossa Senhora da Conceição, built in 1742.
Ribeirão da Ilha Beach - is composed of several small beaches, calm waters and thick sand. It is considered one of the few places in the southern coast of Brazil that still retains traces of Portuguese colonization. The Church of Our Lady of Lapa do Ribeirão and Ethnological Museum of Ribeirão da Ilha (which stores documents and pieces that tell the history of the region) are some examples of historical places that are located in the Ribeirão da Ilha. It was one of the first communities in the state and the first in Florianopolis to be inhabited by the Carijós Indians in the sixteenth century.
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