Mainland Guide of the Island of Santa Catarina
If you have enough time to spare to escape the magical clutch of Florianopolis, the state of Santa Catarina has many more attractions along the coast and inland. The whole state seems to be one long, beautiful beach separated by mini-headlands.
Top-class surf breaks on many of them, with Imbituba host to the Brazil leg of the ASP World Championship Tour and Garopaba claimed to be the home of surf in Brazil; enormous sand dunes close by at Praia Siriú have some of the best sandboarding anywhere; the best kitesurfing in Brazil is at Ibiraquera; while whale-watching is just one of the charms of Praia do Rosa. All this is enclosed within just one small area of the southern coast of Santa Catarina, within 100km of Floripa. Many quieter beaches such as Ferrugem, Ouvidor, Vermelho and Guarda do Embaú fill up only at holiday periods, if at all, despite great surf.
Heading 30km north of the capital takes you to the quiet Governador Celso Ramos peninsula. Boat trips take you from Floripa to Ilha Anhatomirim and to see the dolphins frolicking in Baia dos Golfinhos there.
The Porto Belo peninsula has more famous beaches such as Bombas, Bombinhas, Mariscal and Zimbros, which made the list of Top 10 Brazil Beaches recently in Jungle Drums Magazine. The best scuba-diving in the state is also around this area, as well as buzzing nightlife.
Balneário Camboriú has some of the best clubs and the most beautiful people in Brazil to go with its mini-Rio skyline, statue of Christ and cable car ride. Praia Brava is one of the beaches where those beautiful people can be found out of the city.
As well as beaches such as Praia Grande, Armação and the best parasailing around, Penha also has the largest amusement park in Latin America. Beto Carrera World also boasts a zoo.
Away from all those beaches, Blumenau has its own Oktoberfest; Santa Amara do Imperatriz and Aguas Mornas have hot springs making their way down the mountains, while the other rivers of the Parque Estadual Serra do Tabuleiro have whitewater rafting, trekking and mountain biking. Sao Joaquim has some of Brazil´s only regular snowfall in the winter.
If that still isn´t enough to keep you occupied, try the neighbouring states of Paraná and Rio Grande do Sul. Paraná has Brazil´s most spectacular train ride from Curitiba down through the mountains of the Serra do Mar to Morretes. Paranagua Bay also has its own beaches including those of the beautiful Ilha do Mel, and the wilderness of the Parque Estadual do Superagüi. Rio Grande do Sul has mountain towns such as Gramado and the canyons of Itaimbezinho, plus lagoons galore before you hit Porto Alegre.
The mainland of Santa Catarina and South Brazil is just as diverse, just and adventurous and just as beautiful, and just as lively as Floripa. Only much bigger.