Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
capital of Santa Catarina state (half of the
city lies on the mainland and the other
half on the island). Fifty percent of Ilha
Santa Catarina has been placed under a
permanent national preservation order,
ensuring that its timeless appeal will
survive at least for the foreseeable future.
The island is peppered with resorts
- the north of the island is the most
developed while the extreme south
remains the quietest and most unspoilt
- and Lagoa da Conceição is a great spot
for good-value accommodation and bar
hopping. There are 42 beaches around
Ilha Santa Catarina, which means even
the most crowded are rarely unbearably
so. Anywhere on the island can be
reached by bus within an hour or so from
Florianópolis, although renting a car (see
p.358) is a good idea if you have limited
time, allowing you to explore the island
more thoroughly. Note, however, that
parts of Santa Catarina are notorious for
bad traffic, especially on the weekends
and in the summer. Also, locals often
refer to the whole island as Florianópolis,
with the city known simply as centro .
BEER DRINKING IN
BLUMENAU
Founded by German immigrants in 1850,
the a uent city of Blumenau is best
known today for its annual Oktoberfest
( W oktoberfestblumenau.com.br), the
biggest German festival in South America,
attracting over 500,000 revellers annually
to its vast beer tents, folk dancing,
shooting matches and German singing
contests. Accommodation options can be
found at W blumenau.sc.gov.br, but you'll
need to book in advance; the cheapest
option (dorms for around R$35) is usually
the Pousada e Hostel Vento Minuano
(Rua Lydia Zwicker 271; T 47 9191 4422),
9km from the bus station (taxis are around
R$15). Blumenau is just one hour thirty
minutes from Camboriú, three hours by
hourly bus from Florianópolis, and four
hours from Curitiba.
3
O Pharol Av Atlântica 5740 T 47 3367 3800, W pharol
.com.br. Smart seafood restaurant, well worth the extra
reais. The seafood rodizio (R$49.90 per person) is some-
thing special and includes prawns, lobster, oysters and
more. Daily 11.30am-midnight.
NIGHTLIFE
Camboriú has a vibrant nightlife aimed mainly at a young
crowd who love loud music, bare flesh and dancing. Most
places are on or around Av Atlântica, especially at the
southern end, the Barra Sul, where you'll find a huge array
of beach bars and discos. Things don't start to get lively
until well after midnight and the action continues until
after the sun comes up.
Cachaçaria Uai Av Atlântica 2334 T 47 3367 4978.
Bar-style hangout on the beach, specializing in caipirinhas ,
the Brazilian carnival cocktail made with cachaça and
crushed limes. Daily 6pm-late.
Woods Av Atlântica 4450, Barra Sul T 47 7812 3475,
W woodsbar.com.br. This popular country-style pub is a
good place to start the evening off, with cold beers served
in a beachfront location. Live music. Entry is R$30 (women)
and R$60 (men). Wed, Fri & Sat 11pm-5am.
Florianópolis
Founded in 1675 by Francisco Dias Velho,
FLORIANÓPOLIS (aka “Floripa”) boomed
75 years later thanks to an influx of
immigrants from the Azores. With the
construction of the bridges linking the
island with the mainland, Florianópolis as
a port has all but died, and today it thrives
as an administrative, commercial and
tourist centre. It's a modern city, but the
late nineteenth-century pastel-coloured,
stuccoed buildings of the old town still
have a whiff of old-world appeal, and it's
worth taking time to have a look around.
Few people visit Ilha Santa Catarina for the
express purpose of seeing the city, however,
and to truly experience the natural beauty
for which the island is renowned, it's best
to head out of the urban centre.
ILHA SANTA CATARINA
Joined to the mainland by suspension
bridges, ILHA SANTA CATARINA is noted
throughout Brazil for its gorgeous scenery
and beaches, ideal climate, attractive
fishing villages and the city of
Florianópolis , the small and prosperous
WHAT TO SEE AND DO
On the former waterfront, you'll find two
ochre-coloured buildings: the 1889
Mercado Público (Mon-Fri 7am-7pm &
Sat 7am-3pm), which contains some
excellent bars and small restaurants, and
 
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