Brazil - The Rough Guide to South America on a Budget - page 353

GETTING AROUND
By bus The island has several local bus terminals, so
be prepared to change if travelling extensively by bus
(transfers are free). The central local bus terminal is
Terminal de Integração Centro (or TICEN) at Paulo Fontes
701, which serves most of the island (fares are R$2.90).
If you buy a stored-value card ( cartão magnético ) the rate
drops to R$2.70. Faster, air-conditioned yellow minibuses
- called executivas (R$5) - also zip between the main
beaches.
Destinations From Terminal de Integração Centro (TICEN):
#311, #330 or #320 to Lagoa da Conceição (TILAG); #231 or
#233 to Canasvieiras (TICAN); From Lagoa da Conceição
(TILAG): #360 to Barra da Lagoa; #363 to Joaquina via Praia
Mole; #842 to Canasvieiras (TICAN); From Canasvieiras
(TICAN): #276 to Balneário Canasvieiras.

the Alfândega (Mon-Fri 2am-6pm & Sat
9am-noon), a former customs house
dating from 1875 that has been converted
for use as a crafts market. Most sights of
interest, however, are centred on the lush
square, Praça XV de Novembro , at the
centre of which is the enormous, gnarled
“ Centenary Fig ” tree. According to
legend, walking three times around the
tree will guarantee you fame and fortune.
On one side of the square is the Palácio
Cruz e Souza , an imposing pink building
built between 1770 and 1780 as the seat
of provincial government - it houses
the Museu Histórico de Santa Catarina
(Tues-Fri 10am-6pm, Sat & Sun till
4pm; R$2; W fcc.sc.gov.br/mhsc/) whose
nineteenth-century interior is more
engaging than its collection of military
memorabilia. The Catedral Metropolitana
(Mon-Fri 6.15am-8pm, Sat 8am-noon
& 4-8pm, Sun 7am-noon & 4-9pm),
overlooking the square, dates back to the
eighteenth century but has been modified
many times since; the only church in the
city centre virtually unchanged since the
colonial era is the Igreja de Nossa Senhora
do Rosário , built 1787 to 1830 and
approached by a flight of steps at Rua
Marechal Guilherme 60, two blocks
north of the Praça.

3

ACCOMMODATION
Most tourists choose to stay at the beaches and resorts
around the island (see p.360), but staying in Florianópolis
itself has the benefit of direct bus services to other parts of
the island. It's not cheap, though, and accommodation is
snapped up quickly in high season.
Hotel Central Sumaré Rua Felipe Schmidt 423 T 48
3222 5359, W hotelcentralsumare.com.br. The cheapest of
the central hotels, in a secure area of town. The minimal
rooms are nothing to write home about, but will do if you'd
rather spend your money on enjoying yourself than on
your digs. There is an R$25 discount for th e room is with
shared bathrooms and cheaper single rates. R$100
HI Hostel Florianópolis Rua Duarte Schutel 227
T 48 3225 3781, W floripahostel.com.br. Everything you
would expect from an HI hostel, though as in the rest of
town, you'll find yourself paying more than else where .
It fills ra pidly in summer, so get here early. Dorms R$40 ,
doubles R$105
Valerim Center Rua Felipe Schmidt 554 T 48 3225
1100, W hotelvalerim.com.br. The largest of the mid-
range hotels, with clean comfortable rooms (some of
which sleep up to six peop le), all with a sleek modern
design, a/c, TV and minibar. R$106

ARRIVAL AND INFORMATION
By plane The airport ( T 48 3331 4000) is 12km south of
the city, with daily flights from Buenos Aires, São Paulo,
Rio and Porto Alegre. You can get into the centre by taxi
(20min; R$40-50) or catch green bus #183 or #186 (every
10-30min and labelled “Corredor do Sudoeste”; R$2.90),
which will end up at the Terminal de Integração Centro
(TICEN) in the centre (around 45min).
By bus Buses arrive at the Terminal Rodoviária Rita María
( T 48 3212 3100) at the foot of the road bridge that links
the island to the mainland. Cross Av Paulo Fontes and it's
a short walk to the centre; the local bus terminal (TICEN;
see below) is one long block east at Paulo Fontes 701.
Destinations Blumenau (hourly; 3hr); Curitiba (hourly;
4-5hr); Foz do Iguaçu (6 daily; 14-16hr); Joinville (hourly;
2.5-3hr); Porto Alegre (12 daily; 6-7hr); São Paulo (10 daily;
11-12hr).
Tourist information There's a tourist information kiosk
(daily 8am-6pm; T 48 3228 1095, W guiafloripa.com.br)
at the rodoviária . Santa Catarina's state tourist board is
based at Rua Felipe Schmidt 249, on the 9th floor (Mon-
Fri 8am-7pm; T 48 3212 6300, W www.santur.sc.gov.br).

EATING AND DRINKING
Getting a snack in Florianópolis is no problem, but finding
a decent meal sometimes can be, and many of the better
restaurants are some way from the centre along Av Beira
Norte (take bus #134 from the local bus terminal) - expect
prices similar to upmarket areas of Rio de Janeiro. The best
place for cheap eats is the Mercado Público (see p.356).
Botequim Floripa Av Rio Branco 632 T 48 3333 1234,
W botequimfloripa.com.br. Pub-style place with a lively
happy hour and cold beer on tap. Serves up a Brazilian
classic feijoada on Sat (R$29.90). Mon-Fri 5.30pm-1am &
Sat 4.30pm-1am.