The South - The Rough Guide to Brazil - page 579

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also backed by developments, these are low-key, and separated by a swathe of
seagrape and small bushes. The only way to access the beach is via the parking area
at the eastern end.

The Bottle House
If you're driving, don't miss the spectacular Casa Arte - aka “Bottle House” - just south
of Praia da Lagoinha (on the road to Ingleses, Rua Epitacio Bittencourt 120; W casaarte
florianopolis.com), where banks of coloured bottles and sculptures line the road.
Created by local artist Jaime Machado Riccio over fifteen years, the installations total
around 5km in length.
ACCOMMODATION PRAIA DA LAGOINHA AND AROUND

Pousada da Vigia Rua Conêgo Walmor Castro 291
T 48 3284 1789, W pousadadavigia.com.br. Located
just metres from the shore, this is one of the most exclusive

places to stay on the island. Once the private residence of a
former state governor, the prop erty ha s been turned into a
pousada of understated luxury. R$300

★

Ingleses and around
The beaches of the island's east coast are wilder and not as developed as the north -
in part because of the heavy surf that pounds them year-round. Ingleses is
another major resort and tra c bottleneck that lines the wonderful, balmy waters
of the 5km-long Praia dos Ingeles and sprawls into the Rio Vermelho valley to
the south. Like Canasvieras, it's popular with Argentine and Brazilian tourists,
but northerners will find it a poor imitation of popular beach resorts in Spain
or Florida.

Praia do Santinho
Praia do Santinho , beyond Ingleses, is a relatively tranquil stretch of sand, separated
from the rest of the island by an astounding range of dunes - sand boarding and hiking
are popular activities here.

EATING INGLESES AND AROUND

★

Chez Altamiro Rodovia João Gualberto Soares 7742
(SC-406), Ingleses do Rio Vermelho T 48 3269 7727,
W chezaltamiro.com.br. Inland from the main Ingleses
resort, this is one of the most outstanding, and surprising,
restaurants on the island. It's run by chef Altamiro Nunes
Filho, who, despite having never set foot in France, cooks

extremely good traditional French food (with wine, reckon
on around R$180 a head). The restaurant is in the middle of
nowhere, but is easily recognized by the tricolour that
adorns the outside of the wooden building. Reservations
strongly advised. Daily 8pm-midnight.

Praia da Moçambique
Stretching for 12km along the east coast, Praia da Moçambique (also known as Praia
Grande) is the longest beach on the island (good for surfing), and also one of the least
developed, thanks to the Parque Estadual do Rio Vermelho , a huge expanse of pine trees
that takes up most of its hinterland. The beach is signposted off coastal SC-406 - drive
here if you crave seclusion.

Barra da Lagoa and around
BARRA DA LAGOA , the village at the entrance to the Lagoa da Conceição , has succeeded
fairly well in allowing tourism to develop alongside the inhabitants' traditional
livelihood - fishing. Indeed, there are no resorts here, with surfing the dominant
activity - its gentle swells make this a good place to learn and it's also the home of
world champion Jacqueline Silva. The village lies just behind the beach (off SC-406),
which is itself the southern extension of Praia da Moçambique.

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