Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
kilometres to the north is
Praia Siriú
(you can walk along a trail from the centre),
backed by huge dunes, while 16km north of town (30min by road),
Praia da Gamboa
is a fabulous beach for swimming, with a beautiful mountain backdrop (this eventually
runs up to Guarda do Embaú).
ARRIVAL AND ACCOMMODATION
9
GAROPABA
By bus
There are Paulotur buses to Florianópolis (2hr)
leaving from Rua Marquês Guimarães, and those
destined for points south as far as Porto Alegre from
Praça Silveira. There are also frequent local services
plying the route between Garopaba and Praia da Rosa
for around R$3.50 (40min).
Pousada da Lagoa
Rua Rosalina Aguiar Lentz 325
T
48 3254 3201,
W
pousadadalagoa.com.br.
Lovely,
modern hotel set in a huge tropical garden, just 400m
from the beach, with stylish a/c roo
ms deco
rated with
contemporary art, a pool and free wi-fi.
R$305
Praia do Rosa
Some 18km south of Garopaba, just to the north of Imbituba,
Praia do Rosa
is a
3km strip of dazzling sand and a major surf destination. Other than lounging on
the beach (a 20min walk down the hill from the small town centre), it's a great place
to learn to surf, and to organize whale-watching trips in the winter. In the summer
the town attracts a fairly boisterous party scene, and hotels near the beach have
become expensive.
ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE
PRAIA DA ROSA
By bus
There are frequent local buses that link Garopaba
and Praia da Rosa (R$3.50) - you can catch a bus south
or north from Garopaba.
ACCOMMODATION AND EATING
Pousada La Roca
Caminho Do Rei
T
48 3355 7020,
W
pousadalaroca.com.br.
Friendly and enticing
Argentine-owned hotel a short walk from the beach, with
hammocks on the deck, cosy rooms with beach views,
stylish, co
ntempo
rary decor, free wi-fi and wholesome
breakfasts.
R$210
★
with a menu blending Thai, Indonesian and Japanese
dishes and flavours (mains R$42-76
). Daily 7-11pm.
★
Vida, Sol e Mar
Estrada Geral da Praia do Rosa
T
48 3355 6111,
W
vidasolemar.com.br.
Small eco-
friendly resort, with extremely comfortable cottages, great
restaurant, a wonderful lounge, a pool, and staff who are
extremely
knowl
edgeable about the local area. Also has
free wi-fi.
R$230
Tigre Asiático
Centrinho do Rosa (Rod. 434
Km 11)
T
48 3355 7045,
W
tigreasiaticorestaurante
.com.br.
Lavish Balinese- and Thai-inspired restaurant
Laguna
LAGUNA
, 125km from Florianópolis and the closest Santa Catarina gets to having a
near-complete colonial town, is an excellent place to break your journey. Sitting at the
end of a narrow peninsula, at the entrance to the Lagoa Santo Antônio, Laguna feels
like two distinct towns. Facing west onto the sheltered lagoon is the old port and
Laguna's historic centre, protected as a national monument. Two kilometres away, on
the far side of a granite outcrop of mountainous proportions that separates the city's
two parts, is the new town, facing east onto the Atlantic Ocean. Most of Laguna's
hotels and restaurants are in the new town, alongside and parallel to the
Praia do Mar
Grosso
, the city's main beach.
RIGHT WHALE
WATCHING
Between mid-June and mid-November, the south coast of Santa Catarina is the most popular
place in Brazil for
whale watching
. With luck you should be able to spot southern right
whales swimming just 30m from the beach, but for near-certain viewing of both adult whales
and their calves it's best to take a boat excursion:
Vida, Sol e Mar
(see above) is the most
experienced operator (R$150), with boats especially designed for whale watching.
