Santa Catarina Voted the best tourist destination
in Brazil seven times
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Hercílio Luz Bridge
Tourism for all seasons Florianópolis is ready and waiting >> The capital of Santa Catarina is one of the most important tourist destinations in Brazil. The city is situated on an island (Santa Catarina Island) and over a small part of a mainland peninsula. Here you will find a hundred beaches, mountains, preservation areas, Atlantic Forest, dunes and two large lagoons. Peri is the largest fresh water reservoir on the island and has shallow and clear waters, whilst Conceição has calm, greenish, transparent and shallow waters. Florianópolis has 100 beaches of all kinds, from sheltered coves to those facing the open sea with big waves, which are obviously good for surfing. Some are famous and very popular, like Jurerê Internacional, Jurerê, Canasvieiras, Ponta das Canas, Lagoinha, Brava, Ingleses and Santinho (North of the island); Moçambique, Barra da Lagoa, Mole and Joaquina (East); Campeche, Armação and Pântano do Sul (South).
Beaches and waterfalls help you enjoy the summer in the best possible way >> Leaving Floripa and heading towards the Serra Verde e Mar (Green Mountains and Sea), you will find more natural beauty. The coast of Santa Catarina is one of the most beautiful in Brazil and there are dozens of beaches with white sand and clear blue water. Verdant hills, bustling resorts and bucolic crevices surround many of them. There are vast differences as some are almost wild, some have sheltered coves and others are open sea beaches. The smallest city of Santa Catarina is located on a peninsula with an abundance of bays, coves and beaches. In Bombinhas, the transparent waters and marine biodiversity attract scuba divers, who will find ideal conditions for snorkelling and well-equipped scuba diving agencies. Graced with beautiful beaches, Bombinhas offers good conditions for surfing, sailing and water skiing. 75% of its expanse consists of protected areas and exuberant nature. Ecological trails will take
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Mole Beach
tourists through the richness of the Atlantic Forest, past waterfalls and it is possible to see several species of animals and plants. On the other hand, BalneĂĄrio CamboriĂş is a modern and cosmopolitan city and it has attractions that guarantee fun 24 hours a day and even in low season. During the high season, approximately 1.5 million tourists visit the city - of which at least 100,000 come from abroad. In December and January, both during the day and at night, life pulsates along Atlantic Avenue that stretches around the Central Beach and plays host to many busy bars, nightclubs, hotels, cafeterias and restaurants that specialise in seafood and international cuisine. There are cities like Bom Jardim da Serra, Urubici, Urupema, SĂŁo Joaquim and Lages that make up part of a route that has some of the most beautiful panoramic views in southern Brazil. Along the route are various forms of accommodation. You can stay in farm hotels
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Serra do Rio do Rastro; whale watching on Rosa Beach; Lagoinha do Leste Beach; and diving, in Bombinhas
or cosy cottages and tourists that arrive in Serra Catarinense (Santa Catarina Mountains Region) can combine the pleasures of rusticity with the delights of an abundant and rich gastronomy. The quiet city of S達o Joaquim is one of the highlights of the region. In late September, the beautiful blossom of the apple and cherry trees fill the air with their sweet scent. Lages and Urubici are two other cities that are worth visiting. The first is considered the national capital of
Rural Tourism, where visitors can do activities related to farm life, such as fishing, horse riding, milking cows and enjoying a nice barbecue. Urubici also houses numerous waterfalls, rivers, springs, caves, trails, hills and mountains. A good tip is to go to Morro da Igreja (Church Hill), which is the highest point in the state which stands at 1828 metres. The hill also has a huge rock with a 30 metre wide hole in the middle that is known as Pedra Furada (Holed Stone).
In Aparados da Serra, you will find some breath taking landscapes. The region is located between the states of Santa Catarina and Rio Grande do Sul and has the largest number of water springs and the largest area of preserved Atlantic Forest in Brazil. There are cliffs here that look like they were carved out of the rock and stretch up to more than 1,200 metres and at the base, there is a crystal clear river, some natural pools, rapids and waterfalls.
Swim in special waters >> In Santa Catarina there are at least 14 hydrothermal resorts as the water is said to have healing and relaxation properties with temperatures ranging between 33º C and 40º C. These resorts are found in five regions of the state and attract, during the high season, a large number of tourists. The cities have excellent tourist infrastructure with hotels, guesthouses, restaurants and shops. Thermal water is more than a type of treatment; it can be pleasurable for the whole family as the high temperature allows children
to stay longer in the water. There are also other tourist attractions in these cities and they range from the beautiful landscapes to the many adventure sport options. TheprestigeofthetownofÁguasMornas(Warm Waters), for example, has warmed the enthusiasm of thousands of people who have come to discover this hot spring paradise, which incredibly, spring up from the ground at a temperature of 39° C. Joined together with human warmth, the history of German immigration and the cozy atmosphere, the town welcomes all comers.
In Santo Amaro da Imperatriz, the hidromineral park of Caldas da Imperatriz was the first to be discovered in Brazil back in 1813. The city’s name is due to the visit of the imperial couple, Dom Pedro II and Empress Teresa Cristina, in 1845. The city has many hotels with a total capacity of 740 beds. Gravatal, Tubarão, Santa Rosa de Lima, Itá, Treze Tílias, Piratuba, Videira, Águas de Chapecó, São Carlos, Palmitos, Quilombo and São João do Oeste complete a tourist route full of discoveries. Norberto Cidade
Hydrothermal Tourism in Piratuba, Santo Amaro da Imperatriz and Rural Tourism in Lages
Country Life: beautiful landscapes and nature Santa Catarina is the perfect destination for those who enjoy the country life. Rural Tourism in Brazil started here in the state and there are a variety of attractions and tours in all the regions. There are more than 60 lodges and farm hotels, spread over some 30 regions, mostly situated in idyllic locations, with diverse sceneries such as beaches, fields, snow, sea and mountains, which offer tourists the very best in lodgings, relaxation, leisure and fun. The activities in the farm hotels vary by region. Some sites have water parks, hydrothermal resorts, retreats, extreme sports and traditional parties with Italian, German and Polish dances. In all of them, there is always space at the tables which enable you to enjoy barbecues to colonial breakfasts. The different seasons of the year also provide changing sceneries. In the summer, you can see the grape and apple harvest. In winter, enjoy the spectacle of snow covering trees, the ground and roof tops with a carpet of white powder, which is something very rare in Brazil.
Go riding! Cycle Tourism attracts visitors to many areas of the State >> Various groups around the world are coming together more and more to visit and explore diverse destinations and to exercise at the same time, through Cycle Tourism. In this case, the bike is not only used as a means of transport but as a travel companion. Santa Catarina was the first Brazilian state to create tours to be enjoyed on short trips by bicycle. The cyclists remain in close contact with nature and local cultures with the help of guides and specialist companies. Cycle tourists take their time to amble along as they seek to understand more about the places where they are going by making the most of culture, cuisine, nature and especially contact with other Virtually ppeople. pe opple le. Vi Virt rtua uall llyy al alll the the cities citi ci ties es here her eree have have
rural roads, which are predominantly dirt tracks, which pass through forests, streams, waterfalls, fields and plantations. By the side of these roads live people of simple habits, rural workers, farmers and peasants, who always have a good story to tell. These roads provide access to architectural elements such as houses, huts, mills, churches and monuments, many of which are identified with the local culture and colonization. During the many possible journeys, the cycle tourist will come across traditional festivals, local folklore, customs, the language, the cuisine and the different beliefs. In Santa Catarina, the first tourist circuit Europeu Valley). wass th wa thee Va Vale le E urop ur oppeu ((European Euro Eu rope p an V pe alle al ley) y). y)
Created in 2006, it passes through the cities of Timbó, Pomerode, Indaial, Rio dos Cedros, Benedito Novo, Doutor Pedrinho, Rodeio, Apiúna and Ascurra. These cities have over the years helped preserve many characteristics of German and Italian colonization. Nowadays, there are organized tours in the Greater Florianópolis area, the Costa Verde & Mar, Serra Catarinense and Caminho dos Cânions. The Whale Route is a bicycle tour that goes along the beach from Laguna until Palhoça and is scheduled between June and November, which is the right whale season. In Aparados da Serra, the cycle tourists follow the tracks along the edges of the canyons Fortaleza. of IItaimbezinho taim ta imbe bezi zinh nhoo an andd Fo Fort rtal alez ezaa.
Santa Catarina - sport and adventure >> Sport cannot be left out of the list of attractions in Santa Catarina. Many hills and woods surround the capital Florianópolis whilst Lagoa da Conceição is a benchmark for sports for both men and women. As well as water activities such as windsurfing and stand up paddling, there are also trails around the area. One of the most famous is the Canto dos Araçás which passes through the middle of the Atlantic Forest and leads up to the small community of Canto da Ilha, which was declared a Cultural Preservation Area for preserving the Azorean fisherman and lace making culture. It is possible to take a boat here but the four hours it takes to walk here add the word “adventure” to the tour, which is after all why people are here! A shorter trail is Gurita, which passes through the Parque Municipal da Lagoa do Peri, There you will see some historic houses from the 19th century. The trail
leads to a waterfall with natural pools. The park offers guides by appointment only and the walk lasts about an hour. Also by Peri Lagoon you can trek to Ribeirão da Ilha, which is a more difficult walk, due to the two hours it takes walking next to large holes. In the small community in the south of the island, you can see a traditional mill, fruit from the Azorean colonization, and sample the famous oysters of Florianópolis. Not only is the land and water good for sports, but the city’s air is good too, as paragliding is very popular here. You can fly from Lagoa Hills, Mole Hills or Santo Amaro da Imperatriz Hills, in Florianópolis. The tours do depend on good weather though. The flights, which are tandem with a guide, take place over the beautiful landscapes of beaches of Mole, Joaquina and Galheta, Lagoa da Conceição or a valley shrouded in mountains and waterfalls.
Beside, the Lagoon of Peri. Above, sports in Lagoon of Conceição
Gastronomic Route follows the story of Brazil’s colonisation The ethnic mix that occurred in the South has resulted in culinary mix that is completely different to the rest of the country. Being next to the sea, the cuisine is generally based on seafood. In Caminho dos Príncipes and Vale Europeu, which have German influences, the delicacies are pork and they are cooked with spicy seasonings that create strong flavours. It is obviously washed down with beer. The German influence is present in dishes such as
sauerkraut with vina, kassler (pork chop), eisben (pork knuckle) and bockwurst (sausage). The mit rotkohl (duck with red cabbage) is already an adaptation with native ingredients from Brazilian agriculture. The German bakeries here are definitely worth visiting as they have an array of sweet and savoury delights and one of the most famous is the Appfelstrudel, (apple strudel), but apple coffee cake (cucas) and the various pies are also popular. There are many other colonial
foods and the best of the rest are probably the jams and the homemade sausages. The Italians have the largest immigrant population and they have spread out right across the state. Their typical warm cafeterias are present in all regions with pasta dishes, polenta and chicken. It is worth embarking down a colonial path that will lead to traditional communities in the rural interior, where the etiquettes of these forerunners are still part of everyday life and thus flavours are more authentic.
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