Beaches

Around 1.5 million tourists visit the one hundred and seventy beaches each year in December, January and February. To the north of Florianópolis are the beaches of Enseada, Ubatuba, Barra Velha, Piçarras and those included in the municipality of Penha as well as Armação do Itapocoroy, the site of Beto Carrero World, one of the main leisure and entertainment centres in Brazil with replicas of a city and a pirate ship where various shows are put on as well as displays by trained animals.

Less than twenty kilometres from Penha is the Camboriú Beach Resort where, in addition to the sun and sea, the facilities include an exhibition park covering an area of 5,000 square metres packed with attractions including displays of native fauna and flora, an archaeological museum and oceanographic and zoological museums. There is also the beach at Pinha which was the first in Brazil to be reserved for nudists. Nearer to the capital are Itapema, Porto Belo and Zimbros.

South of the city of Florianópolis one finds the Sonho, Pinheira, Guarda do Embaú and Pedras Altas beaches, apart from some of the most popular beaches for surfing: Garopaba, Rosa, Imbituba and Farol de Santa Marta. Pedras Altas is a nudist beach and is part of the natural reserve within the Parque Florestal da Serra do Tabuleiro (The Serra do Tabuleiro Park).