An island of beaches, dunes and lagoons
Florianópolis, known as Floripa, is mostly on Santa Catarina Island, joined to the mainland by bridges. The island has around forty beaches: Joaquina and Praia Mole for surfing, Jurerê for polished beach clubs, and quieter coves in the south reached by trail. At its centre, the Lagoa da Conceição is a laid-back hub of bars and restaurants, with sand dunes nearby where people sandboard. Oysters are farmed around the island, and the Azorean fishing village of Santo Antônio de Lisboa is the place to eat them.