The north of Santa Catarina Island is the calmer side: a bay with still water on one coast, long open beaches on the other. This guide is for you if you are deciding between the morning and the afternoon start, wondering whether the fort is worth your time, or trying to fit a swim and a sunset into six hours.
The 07:00 start or the 13:00 start
This is the decision that changes the day most. Both starts follow the same route: Santo Antônio de Lisboa on the bay, the fort above Praia do Forte, then Jurerê Internacional and Praia dos Ingleses.
Santo Antônio de Lisboa looks west over the bay, so the sun goes down in front of it. On the 13:00 start, tell us and we finish there for the sunset instead of starting there. That turns the order round: the fort and the beaches first, then oysters and the evening light at the end.
The 07:00 start suits you if you want the beaches before the heat and the crowds. In high summer it also keeps you ahead of the traffic. The north of the island is reached by the SC-401, and on a sunny day in January the jams form between the Santo Antônio de Lisboa junction and Canasvieiras. In the early evening the road to Daniela, Forte and Jurerê can come to a stop. Highway police in Santa Catarina have advised beachgoers to arrive before 08:00 and leave before 15:00 in the busiest weeks.
Is the fort worth an hour?
For most people, yes, even if forts are not usually your thing. The Fortaleza de São José da Ponta Grossa was begun around 1740, to a design by Brigadeiro José da Silva Paes, the first governor of the captaincy of Santa Catarina. It formed a triangle with two other forts, on the islands of Anhatomirim and Ratones, to close the northern entrance to the bay. It is the only one of the three you can reach by road. The other two need a boat.
It was listed as a national monument in 1938, when it was already in ruins, and most of the restoration you see dates from 1991 and 1992. Inside the walls are three terraces joined by stone ramps, the commander's house, a chapel and the powder store. The old barracks hold a workshop where lacemakers work. The views over the bay and Praia do Forte are part of the reason to go.
Some practical points:
- The entrance is not included in the tour, so you pay it separately.
- The Federal University of Santa Catarina runs the fort, and its opening times change. We check them the day before.
- The site is on a hillside, with ramps between the terraces. If anyone in your group finds slopes hard, tell us when you book.
Swimming: bay or open coast
Bring swimming things and a towel. The tour gives time on the sand at Jurerê Internacional and at Praia dos Ingleses, and you can ask for more time at whichever you prefer.
The two sides of the north are different. The bay side is sheltered. Praia da Daniela, reached by the same road as Praia do Forte and Jurerê, has held the international Blue Flag, awarded season by season for water quality, safety and services, and its sea is calm and warm enough to feel almost like a pool. The point at the far end, the Pontal da Daniela, has stronger currents, so swim away from it. Praia dos Ingleses faces the open Atlantic on the north-east of the island, with dunes behind it.
The state environment institute, IMA, publishes regular reports on which beaches are fit for bathing. If you are planning a swim, look at the latest one, or ask your driver.
When to go
The busy season runs from Christmas through Carnival, at the height of the southern summer. That is also the wettest time of year: on long-term averages January is the wettest month, with highs in the upper twenties. In July the days are around 19 degrees at best, so it is not swimming weather for everyone, but the bay is just as good for the sunset.
The busiest stretch of the year runs from the week before Christmas to the start of January. If you are on the island then, take the 07:00 start or plan the 13:00 start around a long evening in Santo Antônio.
Getting there on your own
The city bus network reaches the north through integration terminals at Santo Antônio de Lisboa (TISAN) and Canasvieiras (TICAN), and you can change lines without paying again within the integration time. That is fine for one beach. Linking the bay, the fort and two beaches in six hours by bus is hard, especially in summer traffic. A private car lets you choose where to stay longer and where to cut short. The price depends on the size of your group; see it on the tour page.
What to bring
- Swimming things, a towel and sun cream.
- A hat and water for the fort, which stands on the headland.
- Shoes you can walk up a stone ramp in, not only flip-flops.
- A card or local cash for the fort entrance, lunch and drinks.
- A light layer for the 13:00 start if you stay for the sunset.
Who it suits
It suits families who want calm water, couples who want the sunset, and anyone staying in the north who wants to see more of it without driving. If you would rather see dunes, a lagoon and a fishing village, the south of the island tour is the other half of the island. For a first look at the old town, see the city, bridge and Lagoa half day. Our guide to private tours in Florianópolis compares all five.
Groups of more than 16 travel in two vehicles on one booking. Message us and we will price it.
Questions people ask
Can we have oysters in Santo Antônio de Lisboa?
Yes. The village has oyster restaurants on the bay. Lunch is not included, so you choose where and what.
Can we be dropped somewhere other than our hotel?
Yes. Tell your driver where you want to finish.
Can we cancel?
Yes. Cancel up to 24 hours before pick-up and you are refunded in full. See our cancellation page.
Booking the day
Decide first whether you want the sunset, because that sets the start time. Then pack for the beach. The route, timings and what is included are on the north of the island private tour page, where you choose the size of your group and book.
