The south of Santa Catarina Island is a full day's loop: the Lagoa da Conceição, the dunes at Joaquina, a fishing village at the end of the road and the oyster beds of Ribeirão da Ilha. This guide is for you if you are planning that day. It covers why it starts early, where to eat, what to add, and what to leave out if you have already seen part of it.
Why the day starts at 07:00
The south tour does not offer a later start, and in summer that works in your favour. On a sunny day in high season, the roads towards the beaches are already filling in the morning. By the early evening the traffic between Barra da Lagoa, Joaquina and the Lagoa can stop altogether, and so can the SC-406, the road along the south-east coast, between Morro das Pedras and Armação.
The loop is built round that. You are at the Lagoa by 08:00, on the dunes at Joaquina before the middle of the morning, and on the quiet bay side in the early afternoon. You are back at your hotel at around 15:00, before the evening rush back from the beaches. Highway police in Santa Catarina give the same advice for the busiest weeks: arrive before 08:00, leave before 15:00.
The start time is fixed, but the rest is not. You can change the order or skip a stop on the day.
Fish on the sand or oysters on the bay
Lunch is the one big choice. The plan has it at Pântano do Sul, a fishing village at the southern end of the road, with restaurants on the sand. The other option is Ribeirão da Ilha, where the oysters are farmed in the bay right in front of the restaurants. If you would rather eat oysters than fish, tell us and we have lunch in Ribeirão instead.
Either way, lunch is not included and you choose where to sit. Pântano do Sul gives you a longer, slower lunch by the sea at midday. Ribeirão da Ilha, with its Azorean houses and white church, suits a later lunch, with the oyster farms in the water in front of you.
What you can add
- Sandboarding at Joaquina. People slide down the tall dunes behind the surf beach. Board hire is not included and you pay for it there. Wear clothes you do not mind filling with sand.
- A trail. Several walks start in the south of the island. They need extra time, so tell us when you book rather than on the day.
- More time at a beach. Bring swimming things. We can stay longer at any beach you like and shorten another stop to make room.
- A calmer swim. Praia da Lagoa do Peri, in the south of the island, has been awarded the international Blue Flag for water quality, safety and services. Ask your driver if it fits your day.
If you have done the city tour
Our city, bridge and Lagoa half day also ends at the Lagoa viewpoint and the village by the water. If you have taken it, you do not need the Lagoa twice. Tell your driver to keep the viewpoint short and go straight on to Joaquina, which gives you more time on the dunes or at lunch.
If you only have one day on the island and want the beaches as well as the views, this is the tour to take. Our guide to private tours in Florianópolis suggests the same.
When to go
The summer, from Christmas to Carnival, is when the island is at its fullest, and the busiest weeks are from just before Christmas to the first days of January. It is also the wettest time of year: on long-term averages January is the wettest month, with highs in the upper twenties. July is the driest month and the coolest, with highs around 19 degrees. A winter day in the south is quieter on the roads and still good for the views, the dunes and the oysters, even if you skip the swim.
Whatever the season, check the forecast the evening before. A rainy day is a better day for the city tour, and you can keep the south for when the sun is out.
By bus or with a driver
The city buses do reach the south. The network has integration terminals at the Lagoa (TILAG), Rio Tavares (TIRIO) and the south of the island (TISAC), and you can change lines without paying again within the integration time. One beach a day by bus is easy. A loop of five places, with lunch where you choose, is harder: it means several changes at the terminals, and the summer traffic slows the buses too.
A private car covers the loop in one go, waits while you are on the dunes and changes plan when you do. 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.
- Sunglasses and a hat for the dunes and the beaches.
- A card or local cash for lunch, drinks and sandboard hire.
- Walking shoes if you have asked for a trail.
- A light layer and a rain jacket, especially in summer.
Questions people ask
Is the day suitable for children?
Yes. There is time on the sand and on the dunes, and the car is only yours, so you stop when you need to. Tell us the ages when you book.
What if there are more than 16 of us?
Two vehicles travel together, on one booking. Message us and we will price it.
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 on lunch first, fish or oysters, and say if you want a trail or sandboarding. Then keep a sunny day for it. The stops, times and what is included are on the south of the island private day tour page, where you choose the size of your group and book.
