Floripa (8) - Dunes of Joaquina beach

Florianópolis (8) - Dunes of Joaquina beach

The dunes at Joaquina beach at Floripa

Joaquina beach, in the east side of Santa Catarina Island, is loved by surfers. But its dunes, just some meters before, are an extra spectacle.

The dunes at Joaquina beach at Floripa

You can climb then and take wonderful pictures of the Atlantic, the Lagoa da Conceição in the middle of the island, and also of the mountains around.  

The dunes at Joaquina beach at Floripa

Joaquina is conected with Campeche beach by the same sandstrip, but getting there demands a longer walking. The part of the beach closer to the dunes have snack bars and people selling food and drinks on the beach, but going south towards Campeche is a good option for staying away from the crowds and getting a quiet view of the scenery. During holidays, speacially new year´s eve and carnival, it may be hard to park close to the beach, since the parking areas are very small. 

The dunes at Joaquina beach at Floripa

The dunes at Joaquina beach at Floripa

The dunes at Joaquina beach at Floripa

The dunes at Joaquina beach at Floripa

The dunes at Joaquina beach at Floripa

The dunes at Joaquina beach at Floripa

The dunes at Joaquina beach at Floripa

Floripa (7) - Santo Antônio de Lisboa

Floripa (7) - Santo Antônio de Lisboa

Santo Antonio de Lisboa, historic building

In the northwest part of Santa Catarina Island, another (once) fischermen´s village is now becoming a trending touristic destination, specially for restaurant lovers. 

Santo Antonio de Lisboa

The coastal street at this neighborhood turned out to be a very nice spot for eating with great views of downtown Floripa and Hercilio Luz bridge. Plus, historical buildings remembering the azorean portuguese heritage.   

Santo Antonio de Lisboa

In fact, oister seafarms, fishing boats, historic buildings and new mansions share this hidden beach amongst downtown and the famous beaches at the north side of the island. All without loosing the air of a small beachtown.

Santo Antonio de Lisboa

Since there are no signals at the main road leading to the north of the island, it is not very easy to locate Santo Antônio. One must pass down the main road to get there, at a U turn, and then enter at some of the roads leading to the coastal street. Some GPS maps may be not up-to-date, beware.

Nevertheless, once in the village, the coastal street is close from the main road, and there is a parking spot by the church. 

Santo Antonio de Lisboa

   

Santo Antonio de Lisboa

The place is not that far away from downtown, if compared to the beaches at the south or east side of the island, so a cab or taxi will be less expensive, though never a bargain. 

Santo Antonio de Lisboa

Pricy restaurants and some more affordable share the beach view alongside with many craftsmanship stores that can be found in the area, if starting a walk from the church to the north. The beach is very calm and few people take a bath at the very calm waters. 

Santo Antonio de Lisboa, nice view from one of the restaurants

Santo Antonio de Lisboa

Santo Antonio de Lisboa, a delicious chocolate coffee

Santo Antonio de Lisboa

After lunch or dinner, a very nice cafe located one block from the church is my suggestion for saying goodbye.  

Santo Antonio de Lisboa

Santo Antonio de Lisboa

Santo Antonio de Lisboa

Santo Antonio de Lisboa

Floripa (6) - Ribeirão da Ilha

Floripa (6) - Ribeirão da Ilha

The church at Ribeirão da Ilha village, in the southwest side of Santa Catarina Island

One of the colored old homes, at Ribeirão da Ilha village, in the southwest side of Santa Catarina Island

 In the southwest of Santa Catarina Island, there´s this small fishermen´s village, called Ribeirão da Ilha. The most famous and maybe traditional oister restaurant is located there, and it is called Ostradamus, among many others in the same region. 

The beach at Ribeirão da Ilha village, in the southwest side of Santa Catarina Island

The restaurant has a pier over the beach, where you can eat all their seafood plates, from many kinds of fish and shrimps to lots of oister, made in various ways. 

The Ostradamus Pier at Ribeirão da Ilha village, in the southwest side of Santa Catarina Island

The beautiful blue tiles, remembering the portughese colonization, adorn the walls outside the restaurant. Inside, just behind the bar, you can see the oister treatment system, after they´re taken from the sea. 

The Ostradamus wall, full of blue tiles, at Ribeirão da Ilha village, in the southwest side of Santa Catarina Island

Besides, Ribeirão da Ilha has old and colorful houses, built years ago, giving a nostalgic atmosphere to the place.

The oisters are grown on calm seawater farms facing the mountains of Serra do Mar, the mountain chain which separate the coast of the Brazillian highlands, from Santa Catarina up north to Espírito Santo states.   

One of the colored old homes, at Ribeirão da Ilha village, in the southwest side of Santa Catarina Island

One of the colored old homes, at Ribeirão da Ilha village, in the southwest side of Santa Catarina Island

After eating, you can go to some coffee place or buy some souvenir at a local craftsman shop. 

One of the colored old homes, at Ribeirão da Ilha village, in the southwest side of Santa Catarina Island

I really recommend to take the sunset at this place and having dinner there, speacially for couples and groups of friends. Also, if you want to escape from the parties up in the north side of the island, it is a very nice place to chill out. 

To get there, the best option is to rent a car, or take a cab. There are city buses too, but it can take a long time to arrive there, in spite of being the less expensive option.