Nature, Culture and Adventure in Santa Catarina

Last week we reported about the German culture in Santa Catarina. In today's article, we would like to introduce you to the variety of nature and culture that you can experience during your Brazil trip to the state.
Santa Catarina forms together with the northern state of Parana and the southern Rio Grande do Sul the region of southern Brazil. It borders Argentina to the west and the South Atlantic Ocean to the east. Almost six million people live in an area of about 37 square miles (95 thousand square kilometers), similar in size to Portugal.

Florianopolis is the capital of the state of Santa Catarina and is mostly located on the Ilha de Santa Catarina. The city has about 419.000 inhabitants and is affectionately called "Floripa". The island, shaped by the immigrants of the Azores, offers with more than forty beaches, tropical rain forest overgrown mountains, cliffs, mangroves, dunes, lakes, waterfalls, sea, and nearby islands something for every wish.

The beach resort Praia do Rosa is located about 50 miles (eighty kilometers) south of Florianopolis. The endlessly long beach is a remote paradise surrounded by green mountains and attracts many visitors from Brazil and the whole world. In the small, friendly town you can also go whale watching. Between June and November, the gigantic sea dwellers cavort off the coast. Praia do Rosa is considered an insider tip for nature lovers but is also highly recommended for kite surfing, windsurfing, diving, snorkeling, sandboarding, and hiking.

If you want to enjoy less beach and more nature, Urubici is the place to be. It is located about 160 km from Florianopolis in the canyon landscape Serra Catarinense. The highest mountains of Santa Catarina will delight hikers and nature lovers. The charming little town in the valley of the Canoas River is surrounded by hills, hiking trails, and waterfalls and is part of the Joaquim National Park. This extends over an area of 190 square miles (493 square kilometers). Especially worth seeing are the Laranjas Canyon and the Pedra Furada, which can be seen from the mountain Morro da Igreja. With 5994 feet (1.827 meters) you are on the highest peak of South Brazil, where there can be snow in winter.

North of Florianopolis lies the town of Blumenau, which was founded in 1850 by the pharmacist of the same name. Even though culture and language have changed a lot since then, German customs are still very important. For example, the second largest Oktoberfest in the world is held annually. In Lederhosen and Dirndl, with brass band music and in the midst of numerous shooting clubs is celebrated. Typical German cuisine and folk music as well as draught beer according to old tradition await the visitor in Blumenau. German architecture is also not to be overlooked in the city.

We offer a very interesting rental car tour from Florianopolis over the Atlantic Rainforest to Urubici to get to know some of the fantastic places of the state individually.
Our head office is in Florianopolis, so we can give you first-hand advice on how to plan your Brazil vacation in Santa Catarina.