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Brazil Tours and Travel

Suggested Packages / Rio / Amazon / Pantanal / Iguassu / Salvador / Chapada Diamantina / Ilha Grande / Buzios
Paraty / Natal / Brasilia / Bonito / Fernando de Noronha / Florianopolis / Itacare / Chapada dos Veadeiros / Praia do Forte
Northeast 4x4 / Rio Grande do Sul / Ouro Preto/ Lencois Marenhenses / Curitiba Area / Morro de Sao Paulo / Group Suggestions

Florianopolis Tours

Active Adventures in Florianopolis - Trekking, biking and rafting

(also see 8 day Bike tour)

Florianopolis and surrounding areas in an adventurous way:
a 5 days tour with day trips for rafting, biking and trekking your way around

The Island of Santa Catarina, part of the city of Florianopolis, has 45% of its area covered in Atlantic Rainforest, making it an ideal place for outdoor activities. Coastal paths with dramatic scenery lead to deserted beaches. Inland, some trails opened by the original Azorean settlers still are the only link to isolated communities. Others cross nature reserves with lagoons and waterfalls, allowing for wildlife spotting specially bird life. Additionally, the nearby Serra do Tabuleiro State Park offers great opportunities for rafting.

Day 1: arrival at Florianopolis airport or bus station. Transfer to the accommodation. Rest of the day free.

Day 2: trekking on the island escorted by an English-speaking guide.

Day 3: rafting in Santo Amaro da Imperatriz.

Day 4: tour of the South of the Island by bike, escorted by an a English-speaking guide

Day 5: transfer to airport/bus station.

Day Treks in Florianopolis

Unspoiled beaches:
Lagoinha do Leste- possibly the most beautiful beach in Florianopolis, only accessible by trail (about 1 ½ hours of steep walk each away) or boat. Great views on the way.

Naufragados- another beach only accessible by foot or boat. Easy walk of around 4km each way through a nature reserve. Visit to a lighthouse and beautiful views of the south coast at the end.

Lagoons:
Costa da Lagoa- an isolated fishing community accessible by trail or boat. The trail is 7 km long and the return can be done by boat. Quaint and very affordable seafood restaurants at the end to try the local food.

Lagoa do Peri & Sertão do Peri – a longer coast-to-coast walk (3 to 4 hours) passing through a lagoon, small rivers and waterfalls and remains of sugar cane mills. Panoramic views of the Serra do Tabuleiro and East Coast of the Island at the beginning and end.

Duration: 5 - 7 hours, depending on the trek
Level of Difficulty: Beginners to Intermediate, depending on the trek

Rafting in Santo Amaro
Santo Amaro, only 40 km away from the island, is the closest rafting base to Florianópolis. Rafting in the River Cubatão, with rapids class II-III, is ideal for beginners.
Intermediates wanting more adrenaline can also have fun: the “Duck”(inflatable kayaks) expedition is run further upstream in the “Alto Cubatão”, with rapids of level III-IV (optional trip).

The scenery along the river is beautiful: the right margin borders the Serra do Tabuleiro National Park, the biggest Atlantic Rainforest reserve in the vicinity of Florianopolis. These mountains, which are visible from everywhere in the city, have peaks over 5,000 feet, creating steep, narrow canyons rich in Mata Atlântica. Near the end of the run, close to the town of Caldas da Imperatriz, the scenery is more rural but still attractive.
Duration: 2 hours on the river, plus an hour each way for transfers.
Level of Difficulty: Beginners (class II-III)

South of the Island by bike
The south of the Santa Catarina Island in Florianopolis has nature reserves, waterfalls, beautiful lagoons and unspoiled beaches. We will cycle along the most famous southern beaches – Campeche, Morro das Pedras, Armação and Pantano do Sul, taking in also the Lagoa do Peri, a beautiful fresh-water lagoon surrounded by lush Atlantic Rainforest.
Duration: 6-7 hours
Level of Difficulty: Beginners

2011 Price per person in US$

Price Includes:
Transfers
4 nights accommodation on a B&B basis at Pousada Casa da Lagoa or similar
activities as described and snack lunch on days 2 and 4
Equipment for the rafting and biking trips
Bilingual guide on trips and transfers
Price does not include Flights, insurance.

Experience Florianopolis

On top of its diverse nature and outdoors attractions, the Island of Santa Catarina has a local community which keeps its rich and intriguing heritage alive. This package offers you the chance to get to know the Ilhéu people and the places that makes Florianopolis a unique destination. Spend a day with a local fisherman, dance capoeira in a beautiful natural setting, visit an oyster farm and taste the local cuisine or exchange ideas and knowledge with local artists. The possibilities are endless to meet and exchange life experiences with the local community in some of the most picturesque areas of Island.

Day 1: Arrival at Florianopolis airport or bus station. Transfer to the accommodation. Rest of the day free.

Day 2: Experience of your choice.

Day 3: Day free

Day 4: Experience of your choice.

Day 5: Transfer to airport or bus station

Experiences avaliable
Fisherman’s Life
Take part in an authentic traditional fishing. Fishermen from the community of Pântano do Sul will introduce you to the “trap fishing”, the removal of a fishing net, as well as collecting and classifying the fishes inside of a “baleeira”. A boat trip and typical lunch is included.

Capoeira Palmares
Capoeira is a Brazilian martial art that mixes magic and dance, as well as fighting. More than that, it is a cultural movement that keeps alive the history of Afro-Brazilians. This experience takes place outdoors in the beautiful Galheta beach, a nature reserve on the East Coast of the Island. To get there and back you will need to hike for approximate 40 min each way. You will be accompanied by members of the Cultural Association Ilha de Palmares. They you will give you a private lesson at the beach and share with you their knowledge of this fascinating art.

Oyster farms of Ribeirão da Ilha
Florianópolis in recent years became the centre for oyster production in Brazil. The old Azorean fishing village of Ribeirão da Ilha is one of the main areas for oyster farming on the Island. On this trip accompanied by a local producer, we will follow all the stages of the production then taste the local produce accompanied by the most Brazilian of drinks, the caipirinha. During the boat trip to the farm from April to October we may also visit the Cardos island. This little bay island has one of the largest concentrations of migrant Cayenne terns in South America that come here to nest. A short stop at the old village of Ribeirão on the way back makes it a perfect day trip.

Caboclo coffee
Florianópolis early settlers, the Azoreans, introduced subsistence farming to the island with coffee, cassava and sugar cane being the main fare. Around the island there are remains of many mills used on the processing of these products. We will visit the Andrades casarão, one of the oldest buildings in the area, in the picturesque Azorean freguesia de Santo Antônio de Lisboa. In the preserved mill we will participate in the whole preparation of coffee from roasting and grinding until the tasting of the authentic Caboclo coffee.

Price per person in US$ (March-Dec. 2011)

Price Includes:
Transfers to/from airport on private basis with English-speaking guide
4 nights accommodation on bed and breakfast basis at Pousada Sitio dos Tucanos
two experiences of your choice.
Price does not include flights, travel insurance.

Fisherman’s life not available from May to June due to Mullet fishing season

Eco-Agrotourism – Home stays with organic farmers in Santa Catarina

This 4 day program combines close contact with the culture of Southern Brazil countryside and relaxing outdoor activities near the magnificent Serra Geral Catarinense. Acolhida na Colonia is a successful local community initiative that brings sustainable tourism to small organic farms of rural Santa Catarina. You can go for walks in the deep valley, enjoy a swim in pristine rivers and waterfalls or learn a few tips on organic farming. You will be sharing for a few days a way of life that has changed very little in the last two centuries. Experiences that will give you a close contact with the local culture, a blend of European traditions and Brazilian warm hospitality.

Day 1: Transfer from Florianópolis to Anitápolis, at the Encostas da Serra Geral area, 2 hours away. Depending on arrival time we can walk to the highest waterfall in the Prata River valley- over 100m high. Lunch at the Schüller´s Family house. After lunch we walk for approximately 9 km to our next host, Gabriel and Marilda, following the beautiful Rio da Prata. On arrival opportunity for swimming in this pristine river. Dinner with the host family.

Day 2: After breakfast we trek to the highest part of the property, through wooded areas rich in Atlantic Rainforest for magnificent views of the walls of the Serra Geral. On the way back opportunity for a dip in waterfalls. Lunch with the hosts. Afternoon free for relaxing, swimming in the river or helping with the farm work. Dinner with the host family.

Day 3: Departure after breakfast for a walk of approximately 7 km to the property of Jorge da Silva. His property is a model of the permaculture system. We spend the rest of morning learning from his experiences. Lunch with da Silva´s Family. After lunch we look at how Jorge manages the sustainability of the native forest, in the property’s own Atlantic rainforest reserve. Return to Gabriel and Marilda´s for dinner with the host family.

Day 4: Optional walks from Fernando and Regina´s property. Lunch with the host family. Late afternoon return to Florianópolis.

Please note: the level of comfort of the accommodation varies, but as a whole they are basic. Private facilities with hot water showers and flush toilets are available throughout. Meals are taken together with the host family. The home-made organic food is plentiful and delicious, almost everything being produced by the hosts.

2011 Price per person in US$: $876 for 2, $669 for 3, $565 for 4, $502 for 5, $461 for 6

Price Includes:
Return transfers from Florianópolis
English-speaking guide throughout
3 nights accommodation on full-board basis (breakfast, lunch and dinner)
Activities as described
Price does not include flights, insurance.
(we can also price without English-speaking guide for less expensive prices)

Floripa Surf Experience - 7 nights

Lessons take place in Barra da Lagoa, on the East Coast, a very safe beach, ideal for beginners, but with good waves also for intermediate and advance training. The surf school was pioneer in Santa Catarina and has a fantastic record of 99% of people standing up on the board in the first lesson. The head coach, Evandro do Santos, is a local former professional surfer, winner of regional and national competitions. He has more than 15 years experience in teaching surf from absolute beginners to professional surfers. He is also a founding member of the Association of Surf Schools of Santa Catarina.

Day 1: Arrival in Florianopolis airport or bus station. Transfer to the accommodation. Visit to the school for introduction to the coach and facilities.

Days 2-6: Lesson of 1h 30min per day either in the morning or afternoon.

Day 7: Day free.

Day 8: Transfer to the airport or bus station.

Classes are of a maximum size of four students per instructor, but outside the summer season the likelihood is that they will be a 1:1 ratio.

Price per person in US$ (Dec. 16 2010 till Feb. 28 2011)

Price per person in US$ (Mar 1 2011 - till Nov 2011)

Price Includes:
Transfers in/out of Florianopolis airport with an English-speaking driver
7 nights accommodation in a local guest-house on a bed and breakfast basis (such as Pousada Barratur)
5 surf lessons of one and a half hours each
Surfing equipment (wet suit and board)
Price does not include flights, insurance.

Additional Info
Not available between May and June due to Mullet fishing season
Equipment is available for hiring at extra cost for practice outside lessons
Private trips for intermediate and advanced surfers to different surf spots on and off the Island can also be arranged

Whales & Dolphins - Wildlife adventure off the coast of Santa Catarina

Every year, between June and November, the Southern Coast of Santa Catarina becomes the stage for an amazing natural spectacle, with the arrival of the Southern Right Whales. Escaping the Antarctic winter, they migrate north in search of warmer and calmer waters for reproduction and nurturing of their young calves. In the small, half-moon shaped bays of Santa Catarina, they come very close to the shore and in clear days they can be seen from your hotel room or the beachfront. The boat trips, though, are a must for a close encounter with these giant mammals. In the nearby historical town of Laguna you will meet the famous dolphins that for generations help the local fishermen catch their fish.

Day 1: Arrival in Florianopolis and transfer to Praia do Rosa (1h30 min drive), one of the most beautiful beaches in Brazil. Afternoon free. Dinner at the hotel.

Day 2: Breakfast briefing with the biologist or monitor that accompanies the whale watching trip. Transfer to Garopaba or Imbituba for the boat trip. After lunch, return to the hotel. Dinner at the hotel.
Please note that at the moment wet embarkation and landing is required.

Day 3: After breakfast transfer to Imbituba to visit the Whale museum, located in the old whaling station (please note that the museum only opens on certain days). Afterwards continue to the fishing area of Laguna, a perfect place to spot dolphins. This “symbiotic” behaviour has been documented in many nature programs including a recent one by Animal Planet. Lunch in the area. Afternoon free back in Praia do Rosa and dinner at the hotel.

Day 4: Breakfast and return transfer to Florianopolis airport.

Price in US$ (Aug. 1-Oct. 31 2010): from $1015 single, $569 per person double

Price Includes:
return transfers from Florianopolis airport or hotel with an English-speaking guide;
3 nights accommodation on full board basis;
tours described;
Price does not include Flights, insurance.

Additional Info
Available from 1st August to 31st October;
Minimum age for boat trip is 5 years old;
Optional activities such as surf lessons, horse-riding and trekking activities are available to book locally;