Amazon Adventures

Brazil Tours and Travel

Santa Catarina Bicycle Tour: from the highlands to the coast

A challenging 8 days bike adventure, riding all the way from the most remote mountain region in the State to the beautiful south of Santa Catarina Island, in Florianopolis This adventure will allow you to explore the diverse and contrasting nature of Santa Catarina at a much closer range.

Starting at the highlands of the Serra Geral Mountain Range, at an altitude of 1400m above sea level, you will slowly make your way down to the coast. On the way, biking through dramatic mountain roads or picturesque rural ways, you will have privileged views of the amazing cliff walls of the Serra Geral, enjoy waterfalls, mountain rivers and thermal baths in the vicinity of the Serra do Tabuleiro State Park, and, to reward all your efforts, spend a couple of days relaxing by the beach on the unspoilt green coast on the south of the island, in Florianopolis.

Day 1: Transfer from Florianópolis airport to Rio Canoas Lodge (approximately 4 hours drive) in Urubici. Rest of the day free to relax at the lodge.

Day 2: Full-day of cycle tourism around Urubici and the Canoas River valley, to get acquainted with the bikes and to warm up for the journey back to Florianopolis.

Day 3: Urubici to Santa Rosa de Lima
Today you will start your descent from the Serra Geral Mountains to the coast. We will have a support vehicle available for you if needed, but the challenge will be to reach Florianopolis on two wheels (and the occasional boat to cross to the island!), along small rural roads, and through beautiful scenery. From Rio Canoas Lodge you will ride through the stunning Serra do Corvo Branco mountain road until you reach the high plateau of Encostas da Serra. Expect magnificent views of the walls of Serra Geral as you go down. After riding through rural roads and passing many picturesque farming communities, your final destination for the day is Santa Rosa De Lima, a small town well-known for combining organic cooperative farming with a successful cottage industry. In town there are thermal baths you can use at the end of the day. Dinner and overnight at a local guesthouse.

Day 4: Santa Rosa de Lima - São Bonifácio
Today you will continue riding (mostly) downhill, through a small road that skirts the Serra do Tabuleiro Estate Park, the largest Atlantic Forest preservation area in the Great Florianopolis region. Many important rivers that provide water to the metropolitan area start on these mountains, so you will see plenty of waterfalls along the way. At the end of the day you will arrive at the small town of São Bonifácio. Dinner and overnight at a local guesthouse.

Day 5: São Bonifácio - Caldas da Imperatriz
You will continue skirting the Serra Do tabuleiro reserve, along many small farms with vegetable plots and orchards. We will arrive at Caldas da Imperatriz, a small SPA resort renowned internationally for its thermo mineral waters. At the end of the day you can relax at the saunas and thermo-mineral pools Jacuzzis of the best hotel in town.

Day 6: Caldas da Imperatriz - Florianópolis
On the final day you will reach Florianópolis in a very special way: crossing by boat the South Bay to the southernmost point on the island, near Naufragados beach. From here, perhaps on the most challenging section of the trip, you will cycle across the mountains of the Sertão do Peri, one of the most isolated communities on Santa Catarina Island, to reach the southern bay of Pântano do Sul district. On the way you will have great views of the East and West Coast of the Island, Lagoa do Peri- a freshwater lake- and the beautiful Campeche Island. At the end of the day, you will reach Sitio dos Tucanos, a simple, but fantastically located lodge, surrounded by Atlantic Rainforest in the rural tranquillity of Costa de Dentro neighbourhood.
Dinner and overnight at the Lodge.

Day 7: Day free to relax and enjoy the beautiful local beach (2km away). Dinner and overnight at Sitio dos Tucanos Lodge.

Day 8: Transfer to Florianopolis airport.

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

# of people	single occupancy	double occupancy	triple occupancy
2-3	$2969	$2574	$2423
4-5	$2614	$2218	$2068
6-10	$2225	$1831	$1679

Price Includes:
Transfer by road From Florianopolis airport to Urubici
7 nights accommodation in guesthouses on half-board basis (breakfast and dinner);
Guided bike trip from Urubici to Florianopolis with English-speaking specialist guides;
Snack lunch (cereal bars and fruits) and water during riding days
Support vehicle along the whole itinerary from days 2-7
Equipment: bikes with front suspension and helmets
Maintenance of equipment during the whole itinerary
Boat trip
Transfer from Florianopolis guesthouse to airport
Price does not include flights, travel insurance.