Florianópolis Travel Forum

My wife and I (mid 50's) are traveling arriving in Sao Paulo in early November on our way to Uruguay. We would like to spend a few weeks looking at the south coast of Brazil. The outside of Santa C island looks nice as well as Garopaba. We travel on a shoestring (30 dollars a night) and like to stay in one place a week at a time.
Anyone have any suggestions.
Kit

Dear Friend,
You can take a bus (about 12 hours ride - be sure you take an executive or sleeping bus (ônibus-leito) or a plane (1 hour flight) to get to Florianópolis. The island of Santa Catarina, where Florianópolis is located, has great beaches and for all tastes and pockets. It will be kind of difficult to find a decent place to stay at US$30 a night since this is less than R$60 and two star hotels go for at least R$80 a night. However, both at the bus station and at the airport you will find tourist information booths and they will try to help you on that. Remember to ask for an apartment rental for a week period. This may be the best solution for your tight budget. A nice and close to other beaches place is Canasvieiras, a beach on the north of the island that is very popular with Argentineans and Uruguaians. The bus system in Floripa (nick name for Florianópolis) is quite decent and cheap, so you can ride from one side of the island to the other quite easily. Do not miss Lagoa da Conceição neighborhood and a boat ride (great little boats that belong to a cooperative of fishermen)to Barra da Lagoa, where you will find very typical and delicious restaurants. Garopaba is about 2 and a half hours ride south from Floripa and you will find cheaper pousadas there. If surfing is your thing try the following beaches in Floripa: Mole, Joaquina and Praia Brava. If you want to see the houses where the rich people spend their Summer go to Jurerê Internacional. The beach is calm and quite beautiful and, in november, the rich will not be there. Have a great tour.

Kit, I have just found this tip on Canasvieras lodging from one of the VT members:
Place: Canasvieiras, Florianópolis, SC Brazil
Theme: Hostel
Comparison: least expensive
Address: Rua J. de Oliveira 100 Canasvieras

Maybe this is the place for you to try.

Dutras
Thanks for your response. Sorry for being so late getting back to you but I was out of touch for a few days.
Thanks for the tip
Kit

Moving South, you can take a bus to Torres, in Rio Grande o Sul. The beah is not as nic as the ones in SC, but its on the way to Uruguay. After Torres, the main roads get into the country for the rossing, but there are more beahes all the way to Chuí!

Before SC you should try Ilha do Mel in Paraná. With a 4h bus ride to Curitiba (you'd have to sleep there, but there's plenty of cheap and good accomodation), then the next day a lovely train ride or bus ride (both are lovely, they cross abyssal landscapes with waterfalls you cn see from the windows. Stay on the left side, both in the bus and in the train) early early early in the morning to Paranaguá, where you take the ferry for the island. Ilha do Mel has controlled visiting, so there's never too many people, and it's paradise on earth. Should you go there, stay in Nova Brasilia, a lot less hype and a lot cheaper than Encantadas.

If you like the idea, writ an email to me!

Cheers!

Thanks
I think we are going to take the bus from Sao Paulo to Curibita and spend maybe a week there if we can find some reasonable accommodation. Then we'll head to the coast.
Any suggestions for a place to stay in Curibita?
Kit

Sure!
There is Ibis Centro Cívico, from the Accor Hotels, but that will be around 40 dollars a night. This can be booked here:http://www.accorhotels.com.br/ibis/pt/encontre_lista.asp?hoteis=26,129,130

There are also 2 HI options: http://www.hostel.org.br/ingles/home_ingles.php?secao=estado&id_uf=pr&menu=menu_estado .


While you are there, don't miss the Museu Niemeyer, great for contemporary Brazilian Art.

But I really do think you should try Ilha do Mel. And Curitiba is not as nice as Florianópolis...

Anything you choose will be great fun. I'm sure about that!

Cheers!

PS: When will you be there? I'll be around for two days - 15 and 16 of december, in case you need any help.