Santa Catarina Island

Santa Catarina Island (Ilha de Santa Catarina) is a large Atlantic island in the state of Santa Catarina, Brazil, that hosts the city of Florianópolis. The island combines an urban centre with extensive coastal and lagoon landscapes.

Key attractions include the urban districts of Florianópolis, the central Lagoa da Conceição lagoon and numerous Atlantic beaches on both the ocean and bay sides of the island. The island is a major regional centre for tourism, surfing and coastal recreation.

Historically the island has developed around the port and capital functions of Florianópolis and expanded through the 19th and 20th centuries into a mix of urban and leisure uses. Contemporary infrastructure includes several bridges linking the island to Brazil’s mainland.

Geographically it lies off Brazil’s southern Atlantic coast within Santa Catarina state; the island’s coastline features dunes, rocky headlands and sheltered bays.

• Area: The island covers approximately 424 square kilometres and is the location of the state capital, making it one of Brazil's larger and more densely inhabited coastal islands.

What to See #

• Florianópolis: The city of Florianópolis occupies much of the island's area and provides the main urban and transport hub, with bridges connecting the island to the mainland.
• Lagoa da Conceição: Lagoa da Conceição, an inland lagoon and popular recreational area with beaches, dunes and water-sport facilities on the island's central-east side.
• Beaches: A large number of Atlantic beaches on both the ocean-facing and bay-facing coasts, including well-known surfing and bathing beaches used seasonally by residents and visitors.