Florianopolis

Florianopolis occupies Santa Catarina island and a strip of mainland, and the island is the point: something over forty beaches around it, with completely different characters depending on which coast you are on. The east faces open ocean with surf at Joaquina, Mole and Campeche; the north has calm shallow water at Jurere and Canasvieiras and the resort development that goes with it; the south keeps Azorean fishing villages at Pantano do Sul and Ribeirao da Ilha, where oyster farming is the industry and the accent is distinct. The Lagoa da Conceicao in the middle is the nightlife centre, with dunes beside it used for sandboarding. The Hercilio Luz bridge of 1926, reopened after long restoration, is the city's emblem.

What you actually see

• Forty-plus beaches - open ocean east, calm north, fishing villages south.
• The Lagoa da Conceicao - the central lagoon and its dunes.
• Azorean villages - Ribeirao da Ilha and Pantano do Sul, with oyster farming.
• The Hercilio Luz bridge - the 1926 span, restored and reopened.

When to go

October to April. Four days. January is packed.

Honest expectations

In January the island fills with Argentine and Brazilian holidaymakers and traffic can take hours between north and south. Beaches are far apart and a car is close to essential. Water is cold on the ocean side. Rain is frequent.

Nearby

Lagoinha do Leste is on the same island; Guarda do Embau is south on the mainland.