Lagoinha do Leste

Lagoinha do Leste sits in the south of Ilha de Santa Catarina in a municipal park, and the reason it looks the way it does is that nothing was ever built there: no road reaches it, so the beach has forest and grassland behind it and a freshwater lagoon separated from the sea by the sand bar, with nothing else. Getting in means walking - about an hour and a quarter from Pantano do Sul on a rough climbing trail, or around two hours from Matadeiro on a longer, higher and better route with views down the coast - or taking a fishing boat across from Pantano do Sul when the sea allows. A short climb up Morro da Coroa from the beach gives the standard view over the whole bay and lagoon. There is nothing there: no shop, no kiosk, no water.

What you actually see

• No road access - the only way in is on foot or by boat.
• A lagoon behind the sand - fresh water separated from the sea by the bar.
• Morro da Coroa - a short climb for the view over the whole bay.
• Nothing built - no kiosks, no shade structures, no facilities at all.

When to go

October to April. A day, starting early.

Honest expectations

Both trails climb properly and are muddy and slippery after rain; the Pantano do Sul route is steeper than its length suggests. Carry all your water and food. Boats do not run in swell. There is strong current and no lifeguard on the beach.

Nearby

Pantano do Sul and Armacao are the trailhead villages; central Florianopolis is north.