Florianópolis is an island and a small piece of the mainland in the state of Santa Catarina in Southern Brazil, on the Atlantic coast. It is the state capital and one of the fastest growing tourist destinations of Brazil.

Famous for its many beautiful beaches, for safety, and for the friendliness of the locals, these are just some of the reasons why many people call Florianópolis "the crown jewel of Brazil."

Seasons

Spring and autumn

Spring and autumn are the best seasons to be in Florianópolis. With great weather and comfortable temperatures day and night, this is one of the best places to be during March to June and September to December, although the weather is of course never completely predictable. Beaches and touristic spots are not too crowded either during this time. Spring and autumn are also great seasons for hiking and visits to the mountainous interior region of Santa Catarina, which otherwise can be too hot during summer and too cold during winter.

Summer

Santa Catarina has four seasons, which are inverted compared to the Northern hemisphere. Summer months are December to March, and it can get very hot during these months, mainly due to high humidity. Sumer is the most popular season for visitors, who flock to the beaches. Since the Atlantic ocean here usually stays quite chilly or even cool, beach goers have no problem refreshing themselves in the heat.

Winter

Winter occurs around June to September and is the low season, when things quiet down a bit. Temperatures range from mid 20s to as cold as 10 degrees celsius, and comfort is mainly determined by humidity, which can vary a lot. It is not uncommon for winter to be interrupted by clear sunny days with high temperature and low humidity. During the winter months, the entire coastal region is visited by a lot of right whales, which come here from Antarctic waters to breed and give birth.

Arriving

The best way to arrive is by flight, to the brand new airport in the South of the island. Usually you will have a transfer in Rio de Janeiro or São Paulo. There are also direct flights from Argentina, Peru, Uruguay, Chile, and Panama. The only direct flight from Europe is from Porto in Portugal.

You can also arrive by overnight buses departing from Brazilian and Argentinian cities. If you can afford it, flights are a better option. Cruise ships do not visit Florianópolis, but do arrive and depart from the city Itajaí, a few hours North along the coast of Santa Catarina.

If you're driving yourself to Florianópolis, expect very intense and hectic traffic to arrive in the island.