Florianópolis

Yes. With 42 beaches, a laid-back vibe and fresh seafood around every corner, it’s easy to see why so many travelers (us included) never want to leave. Whether you’re here to surf, hike, eat fresh seafood or simply relax on a quiet beach, the island has something for every type of traveler.

While we lived in Florianópolis for a year, we chose to stay close to the beach in Campeche: it is right by the sea (with great surf!), in a great location to reach other parts of the island, only a 15-minute drive away from the airport, and it feels very local. When Michelle’s family came to visit us, they stayed at Pousada Ilha Faceira, right behind the dunes of Praia do Campeche.

Brazil is known to be a more dangerous country overall, so lots of people wonder how safe Floripa is. It’s probably one of the safest cities in the whole country: Santa Catarina has the lowest murder rate of any Brazilian state, and Brazil’s Atlas da Violência ranked Florianópolis the safest of its 27 state capitals. It is still a big city, though, so we recommend some caution, especially at night: avoid darker, quieter streets alone and keep to the busier, more popular areas; don’t take long walks through deserted areas, take an Uber or a taxi instead; and in the more crowded clubs, watch your drink and your phone. At the beach, never disregard rip currents and always look out for the lifeguard signs.

It depends on where you stay and when. Hotels and hostels cost between R$200 and R$1,500 per night depending on the season, and cars between R$70 and R$400 per day. The north of Floripa is known across Brazil as one of the most expensive places in the country, while Barra da Lagoa has the best budget options. Uber is really affordable in Brazil (a shared ride from the airport to the south of the island can be around R$30), the boat to Costa da Lagoa costs R$15 one-way, and sandboards rent for around R$40 an hour.

Sandboarding or sand-sledding on the Joaquina Dunes is a very child-friendly activity. In Balneário Camboriú, the cable car up to Parque Unipraias leads to Atlantic forest trails, mountain coasters and treetop walkways, with lots of child-friendly activities. Beto Carrero World in Penha, the largest theme park in Latin America, is around two hours’ drive north: we’d stay a night or two rather than do it as a day trip.