Lagoinha do Leste is one of the most famous beach hikes of Florianópolis, in the state of Santa Catarina, and even in the whole country of Brazil. Its iconic Morro da Coroa (Crown Hill), with its very distinct rock formation that resembles a thorny crown on its summit, turns this beach into one of the coolest backdrops on the island.
Because of that, we want to cover the Lagoinha do Leste hike in this post: all of the options that you have to get there, how long they take, and what we recommend bringing.
If you’d like to go with a guide, you can book a group tour or a private guide for this hike, and we can recommend this one.
Quick tip
In case you have an emergency in Brazil, you can dial 193 to reach the emergency line for the firefighters and the rescue team.
We were there. Aug 2023 – Jun 2024 & Jan 2026 — about a year living in Campeche
Lagoinha do Leste at a Glance
Besides being one of the most beautiful hikes and beaches to reach in Florianópolis, Lagoinha do Leste is also one of the hardest hikes that we’ve done in Florianópolis.
With mainly two hike options to reach and get out of the beach, selecting the right one for your physical condition and your experience is an important aspect to consider when planning your way there.
The main options to get there are:
- From Pântano do Sul, a shorter but steeper route
- The one going from Armação Beach and through Matadeiro Beach
- Getting a boat, when those are available in the high season
A combination of these will create several possibilities for you on how to go and leave there. Add the different options of getting to Morro da Coroa, which is an additional hike from the beach, and we are talking about multiple possible combinations.
Personally, not being hiking experts, we prefer reaching and getting out via Pântano do Sul. But going from Armação and back from Pântano do Sul is also a great option to see the different sides and enjoy a different hike.
As a summary, the options that we recommend are:
- If you want the easier option, go and come back via the Pântano do Sul trail (about 1.5 h each way).
- If you want the best combination of views of the coastline and a bit of a challenge, given a bit of a more difficult setting, we would do this (about 2.5 h to Lagoinha do Leste + about 1 h up and down Morro da Coroa + 1.5 h through to Pântano do Sul):
- Start by parking the car somewhere in Armação.
- Go to the trail starting in Matadeiro.
- Reach the beach at Lagoinha do Leste.
- Go up Morro da Coroa from the beach, go back down, and then back to the city via Pântano do Sul.
- Get an Uber back to wherever you parked your car, or go out directly from there.
We are going to cover the 2 main trails in more detail below.
The trails to Lagoinha do Leste
- Trail 1: Pântano do SulEasierShorter but steeper, inside the forest · about 1.5 h each way
- Trail 2: Armação and MatadeiroMore beautifulLonger, along the coast · 5.5 to 6 km, 2 to 3 hours
- Morro da Coroa from the beachA steep rocky hill · 30 to 45 minutes up
- Morro da Coroa from the middle of Trail 1We wouldn’tLess traveled, fewer markings
- 1Pântano do Sul: Trail 1 startsThe startOur recommended parking
- 2Armação: the bridge to MatadeiroOr cross the little river on foot if the tide is not too highParking, option 1Parking, option 2
- 3End of Matadeiro beachAround 1.3 km in; another 4 to 4.5 km to Lagoinha do Leste
- 4Lagoinha do Leste: Trail 2 arrivesBy the lagoon
- 5Lagoinha do Leste: Trail 1 arrivesWhere the climb to Morro da Coroa starts
- 6Morro da CoroaThe viewpoint above the beach
- 7The way off Trail 1 to Morro da CoroaWe have never done it and would not recommend it
- 8Boats from Pântano do Sul beachHigh season only · 130 reais per person each wayEcoturismo Sul da IlhaReserve
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors
If you’d like to go with a guide in a small group, we can recommend this tour.
Before You Go: What to Know About the Lagoinha do Leste Hike
The beach Lagoinha do Leste is inside the Parque Natural Municipal da Lagoinha do Leste (Lagoinha do Leste Municipal Natural Park). It is a beach with no road access and a minimum 1-hour hike to get in there under normal conditions. On top of that, there is barely any infrastructure: there’s no phone signal, and it isn’t the easiest place to reach.
Make sure that you plan what you’re going to bring. Keep safe. Bring water, bring food, and don’t start too late, but also don’t leave too late.
Many locals will spend the night and camp there. Some locals will do that: reach the beach in the afternoon or at the end of the afternoon, bringing all of their camping gear, stay there overnight and go back the next day after sunrise. The park’s management plan, published in January 2026, allows camping only in areas marked out for it, under rules FLORAM (the city’s environmental agency) has yet to publish. We have personally never done that and would recommend doing it only with people who have done it before.
Where Lagoinha do Leste Is
Lagoinha do Leste is in the southeast part of the island, between Armação and Pântano do Sul, surrounded by mountains covered by the Atlantic Forest.
If you are staying in the south of the island, reaching it will be a breeze. Close by, we recommend Pousada Ilha Faceira in Campeche: a great place to stay, with a great breakfast, right by the beach. For all of the areas we recommend staying in Florianópolis, check out our full guide to where to stay in Florianópolis.
How Hard Is the Hike?
In our view and experience of hikes, we would classify Lagoinha do Leste as a medium-hard to hard hike, depending on which option you choose.
Safety on the Trail
Keep on the marked and more walked paths to avoid getting lost, and wear appropriate clothing depending on the season. Avoid doing the hikes from Pântano do Sul and from the beach to Morro da Coroa when it has rained a lot. Bring enough water, snacks and a headlamp (in case you are going before sunrise).
Getting to the Trailheads: Pântano do Sul and Armação
Wherever you stay, the best way to get around the island and to both trailheads is by car. You can rent a car here, or get a driver through Uber or 99. There’s a public bus network but no metro or train, and the lines are fragmented, so the bus only makes sense if you’re on a budget or traveling alone.
Trail 1: Pântano do Sul to Lagoinha do Leste
As we mentioned before, there are two main options for reaching Lagoinha do Leste on a hike.
The first one is from Pântano do Sul. It’s a steeper trail inside the forest, with big steps because of the big rocks. It can be quite exhausting, but it’s a lot shorter than the second option. It can get very muddy after rain because it’s in the middle of the forest. Since it’s a lot shorter than the second option, if you’re looking for an easier option to reach it, this will be it.
You can also combine them by using this trail as the way out: going in via the harder option, and taking an Uber between the exit and where you have parked your car.
If you’re going via Trail 1, from Pântano do Sul, you also have the option, in the middle of the trail, to go directly to Morro da Coroa. You don’t have to go all the way to the beach and do another hike to get to Morro da Coroa.
If you’re already planning on reaching Morro da Coroa and are going via Trail 1, this is definitely an option. We have never done it and we would not recommend doing it. This is just because this way, from the middle of the hike directly to Morro da Coroa, is usually less traveled, so there are fewer markings on how to reach it. A sister of Artur’s has done it and got lost with her friends.
Not trying to scare you, but we would only recommend doing this if you are with someone from the area who already knows the way. If you decide to go directly to the beach from Pântano do Sul, you still have the option to get to Morro da Coroa directly from the beach. It’s another 30- to 45-minute hike up a steep rocky hill that can also be dangerous, but it will be a bit easier for you to identify where to start and avoid getting lost in the middle of the forest.
This is our recommended way in and out if you are looking for an easier option to get to Lagoinha do Leste.
Here is the start of the Lagoinha do Leste trail, and our recommended parking for the Pântano do Sul hike if you’re going by car.
Trail 2: Matadeiro to Lagoinha do Leste (the Coastal Trail)
The second trail option that we are going to cover in this guide is the longer but, in our opinion, more beautiful trail that starts in Armação and crosses Matadeiro to reach Lagoinha do Leste.
In our opinion it is the more beautiful option because the trail goes around the hill between Matadeiro Beach and Lagoinha do Leste, which gives you great views of the ocean and of the coastline at the same time. Being in an open area, you have way less protection from the sun, so be prepared for that. Bring sun protection, a big hat to avoid sunstroke, and a lot, a lot of water.
To do this trail, park the car in Armação. You can reach Matadeiro beach either by crossing the bridge that goes over the river to start the hike to Matadeiro, or by crossing the little river on foot if the tide is not too high and you don’t mind getting your legs a bit wet.
By the time you reach the end of Matadeiro beach, you have walked around 1.3 km. In total you will have to walk another 4 to 4.5 km to reach Lagoinha do Leste beach, making it a total of 5.5 to 6 km (or 3.4 to 3.7 miles for our imperial-system readers).
This can take 2 to 3 hours in total to reach the beach, depending, of course, on your physical conditioning, how used you are to trails, and how many stops you make along the way. For us it took around 2.5 hours, and we took our time. We didn’t rush through it, but this can vary.
Because of the lack of shade during the middle to end part of the trail, we would recommend avoiding it when the sun is at its peak. Try to go as early as possible.
- Option 1 for parking for the Matadeiro beach and Lagoinha do Leste trail.
- Option 2 for parking: although it’s closer to the start by around 50 m, it is smaller and on a very tight street, so going back if there are no spots can be a pain. But it has a bathroom, and a discount if you are going to surf at Matadeiro.
Morro da Coroa: The Viewpoint Above the Beach
Morro da Coroa is one of the most iconic viewpoints and landmarks of the island. If you’re doing the Lagoinha do Leste hike, it is a great opportunity to check it off the list, but also to enjoy and appreciate a great view of Lagoinha do Leste beach.
It is a hill at the south end of the beach with this very iconic rock formation that resembles a thorny crown at the top. You can reach it directly from the beach via a steep hike to the summit. As we mentioned before, there is also a way to go from Trail 1, from Pântano do Sul, directly to it.
Up there you will have one of the most beautiful views of Florianópolis, looking out from the rocks, and you can take one of the most iconic shots from there.
Since we’ve been there, the most iconic rock, where people took photos from, was closed off by the Civil Defence for a while because of the risk of it toppling, so watch your step.
The hike from the beach, going up and down, took us about an hour to an hour and a half in total.
At the Beach: The Lagoon and the Sea
Lagoinha in Portuguese means little lake, and leste means east. Lagoinha do Leste is the little lake in the east, and this is because the beach has, right by its side, a lagoon whose curve you’ll be able to see pretty well from above. That makes for a pretty incredible display of the raw nature that the south of the island of Santa Catarina is known for.
But since the beach is only accessible via trails, with no road to take, for most of the year you will find no infrastructure for tourists. There are no kiosks, no lifeguards, no toilets, so make sure to bring everything that you will need for the day.
Lagoinha do Leste is also one of the beaches on the island that best receive southeast swells, making for big surfing waves. If there is a big swell reaching the beach, it can be a bit dangerous, especially with the lack of lifeguards. Big waves can also create stronger rips, but that doesn’t mean that small waves won’t also create rips. Even if it looks calm, please watch out for the rips. Avoid areas where you don’t see other people around.
The lagoon is also a great place to take a refreshing dip. However, with raw nature you always have to be careful with wild animals. Here they’re mainly capybaras, which make it their home. Although they look innocent and harmless, if they see you as a threat, they can try to defend their cubs, their little family and their territory. Always be careful of that as well: last year a woman was bitten and had to be rescued by helicopter.
Going by Boat Instead (or Just One Way)
In the high season in summer, you also have the option to go there by boat, starting from Pântano do Sul beach. We have never taken it, but we’ve seen the boats there once.
There are no docks: you have to beach the boat and then push it back to the sea whenever you are going back. If the sea is rougher or the waves are bigger, watch out for that as well.
There’s also the option to go by hike and go back by boat. When the season is high, sometimes there will be some boaters on the beach taking passengers. However, if this is the option that you’re looking for, we truly recommend that you make sure that you have a place, and that you make all of the necessary arrangements before.
You can check the dates with Ecoturismo Sul da Ilha and reserve with them: 130 reais per person each way (50 reais to reserve and 80 paid on the spot).
Best Time to Hike Lagoinha do Leste
Our truly favorite time to go is on the sunny and warmer winter days that happen in July or August in Florianópolis. Even though Florianópolis is a place with very defined seasons, you’re still in Brazil: the winters are way less cold, but will still give you a fresher time, not so humid and not so hot.
For this hike, which we consider a bit harder, it is the perfect time. Of course, we recommend skipping the day after heavy rain, just because it’s muddy and can become harder.
The whole thing, depending on the trail and on how long you want to chill at the beach, can be something between 5 and 8 hours. We would recommend you go as early as possible in the morning to also avoid the peak heat of the day, and go back before sunset.
What to Pack for the Lagoinha do Leste Hike
As we mentioned before, infrastructure is pretty much nonexistent at the beach, so be sure to bring water and food for the entire day.
Now you may ask, “Artur, Michelle, how much water should I bring?” Well, it depends a lot on your preparedness and how thirsty you get, but we would bring at least 1.5 L (about 50 oz), or 2 L (about 68 oz) if you’re doing the harder trail from Armação.
Besides that, of course, bring good shoes and sun protection. Bring cash, because during the high season there are sometimes vendors allowed to sell drinks at the beach. Because phone service is nonexistent and there will be no internet, they will also probably not accept cards or Pix. Be sure to bring some cash and, most importantly, a bag to bring your trash back with you.
Other Hikes in Florianópolis
Some of our other favorite hikes in Florianópolis that are coming soon are Costa da Lagoa, Praia do Saquinho, Galheta, Trilha do Gravatá and Trilha das Piscinas Naturais da Barra da Lagoa. Make sure to subscribe to our newsletter to keep updated with our latest posts.
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FAQs About the Lagoinha do Leste Hike
How long is the Lagoinha do Leste trail?
The trail from Armação through Matadeiro is a total of 5.5 to 6 km (3.4 to 3.7 miles) and can take 2 to 3 hours to reach the beach; for us it took around 2.5 hours. The trail from Pântano do Sul is a lot shorter: about 1.5 hours each way.
Where is Lagoinha do Leste?
In the southeast part of the island of Florianópolis, between Armação and Pântano do Sul, surrounded by mountains covered by the Atlantic Forest. The beach is inside the Parque Natural Municipal da Lagoinha do Leste, with no road access.
Which trail to Lagoinha do Leste is easier?
The one from Pântano do Sul. It’s a steeper trail inside the forest, but it’s a lot shorter than the second option, so if you’re looking for an easier option to reach the beach, this will be it.
Can you hike to Lagoinha do Leste without a guide?
Yes. Keep on the marked and more walked paths to avoid getting lost, and skip the way from the middle of the Pântano do Sul trail directly to Morro da Coroa: it is less traveled, so there are fewer markings on how to reach it.
Can you camp at Lagoinha do Leste?
Many locals will spend the night and camp there. The park’s management plan, published in January 2026, allows camping only in areas marked out for it, under rules FLORAM (the city’s environmental agency) has yet to publish. We have personally never done that and would recommend doing it only with people who have done it before.
Is there food or drinking water at Lagoinha do Leste?
For most of the year you will find no infrastructure for tourists: there are no kiosks, no lifeguards and no toilets, so bring water and food for the entire day. During the high season there are sometimes vendors allowed to sell drinks at the beach, and they will probably not accept cards or Pix, so bring cash.
Can you get to Lagoinha do Leste by boat?
In the high season in summer, yes, starting from Pântano do Sul beach. You can check the dates with Ecoturismo Sul da Ilha and reserve with them: 130 reais per person each way (50 reais to reserve and 80 paid on the spot). There’s also the option to go by hike and go back by boat.
Is the Lagoinha do Leste hike safe?
Keep on the marked and more walked paths, avoid the trails from Pântano do Sul and from the beach to Morro da Coroa when it has rained a lot, and bring enough water, snacks and a headlamp. At the beach, watch out for the rips even if it looks calm, and be careful with the capybaras around the lagoon. In case you have an emergency in Brazil, you can dial 193.
What is the hardest hike in Florianópolis?
Of the hikes we’ve done, Lagoinha do Leste is one of the hardest. We would classify it as a medium-hard to hard hike, depending on which option you choose.
Final Thoughts on Hiking to Lagoinha do Leste
Besides being one of the most beautiful hikes and beaches to reach in Florianópolis, Lagoinha do Leste is also one of the hardest hikes that we’ve done on the island. Personally, not being hiking experts, we prefer reaching and getting out via Pântano do Sul. But if you want the best combination of views of the coastline and a bit of a challenge, go in from Armação through Matadeiro, go up Morro da Coroa, and come back via Pântano do Sul.
Make sure that you plan what you’re going to bring. Keep safe, bring water and food, go as early as possible in the morning, and bring your trash back with you.
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