Joaquina Beach

Joaquina Beach is Florianópolis's most celebrated surf beach, hosting the Brazilian Surf Championship for decades and producing some of the country's top professional surfers. Located on the east coast of Florianópolis Island facing the open Atlantic, Joaquina receives consistent swells that create excellent wave conditions for intermediate and advanced surfers throughout the year. Surf schools operate year-round for beginners seeking to learn.

The massive rolling dunes behind the beach are a destination in their own right — visitors rent sandboards from vendors along the road and spend hours racing down the steep white slopes. The dunes at Joaquina reach over 40 metres in height and connect with the neighbouring Lagoa da Conceição dune system, creating one of Santa Catarina's most distinctive landscapes. The contrast between the emerald Atlantic and the white dune mountains is visually stunning.

The beach itself is long and relatively uncrowded by Rio standards, with a lively but not overwhelming social scene. The restaurants and bars along the beachfront serve excellent fresh fish, and the nearby Lagoa da Conceição provides calmer water swimming options and nightlife for those wanting to extend their visit. Joaquina is one of the most complete beach destinations on the Brazilian island circuit.