Praia da Armação sits on the southeastern coast of Florianópolis, a long, breezy stretch of fine sand—about 3 km in length—facing the wide-open Atlantic. We passed through it during one of our scooter trips around the island, and like most places on the coast, it had that slightly contradictory Florianópolis vibe: equal parts wild and lived-in.
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Behind the beach lies Lagoa do Peri, and in front, a horizon of restless blue. The northern end of the beach is relatively desolate—windswept, quiet, and ideal for a solitary walk. Things get livelier as you approach the village of Armação at the southern end, where beach bars and parasols dot the sand, and a few restaurants and guesthouses spill onto a stone-paved promenade that hugs the shoreline. It’s not overdeveloped, but enough is going on to give it a pulse.
A short wooden bridge connects the mainland to Ponta das Campanhas, a rocky islet that feels like a natural extension of the beach. It was a lovely little walk with stunning views of the open ocean and the surrounding coastline. Definitely one of those places that makes you slow down and just stare at the water for a while.
Just south of Armação Beach, separated by a narrow river, is Praia do Matadeiro, a popular surfing spot framed by green hills. There’s a small bridge across the river a little way inland, but if the tide is low, you can also wade straight across from the beach. From Matadeiro, there’s a trail that leads all the way to Lagoinha do Leste, one of the most beautiful and remote beaches on the island, only accessible by trail or boat. Instead of taking that route, we rode on to Pântano do Sul and hiked to Lagoinha from there.
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