Beaches Near Trindade: The Best Ones Within 40 Minutes

One of the perks of staying in Trindade is that it’s right in the middle of the island. Instead of being tied to a single beach, you can quickly reach the best beaches in Florianópolis on the east, south or north side, depending on the day and the wind.

The times below are approximate, by car and without traffic. In summer, especially on weekends, they can be much longer.

East side of the island (the closest)

To get to the east-side beaches, you cross the Morro da Lagoa hill and pass Lagoa da Conceição, about 15 minutes from Trindade.

Praia Mole (~25 min). Coarse sand, blue water and good waves for surfing. Surrounded by hills, with bars on the sand. Very popular with young people.

Joaquina (~25 min). Famous for its dunes, where people go sandboarding, and for surfing. Good parking and restaurants.

Barra da Lagoa (~30 min). A fishing village where the Lagoa channel meets the sea. Prainha da Barra, with its calm water, is great for kids.

Galheta (~25 min + trail). Reached by a short trail from Praia Mole. A wilder beach, traditionally clothing-optional.

South of the island

Campeche (~30 min). A long beach with white sand and views of Ilha do Campeche. Good for long walks.

Ilha do Campeche. Reached by boat, with departures from Barra da Lagoa, Armação and Campeche. Visitor numbers are controlled, and there are trails with prehistoric rock carvings. Plan ahead in high season.

Armação and Matadeiro (~40 min). Village vibe, with a short trail to Matadeiro.

North of the island

Jurerê Internacional (~40 min). Calm water, beach clubs and full facilities.

Santo Antônio de Lisboa (~30 min). Not a swimming beach, but one of the most beautiful spots to watch the sunset, with seafood and oyster restaurants.

Ingleses and Santinho (~45 min). Big, family-friendly beaches with plenty of facilities.

Which beach should you choose?

• For surfing: Praia Mole and Joaquina.
• With kids: Prainha da Barra da Lagoa and Jurerê.
• For walking: Campeche.
• Sunset: Santo Antônio de Lisboa.
• Nature and hiking: Galheta and Matadeiro.

Tips to make the most of it

• Leave early in summer. Before 9 am there’s much less traffic and you can still find parking.
• Check the wind. With a south wind, the northern beaches are usually calmer. With a northeast wind, the southern beaches are usually the best choice.
• Bring sunscreen and water. Not every beach has natural shade.
• Head back before late afternoon on weekends to avoid the line of traffic at Lagoa da Conceição.

A central base for exploring the island

Floripa Studio Trindade is next to UFSC, about 15 minutes from Lagoa da Conceição and 25 minutes from Praia Mole and Joaquina. After the beach, you come back to a studio with air conditioning, a washer-dryer and a supermarket on the ground floor of the building.