Beach in Santa Catarina, Brazil

Beach in Santa Catarina, Brazil

Stretching over 560 kilometres along Brazil's southern Atlantic, Santa Catarina's coast is a place shaped by history and change. Long before European ships appeared on the horizon, the Carijós—skilled fishermen and farmers of the Tupi-Guarani group—lived here. By 1529, explorers had charted these waters and the name 'Santa Catarina' appeared on world maps. In the 18th century, waves of Azorean settlers arrived. The coast became a stage for disputes between Portugal and Spain, and in the centuries that followed, German and Italian immigrants added new colours to the region's tapestry. Fishing communities and ports flourished throughout the 19th and 20th centuries.

Yet, the true magic of this coastline lies in its stunning natural beauty: sweeping sandy beaches, rugged cliffs, peaceful lagoons and the dense Atlantic Forest reaching the shore. Dolphins play in the waves, migratory birds rest in quiet estuaries and sea turtles return yearly to nest on protected beaches. Here, the footprints of ancestors and the touch of the wild shape a destination that is both timeless and ever-changing.