March 26, 2009 – Thursday

Visit to the south of the Island, the Wild Side of Florianopolis

The Island of Santa Catarina, part of the city of Florianopolis, has 45% of its area covered in Atlantic Rainforest, making it an ideal place for walks. Around the coast, paths with dramatic scenery lead to deserted beaches. Inland, some trails opened by the original Azorean settlers still are the only link to isolated communities. Other trails cross nature reserves with lagoons and waterfalls, allowing for wildlife spotting, specially bird life.

Naufragados beach

The most southern beach on the island is accessible by this 4km trail. The walk has some steep climb but it is easy and mostly shaded, as it crosses a nature reserve, which is part of the Serra do Tabuleiro Estate Park. On the way there are small rivers, Atlantic Rainforest and a few reminders of the old sugar cane mills. At the beach you will find a small resident community, including a bar, and pre-historical oficinas líticas - rocks used for sharpening tools by the ancient inhabitants of the Island. On the right side you will find Naufragados lighthouse and some canons that were installed in the beginning of the 20th Century. From here you will have great views of the mountains of Serra do Tabuleiro and of one of the many forts that were built in the 18th Century to protect Florianopolis from invaders. Return by boat to entrance of the bay.

Afterwards, visit the Old Azorean Village of Ribeirão, followed by lunch at one of the best seafood restaurants in town.

After lunch we will visit the beautiful beaches of the Southern and Eastern Coast of the Island, followed by an early evening: visit and hotel inspection at Pousada Natur Campeche where refreshments will be served.

Welcome Dinner.

March 27, 2009 – Friday

Cultural city tour. Azorean Villages: Fish market, Lagoa da Conceição and East Coast

The Azoreans settled on small plots of land around the island where they survived from small-scale farming and cottage fishing. They left an important cultural inheritance in terms of architecture, culinary, folklore and a very particular accent that still keep alive expressions from 16th Century Portuguese. Some of the villages they founded, the “Freguesias”, still have examples of the simple but charming architecture they brought to the island. These communities, with their peaceful atmosphere, are also ideal places to try the delicious local seafood.

We will start the itinerary with a visit to the fish market and the customs house downtown. From there we will drive to Lagoa da Conceição (25km away), for a panoramic view of one of the most famous sights of Florianopolis and the site of one of the three original Freguesias. After a visit to the 18th Century church and houses that surround it we will go to a viewpoint with excellent views of the lagoon and the East Coast beaches.

We will then continue, weather permitting, by taxi boat to Costa da Lagoa, an isolated fishing community with quaint seafood restaurants run by local people. The “Ilhéu” accent and cottage fishing practices are still the order of the day here.

After lunch we will stop at Praia Mole, the gay-est meeting point during summer.

Return to the hotel at the end of the afternoon.

Dinner free.

VIP invitation for G&L bars and clubs

28th March - Saturday

Workshops, International G&L Forum and the Marketplace.

Workshops: Sofitel Hotel

9:00 am – 10:00 am – Workshop
Coffee break
10:15 am – 11:15 am – Workshop

Free Lunch.

Marketplace: Majestic Palace Hotel

1:30 pm – 4:30 pm – Marketplace

4:30 pm – 5:15 pm – Registration for the International G&L Forum
                                Time for Networking

5:30 pm – 8:30 pm – International G&L Forum

Evening: Special Dinner

VIP invitation for G&L bars and clubs.

29th March – Sunday

North of the Island, the glamorous side of Floripa

A quick visit to historical Santo Antônio de Lisboa in the morning, where you will have a chance of buying some great local arts & crafts.

Spend the rest of the morning in Jurere International beach, our equivalent to South Beach. This well-planned beach resort is currently the playground for Brazilian millionaires and is also favoured by the gay crowd. The sea, with its warm and calm waters, is perfect for swimming and the waterfront is lined with fashionable restaurants.

Farewell lunch at one of the local restaurants by the sea front.

“Itinerary by Brazil Ecojourneys”.

Please check our land package and special airfares!