Southern Brazil

The southern region of Brazil is one of the five administrative regions of Brazil. It includes the states of Paraná, Santa Catarina and Rio Grande do Sul and covers 576,300.8 km ². The South Region is the smallest. It is a great tourist, economic, and cultural pole. It has a relatively high standard of living, with the highest HDI of Brazil, 0.875 (2000), and the second highest per capita income of the country, 10,723.6 reals, behind only the Southeast Region. The region also has a 98.7 % literacy rate. The region borders Uruguay, Argentina, and Paraguay as well as the Center-West Region, the Southeast Region and the Atlantic Ocean.

The states of Santa Catarina, Rio Grande do Sul, and Parana lie in the sub-tropical area of southern Brazil where snow sometimes falls on the higher elevations. Southern Brazil is characterized by the presence of grasslands and mosaics of grassland and forests, despite climatic conditions favourable for forest development. Most likely, grazing and/or fire, natural or anthropogenic, have stabilized grasslands as relicts from glacial and early-post glacial periods until present times.

Being sub-tropical, both the landscape and the climate of the south are markedly different to the rest of tropical Brazil.

It is the region responsible for Brazil's fine wines and outstanding beef, the region where European influences mix with those of the 'Gaucho' and where in the 17th Century Jesuits built their missions alongside the settlements of the Guarani Indians. Attractions range from the Bavarian architecture of Blumenau to the picturesque railway of Parangua and from the spectacular falls at Foz do Iguacu to whale watching off the coast of Santa Catarina.

Ponta dos Ganchos

Ponta dos Ganchos is located less than an hour from Florianopolis, in Southern Brazil, in the lush foliage and on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean.

Vida Sol y Mar

Located in a forest on the Atlantic coast south of Florianopolis, Pousada Vida Sol e Mar is perfectly situated to explore the area, enjoy the beach or spot the whales.

Sao Paulo is not just business. Sao Paulo has excellent beaches. They begin 50 miles south, with Santos and its beautiful 4 mile beach garden, and culminate with a charming beach resort called Guaruja, just outside Santos, the elected of Sao Paulo’s elite. And if you prefer, Ilhabela, and, a little north, you can find the very exclusive Angra dos Reis.

The South of Brazil has temperate climate. Accordingly, South of Brazil beaches are not all year round ones. The south has a four season climate, with a cold winter, unsuitable for swimming. But there are very good beaches, some of which excellent in the hotter months: Florianopolis is just a major case. Having the weather factor in mind, if you want to go to the south of Brazil, the best option, concerning beaches, is undoubtedly Florianopolis, an island-city in Santa Catarina state, 438 miles/705 Kms south Sao Paulo. Florianopolis has 42 beaches, a spectacular lake (Lagoa da Conceiçao) at its very heart, a well developed hotel web, many restaurants, and a reasonable animated nightlife. The island is visually spectacular, with its rivers, streams, dunes and rich vegetation.

Its beaches are excellent to rest or to surf (Joaquina Beach is a world reputed surfing center, lodging regular international competitions).

You can bet in Florianopolis if you are interested in another Brazil, a Brazil deeply distinct from the tropical one, where the European heritage is overwhelming. Just do not forget the weather and the seasons.

The south of Brazil is a country within another country. Its culture and heritage is eminently European. Even the weather – with four seasons and a cold winter - has little similitude with that of the North and Northeast of Brazil.

Besides the Iguassu Falls and Florianopolis, the south of Brazil has pleasant cities as Curitiba or Blumenau, this one with a famous beer festival, emulating Munique’s one.

From Florianopolis you can access some interesting southern Brazilian places as: - Curitiba, a state capital, and a progressive and enjoyable European style city, with a high life standard, fairly ahead the other big Brazilian cities. - Blumenau: the home of a gigantic Oktoberfest, a German like beer festival, attracting more than a million people each year. - Vila Velha, with its state park, full of mysterious and enormous brown rock formations and holes, carved over the years by the wind and rain.

- Porto Alegre, the biggest city of the south of Brazil, and an obligatory hub to the Argentinean border.

Florianopolis is also very much associated with the Iguassu Falls, one of the most spectacular natural wonders of the world, clearly standing ahead Niagara Falls by the number, height and effects of its cascades. The Iguassu Falls are just an hour flight from Florianopolis, and you may arrange your travel to visit these two great southern Brazil destinies.