Expan Experience: Florianópolis and Camboriú, luxury in southern Brazil
Three hours and 10 minutes. That’s the exact time separating Santiago from one of South America’s best-kept secrets in tourism . Florianópolis is closer than anyone imagines , and that short distance is perhaps the most compelling reason to put this destination on the radar of those seeking beaches, gastronomy, and high-end experiences without crossing an ocean.
Rodrigo Acosta , Supervisor of the Latin America area of Expan Tours , traveled to Floripa thanks to the invitation of Journeys Special Travel and returned with his suitcase full of photos, anecdotes and, above all, fresh knowledge of a destination that seems tailor-made for travelers looking for more than just sun and beach.
Camboriú: the Miami of the South that no one told you about
Camboriú now boasts the most expensive real estate per square meter in all of Brazil . Its avenues are lined with skyscrapers housing exclusive residences. These include not only hotels, but also private apartments that owners purchase off-plan to use a few weekends a year and rent out the rest of the time.
” In five years, this scheme will have transformed Camboriú into a high-profile destination that already has all the ingredients: sports cars driving down the main avenue, restaurants with live music, top-notch international cuisine , and a beach of extraordinary proportions .”
To give you an idea of its size: from the main avenue to the water’s edge, it’s easily about 100 meters of sand in some places . A beach that resembles a coastal corridor more than a conventional summer resort area stretching for about seven kilometers.
” The cost of living is still affordable for Chilean tourists. An average meal in a good restaurant costs no more than 15 to 20 US dollars, making it a destination with a great price-experience ratio .”
For those seeking accommodation with recognizable standards, the Mercure Camboriú and the Plaza Camboriú are reliable four-star options, with everything you need to enjoy a vacation in this resort town.
The heart of the trip: Costao do Santinho Resort & Inclusive
” The main FAM stay was at the Costao do Santinho Resort , a complex that operates under the concept of an all-inclusive resort with a unique architecture: approximately 700 villas and apartments, of which the hotel manages about 600. “
It has everything: seven restaurants, including the renowned Trattoria Di Mari and Rancho Do Pescador , four bars, a full-service spa, 11 swimming pools (some heated), a theater, a kids’ club, a large convention center , and direct beach access . The International Tower, separate from the villa area, offers junior suites and suites, some with direct ocean views.
There are included activities that deserve special mention: archery, samba lessons, and a small educational farm with local flora and fauna . For those who don’t want to walk between areas, there is internal van transportation that travels the entire complex.
” The most concrete and distinctive strength of Costao do Santinho Resort is something that few resorts in Brazil can offer: rooms for up to six people , a feature it shares only with Club Med and the renowned Reserva Ipioca in Trancoso .”
Jurerê makes a difference in Florianópolis
Florianópolis Island offers hotels in multiple areas, year-round air connectivity— Sky and LATAM maintain flights throughout the year, not just during the summer season—and a variety of beaches ranging from massive to completely private. The flight from Santiago takes just three hours and ten minutes, and the transfer from the airport to the hotel takes about an hour.
” During the tour we visited Cachoeira, Ingleses, Ponta dos Ganchos, Jurerê and Canasvieiras . Very different areas, with hotel options ranging from budget-friendly and functional to truly exclusive. The trick is knowing where to look .”
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In Jurerê, two hotels stand out: The first is the Il Campanario , a superior four-star hotel that is sold with half-board or full-board options.
” It has a feature that makes it especially versatile: all its rooms are equipped with a kitchen, microwave and laundry facilities . This effectively makes it an accommodation that allows for independent living, combining the included breakfasts with the possibility of shopping at the local supermarket and preparing meals in the apartment .”
The beach is a five-minute walk away, and that journey isn’t an inconvenience, but rather an attraction: the hotel has created a boulevard with live music, a pizzeria, a burger joint, international restaurants, and a bar between the exit and the sand. Leaving the hotel is, in itself, an experience.
The second is the Jurerê Beach Village , a standard four-star hotel with a tactical advantage that Chilean travelers particularly appreciate: direct beach access . For those looking to step out of their room and onto the sand in seconds, this hotel offers exactly that.
What I came to find: the luxury hotels that Florianópolis hides
” Before traveling, we had researched which hotels were worth visiting beyond the established tourist routes. Some names stood out. And upon arrival, we confirmed that our intuition was correct .”
The first is the Awasi Ponta dos Ganchos , part of the same chain that operates in San Pedro de Atacama, Torres del Paine, Mendoza, and Foz do Iguaçu. This hotel—formerly called Ponta dos Ganchos and acquired by the Awasi brand—is undoubtedly ” the most exclusive accommodation in the entire region .”
” It’s an all-inclusive hotel for adults (14 years and older), designed for couples who want to completely disconnect from the outside world. It has 25 independent villas located in the Atlantic Forest, equipped with private heated pools, with unobstructed ocean views from their terraces, and distributed so that each one has total privacy. There are private pools, a jacuzzi, and a spectacular spa of more than 1,200 square meters .”
It is a hotel to stay in, to be present in every detail, so that the destination becomes the backdrop for an experience that is, above all, intimate and personal.
” Airport transfers are private and included in 4×4 services. Activities are part of the package: boat trips, oyster harvesting , guided tours, access to a private beach where no one outside the hotel is allowed .”
The second is the Fuso Concept , located in Praia Forte —a beach named after an old colonial fort. Unlike the Awasi, this hotel features 13 private bungalows , each named after a sunrise , sunset, and dusk , ensuring maximum privacy, tranquility, and personalized service. It’s an ideal honeymoon hotel, offering breakfast included, which provides greater flexibility for travelers.
” It was also one of the hotels we identified before traveling as a safe bet for the luxury boutique segment. And upon visiting it, the impression was exactly that: a hotel that offers a different experience, with its own character and an authentic relationship with the natural environment .”
The verdict
“Florianópolis and Camboriú are not the same destination that many people think they know. They are two realities in full transformation, with air connectivity that no longer depends on the season and with a hotel offer that, if you know how to read it, has much more to offer than what the traditional catalogs show.”
Sky and LATAM operate direct flights from Santiago year-round, eliminating the dependence on the summer season that historically limited this destination to December, January, and the first half of February. Today, it’s perfectly feasible to travel during the off-season and find the destination with fewer crowds, better fares, and the same quality of experience.
The options available are concrete: Awasi or Fuso for a boutique luxury trip; Costao do Santinho for a high-standard family all-inclusive; Il Campanario or Jurerê Beach Village for those who want Florianópolis with a focus on quality; and Camboriú for those who want to feel like they’re in Miami with the warmth and flavor of southern Brazil.
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