Florianopolis

Florianopolis is the capital of Santa Catarina state — an island connected to the mainland by two bridges with a topography that packs 42 beaches, dunes, lagoons, Atlantic Forest reserves, and colonial fishing villages into a manageable area. The surf scene here is among the best in South America. The oyster farming in the northern lagoons produces some of the finest oysters in Brazil, served directly from producers at minimal cost. The city draws Brazilian and Argentine visitors in enormous numbers in summer but almost no international tourism.