Floripa Total – Leaving Florianópolis by Itaguasul Turismo

Florianópolis is too spread out for a quick city tour, but Floripa Total gives you a useful first look at nearly every major corner. In one long day, you move from the Hercílio Luz Bridge and colonial center to Joaquina, Praia Mole, Barra da Lagoa, Ingleses, Santo Antônio de Lisboa, Canasvieiras and Jurerê Internacional.

I like the tour for two clear reasons: it saves you from arranging several separate rides, and it lets you compare the island’s very different areas before deciding where to spend more time. The air-conditioned vehicle, passenger insurance and experienced local operation add practical value. The trade-off is limited time at most stops, plus traffic that can make an already full day feel even longer.

Key points to know before booking

• One-day island sampler: The route covers central Florianópolis, the east coast and the north of the island in about eight hours.
• The strongest cultural stop: Santo Antônio de Lisboa receives only a short visit, but it may be the most rewarding place for travelers interested in atmosphere and local character.
• Beach time is brief: Most beach stops last about 15 minutes, enough for photos and a quick look, not a swim or relaxed walk.
• Lunch is at Barra da Lagoa: You get about 90 minutes, but food is not included.
• A practical first-day choice: At $25.45 per person, the tour can be good value if you want orientation rather than a slow beach day.
• Expect a large group: The vehicle may carry up to 40 people, so departures and returns can take time.

A full island view in one long day

Floripa Total is best understood as a reconnaissance trip. You are not signing up for long beach stays, quiet meals or detailed exploration of every neighborhood. You are buying transport across a large island and a quick introduction to its main sights.

The route begins at 9 a.m. at the Hercílio Luz Bridge Lookout Square in central Florianópolis. Pickup is offered, but confirm your exact pickup arrangement when booking, since the stated meeting point is the lookout square and the activity returns there at the end.

The company has operated for more than 30 years, and the vehicle is air-conditioned. That matters in a day involving repeated stops, warm coastal weather and long stretches on the road. Total and passenger insurance are included, while food, tickets and personal spending are not.

The operator allows up to 40 people. That group size helps keep the price low, but it also explains why the day may not move with the speed of a private tour. One detailed account described leaving a hotel around 8:30 a.m. and returning around 7:30 p.m., with traffic taking a large share of the day. The advertised duration is about eight hours, but hotel pickup and road conditions can stretch the schedule.

Central Florianópolis: bridge, market and old city

The first stop is the Hercílio Luz Bridge, where boarding takes place and you have about 20 minutes. The bridge is one of Florianópolis’ defining sights, and the lookout gives you a quick visual introduction to the city’s setting between mainland and island.

This is a useful opening because it helps you understand the geography before the bus crosses into the island’s other districts. Do not expect a long bridge walk or a detailed visit. It is primarily a viewpoint and meeting point.

From there, the bus heads to the Feira do Largo da Alfândega for about 15 minutes. The market area gives you a brief taste of central city life and a chance to take photographs. The short stop works well for a first orientation, though it is not enough time for serious shopping or a leisurely look at every stall.

The Metropolitan Cathedral follows, also with roughly 15 minutes. The cathedral and surrounding square place you in the historic core of the city. Then comes Praça XV de Novembro, another short stop where you can see one of central Florianópolis’ best-known public spaces.

Palácio Cruz e Sousa is included in the central overview, although the scheduled stops emphasize the cathedral, square and market area rather than a lengthy interior visit. Keep your expectations practical: this section introduces the city center from the outside and gives you photo opportunities, but it does not function as a full walking tour.

I like this start because it gives the rest of the day a useful frame. You see the urban center before heading into beach districts, instead of treating Florianópolis as nothing more than a string of beaches.

Lagoa da Conceição and the east coast

The eastern section begins with Morro das Sete Voltas and an eastern island viewpoint. These scenic points are included in the broad route, although the detailed schedule gives only about 15 minutes at Lagoa da Conceição and similar short visits at the beaches.

Lagoa da Conceição is one of the island’s key geographic features. From a quick viewpoint stop, you can appreciate the lagoon and the hills around it, then continue toward the ocean side. This is a classic example of what Floripa Total does well: it shows you several parts of the island in one day, even if it cannot give each place much time.

Joaquina Beach is next, with about 15 minutes for a quick look and photos. It is famous for its broad sandy setting and connection with the eastern beach district. Here, the time limit is important. You can step out, see the beach and take pictures, but you should not plan to swim, sunbathe or walk far along the shore.

Praia Mole receives another short stop. Its setting is attractive and its place on the eastern route makes it a natural comparison with Joaquina. Seeing both beaches in one morning helps you decide which area deserves a separate half-day later.

The Ponto de Vista viewpoint adds another scenic pause. Several viewpoint stops can feel repetitive if you already have plenty of photographs, and this is one part of the day where the schedule could feel padded. One account specifically found that some viewpoints received more time than necessary, while another praised the guide for explaining each place clearly.

The quality of the day depends heavily on the guide and driver. The most warmly praised service included clear explanations, patience with slower walkers, water offered during the day and personal attention when someone fell behind. Those details matter in a large group. You should still keep an eye on the meeting time, since the bus cannot wait indefinitely.

Barra da Lagoa: the day’s longest stop

Barra da Lagoa is the main pause on the eastern side, with about one hour and 30 minutes for lunch. Food is not included, so budget separately for your meal and any personal purchases.

This is your best chance to slow down a little. You can eat, take a short look around and reset before the northern portion of the route. Still, the stop is not designed as a beach vacation. If you want a long swim or a quiet meal with no schedule, 90 minutes may feel tight.

The tour also includes a visit to the TAMAR Project in the Barra da Lagoa area. The supplied details do not state whether an entrance ticket is included, and tickets are listed among the exclusions, so check the current arrangements before counting on admission. The visit adds an educational element to a route otherwise focused on scenery and city orientation.

For many people, Barra da Lagoa will be the most useful place to decide if the east coast deserves more time. You see the beach area, have lunch and get a short introduction to the local setting without committing your whole holiday to one district.

Northern beaches: Ingleses, Canasvieiras and Jurerê

After Barra da Lagoa, the tour turns north. Praia dos Ingleses receives about 15 minutes for a quick stop and photographs. It is one of the island’s major beach areas, but this visit is too short for a real sense of its full extent.

Canasvieiras follows with another 15-minute stop. The tour gives you a chance to compare it with Ingleses and the eastern beaches, but again, think of this as a survey rather than beach time. Bring realistic expectations and comfortable clothing for repeated walks between the vehicle and viewpoints.

The final beach-area stop is Jurerê Internacional, with about 20 minutes. The longer stop gives you slightly more time for photographs and a brief look around. It is useful for seeing how different the northern resort districts feel from the older central streets and the more natural east coast stops.

These northern stops are valuable if you are trying to choose a base for a longer stay. They are less satisfying if you already know you want a full day at one beach. Traffic can also be a serious factor on this side of the island, especially when the route crosses several popular coastal areas in a single day.

Santo Antônio de Lisboa is worth your attention

Santo Antônio de Lisboa is scheduled as a quick stop, but I would treat it as one of the day’s priorities. Its appeal is not simply a beach view. The area has a more traditional coastal feel and offers a welcome change from the large resort beaches.

One person who left the tour early still singled out Santo Antônio de Lisboa as the best part, largely because too little time was allotted there. That is useful advice. If the guide gives you a choice between extra photos at another viewpoint and a careful look around Santo Antônio, use your time here well.

The stop is still only about 15 minutes, so you will not get a full meal, long walk or detailed cultural visit. But you can take in the waterfront setting, photograph the older-looking streets and get a stronger sense of Florianópolis beyond its beach resorts.

What the price really gets you

At $25.45 per person, Floripa Total is priced as an economical group excursion. The value comes from transportation, coverage of a large route, an air-conditioned vehicle, passenger insurance and guide service. Hiring separate transport to reach the center, east and north in one day would usually be less convenient, even before accounting for navigation and parking.

The low price also tells you what not to expect. This is not a private car, a custom route or a slow cultural walk. You will spend much of the day moving between districts, and most stops are short. Lunch and tickets cost extra, as do personal purchases.

The tour earns its price when you are new to Florianópolis, have only one free day or want to identify places for later visits. It offers less value if you have several days and prefer to settle into one beach area. In that case, local transport or a focused half-day outing may give you more time in the places you actually care about.

Who will enjoy Floripa Total most

I would recommend this tour to a first-time visitor who wants a broad picture of the island without organizing transport. It also suits anyone staying in Florianópolis briefly and trying to decide where to return for a longer visit.

Families may appreciate the air-conditioned vehicle, included insurance and a guide who keeps the group moving. Most people can participate, and service animals are allowed. The short stops can also help if your group prefers variety over one long beach session.

I would be more cautious if you dislike buses, crowded roads or fixed schedules. A group of up to 40 can make boarding slower, and the route leaves little room for spontaneous changes. If your main goal is swimming, relaxing in the sand or eating at a favorite restaurant, this is the wrong format.

The tour’s strongest service reports focus on the guide’s kindness, clear explanations and attention to people who needed help keeping up. No guide names are provided, so you cannot request a particular guide in advance. The experience can vary with traffic, group pace and the person leading the day.

Practical advice for a smoother day

Arrive ready for repeated short walks and quick photographs. Keep your phone or camera easy to reach, and note the return time at every stop.

Plan to pay for lunch separately. Since food is not included and Barra da Lagoa is the main meal break, do not assume the tour price covers anything beyond transportation, insurance and the guided service.

Use the central and eastern stops to learn the island’s layout, not to check off every sight in detail. If you later return to Florianópolis, you will have a better idea of where you want to spend a full morning or afternoon.

Free cancellation is available if you cancel at least 24 hours before the start time. Changes or cancellations inside that window are not accepted for a refund, and the company requires a minimum number of participants. If that minimum is not met, you are offered another date or experience, or a full refund.

Should you book this island tour?

Book Floripa Total if your priority is breadth, convenience and a low per-person price. In one day, you see the city center, lagoon, eastern beaches, Barra da Lagoa and the northern resorts, with a guide providing context along the way.

Skip it if you want long beach stops or a relaxed pace. The schedule is ambitious, traffic can stretch the day, and Santo Antônio de Lisboa receives less time than it deserves. For a first visit, though, this is a sensible way to get your bearings fast and choose where to return.

FAQ

Where does Floripa Total begin and end?

The tour begins at Lookout Square Hercílio Luz in central Florianópolis at 9 a.m. It ends back at the same meeting point.

How long does the tour last?

The advertised duration is approximately eight hours. Pickup arrangements and traffic may affect the actual return time.

Is hotel pickup available?

Pickup is offered, but the stated meeting point is Lookout Square Hercílio Luz. Confirm the exact pickup details at the time of booking.

Is lunch included?

No. The tour allows about one hour and 30 minutes for lunch at Barra da Lagoa, but food is not included.

Are entrance tickets included?

Tickets are not included. Personal expenses are also excluded. The tour includes total and passenger insurance and transportation in an air-conditioned vehicle.

How many people can join the tour?

The activity can have a maximum of 40 participants. Most people can participate, and service animals are allowed.