Things to Do in Palhoca

The main Catholic church in central Palhoça, built in the 18th century with a simple colonial facade and a wooden altar.

🕐 Mon-Sat 8:00-12:00, 14:00-18:00; Sun 7:00-11:00

💡 Visit on a Sunday morning to hear the local choir, which sings traditional Brazilian hymns from the back pews.

A small museum in a restored 19th-century house, displaying local artifacts, photos, and farming tools from the Azorean settlement period.

🕐 Tue-Fri 9:00-17:00, Sat 9:00-13:00

💡 Ask the curator to show you the hidden garden out back — it's full of native plants and often empty.

A weekly open-air market selling fresh fruit, vegetables, cheese, honey, and homemade cakes. Also has second-hand clothes and crafts.

🕐 Sat 6:00-12:00

💡 Arrive before 9am to get the best produce; the honey seller at the south end sells small jars for 10 reais.

A wide, sandy beach with calm waters, popular for swimming and sunset walks. Good for kitesurfing when the wind picks up.

🕐 Open 24 hours

💡 Go midweek to avoid crowds; the surf school near the north end rents boards cheaply if you ask for a half-day rate.

A viewpoint on the foothills of Serra do Cambirela offering a panoramic view of the city, the bay, and Florianópolis island.

🕐 Daylight hours only

💡 The dirt road up is rough — take a car with good ground clearance, or park at the bottom and walk 20 minutes uphill.