Floripa Total – Leaving Florianópolis by Itaguasul Turismo

Florianópolis is too spread out for a quick look from one neighborhood, and Floripa Total tackles that problem with a full-island circuit. In one long day, you move from the Hercílio Luz Bridge and colonial center to surf beaches, lagoon viewpoints, fishing villages, and the polished resort area of Jurerê Internacional.

I like the useful geographic sweep and the chance to compare very different sides of the island without arranging several taxis. I also like the guides’ personal service: one guide was praised for clear explanations, water, and patiently waiting for a guest who fell behind.

The tradeoff is time. This is a sightseeing sampler, not a beach day. Traffic can eat into the short stops, and the route can feel rushed or run longer than the advertised eight hours, especially with hotel pickup and a group of up to 40 people.

Key points at a glance

• A true island overview: The route links Florianópolis’s center, east coast, and north coast in one circuit.
• Short photo stops: Most visits last 15 minutes, enough for a look and pictures, not a swim or long walk.
• Barra da Lagoa gets the longest break: Plan on 90 minutes for lunch, with food paid separately.
• The guide matters: Expect explanations at the sights, and service may include water and help keeping the group together.
• A large possible group: The vehicle can carry up to 40 people, which affects pace and loading time.
• Good value at $25.45: Transport and passenger insurance are included, but meals, tickets, and personal spending are extra.

What Floripa Total is really trying to do

This tour is designed for orientation. Florianópolis has a historic downtown, a lagoon district, long sandy beaches, fishing communities, and resort neighborhoods spread across the island. Seeing all of that independently in one day would take careful planning and a fair amount of driving.

The route divides naturally into three parts: the center, the east side, and the north. That structure helps you understand the island rather than simply collecting beach names.

You begin at 9:00 a.m. at the Hercílio Luz Bridge Lookout Square. Pickup is offered, but the stated meeting point is the lookout at Centro, so confirm the pickup arrangement when you book. The tour ends back at the meeting point.

The vehicle is air-conditioned, a useful feature in Florianópolis’s warm weather. Passenger insurance is included, along with the company’s more than 30 years of operating experience. Food, entry tickets, and personal expenses are not included.

Starting beneath the Hercílio Luz Bridge

The Hercílio Luz Bridge is one of Florianópolis’s defining sights. At the lookout, you have about 20 minutes for boarding and photos. The bridge’s steel structure gives the first stop a clear sense of place: you are looking at the link between the island and mainland Brazil, not just another city view.

This is also the practical starting point. Arrive ready to board rather than expecting a long guided visit here. The stop is mainly about meeting the group and taking in the view.

From there, the bus enters the historic center. The compact sequence of downtown stops gives you a quick introduction to the city’s public squares, religious architecture, and old civic buildings.

Four downtown stops in about an hour

At Feira do Largo da Alfândega, you get 15 minutes to look around and take pictures. The market area gives the tour a more everyday city setting after the grand bridge view. It is a brief stop, so I would keep your camera ready and avoid wandering far from the meeting point.

The Metropolitan Cathedral follows, also with about 15 minutes. You can see the exterior and take a quick look around, though the schedule is not built for a long church visit or detailed architectural study.

Praça XV de Novembro provides another short pause. This central square helps connect the cathedral and the nearby Palácio Cruz e Sousa, which is part of the stated downtown area even though the stop schedule does not assign it a separate visit. The sequence works best as a first look at central Florianópolis, not as a substitute for a dedicated walking tour.

The center portion is useful for first-time visitors because you get a basic map of the city before heading toward the beaches. If you already know downtown well, these stops may feel repetitive. The guide’s explanations make a difference here, and a well-organized guide can turn a quick photo stop into useful context.

Lagoa da Conceição, Joaquina, and Praia Mole

The eastern section shifts from city streets to open water and beaches. Lagoa da Conceição receives about 15 minutes for a quick look and photos. The lagoon is one of the island’s best orientation points, connecting the inland waterway, hills, and beach districts in one view.

Do not expect time for a leisurely meal or waterside stroll at the lagoon. This is a picture stop. You might find yourself wishing for more time if the view is clear, especially since the lagoon is one of the more distinctive settings on the route.

Joaquina Beach comes next. It is well known for its broad sand and beach atmosphere, but the schedule gives you only another 15-minute pause. That is enough to step out, feel the setting, and take pictures. It is not enough for swimming, changing, or settling in with a beach chair.

Praia Mole gets the same treatment. The beach is a notable east-coast stop, and the short visit lets you compare it with Joaquina. The value here is variety. You see two different beach environments in quick succession instead of spending the entire day in one place.

I would wear shoes that are easy to remove and carry, and keep your belongings organized for fast stops. The supplied information does not promise beach time or changing facilities, so treat these as sightseeing visits rather than recreation breaks.

Barra da Lagoa is the day’s main pause

Barra da Lagoa Beach is the longest stop, with about 90 minutes set aside for lunch. That makes it the one place where you have a reasonable chance to slow down, eat, and look around without immediately watching the clock.

Lunch is not included. You should budget separately for food, drinks, and any other personal spending. The tour does not specify a restaurant or fixed menu, so expect to choose and pay for your own meal.

The beach also connects the eastern sightseeing sequence with the TAMAR Project, which is included in the stated route. The project is known for sea turtle conservation, and its presence gives this section more substance than a simple beach photo stop. The supplied details do not state whether admission is included, so check the ticket arrangement before departure. Tickets generally fall under the tour’s list of exclusions.

Ninety minutes sounds generous compared with the other stops, but lunch, walking, and a visit can use that time quickly. If you want to eat slowly and explore the project in detail, the schedule may feel tight. If your main goal is to cover the island, this longer pause is a sensible compromise.

The north coast: Ingleses to Jurerê

After the east side, the route turns north toward Praia dos Ingleses. You get about 15 minutes for a quick visit and photos. Ingleses is a major beach district, but this stop is not designed for a full coastal outing.

Canasvieiras follows with another 15-minute stop. The quick succession of northern beaches gives you a feel for how developed and varied the island’s resort areas are. It also means you should not judge any one beach solely from this short visit. Crowds, weather, and traffic can change the mood considerably.

Jurerê Internacional receives about 20 minutes, slightly longer than most beach stops. This area is associated with upscale development and resort-style appeal, making it a useful contrast with Santo Antônio de Lisboa and the more traditional parts of the route.

The order of these stops can make the final stretch feel long, especially after a full day on the road. Still, it gives you a useful answer to a common planning question: do you prefer the east coast’s beach and lagoon character, or the north coast’s resort districts?

Santo Antônio de Lisboa adds a different kind of Florianópolis

Santo Antônio de Lisboa is one of the most valuable stops because it breaks up the beach circuit. Its traditional character and waterfront setting offer a stronger sense of local identity than a short pass through a resort neighborhood.

The schedule allows about 15 minutes, which is brief. I would use that time for the waterfront, photos, and a quick look at the streets near the stop. One guest specifically considered this the best part of the day but felt the time there was too short. That is a useful warning: stay close to the vehicle, but be ready to use every minute.

This is also the stop that may leave you wanting to return independently. The tour gives you an introduction, then moves on. If historic atmosphere and local character matter more to you than checking off several beaches, make a note of Santo Antônio de Lisboa for a longer visit on another day.

Traffic, pace, and group size

The biggest practical issue is not the sights. It is the road time. Florianópolis can require long drives between districts, and the complete route covers a lot of ground. A past experience included leaving a hotel around 8:30 a.m. and returning about 7:30 p.m., with traffic cutting into time at the better stops.

That timing does not match the approximate eight-hour description exactly, but it shows how pickup arrangements, traffic, and group movement can stretch the day. If you have an evening flight, dinner reservation, or other fixed plan, leave a generous buffer.

The tour can take up to 40 people. A larger group keeps the price low, but boarding and gathering everyone can take longer. The short stops also demand punctuality. A guide may wait and help people who fall behind, but you should not assume the whole group can pause indefinitely.

The strongest service feedback centered on the guide. One guide was described as polite, attentive, clear in explaining each place, and willing to offer water and help a guest who was behind. That kind of care matters on a long day with frequent stops. The information does not identify the guide by name, so you cannot request a particular person based on the available details.

Is $25.45 a good value?

At $25.45 per person, this is inexpensive for an eight-hour island circuit with an air-conditioned vehicle and passenger insurance. The price is especially useful if you are visiting Florianópolis for the first time and want a quick sense of where everything sits.

You are paying for transportation, route planning, and basic guided sightseeing. You are not paying for lunch, personal purchases, or clearly specified attraction admission. Add food and possible ticket costs before comparing the total with a private tour.

The value drops if you want long beach visits, quiet photography, or detailed time at each attraction. A rental car or private driver would give you more control, though it would likely cost more and require you to plan the route yourself.

For a first-day overview, the low price makes sense. You can use the tour to decide where to return for a slower visit. For a repeat visit, I would be more selective and spend a full day in one region instead.

Who should book this island circuit?

I would recommend Floripa Total to a first-time visitor with only a short stay, especially someone who wants to compare the center, east coast, and north coast before choosing where to spend more time.

It also suits people who prefer an organized bus route to navigating unfamiliar roads. The air-conditioning, insurance, and guided explanations remove several small worries, and the company has operated for more than 30 years.

I would hesitate if your ideal day means swimming, sitting on the sand, or exploring one historic district at a relaxed pace. The frequent 15-minute stops are designed for orientation and photographs. They are not enough for a full beach experience.

Free cancellation is available when you cancel at least 24 hours before the start time. Changes or cancellations inside that window are not accepted for a refund. The tour also requires a minimum number of participants, so a cancellation by the operator may lead to another date, another experience, or a full refund.

Should you book Floripa Total?

Book it if you want maximum geographic coverage for a low price and accept a long, tightly timed day. You will see the bridge, historic center, lagoon, east-coast beaches, Barra da Lagoa, TAMAR, northern beaches, Santo Antônio de Lisboa, and Jurerê Internacional without building the route yourself.

Skip it if your priority is relaxation or depth. The most memorable places may be the ones where you get the least time, and traffic can make the day feel more like transport than leisure.

My practical advice is simple: use Floripa Total as an introduction, not your final word on the island. Keep your expectations focused on orientation, photos, and guided context, and the $25.45 price offers solid value.

FAQ

How long does Floripa Total take?

The stated duration is approximately eight hours. Traffic, pickup arrangements, and group movement can make the day longer, so avoid scheduling a tight evening commitment.

Where does the tour start?

The stated meeting point is Lookout Square Hercílio Luz in Centro, Florianópolis. Pickup is offered, so confirm the exact pickup details when booking.

Where does the tour finish?

The activity ends back at the meeting point.

What time does the tour start?

The stated start time is 9:00 a.m.

Is lunch included?

No. Lunch is taken during the 90-minute stop at Barra da Lagoa Beach, but food and drinks are not included.

Are attraction tickets included?

No. Tickets are listed separately from the included transport and insurance, so confirm any admission costs before the tour.

How many people can join the tour?

The maximum group size is 40 people.