Praia do Sambaqui is one of the quietest and most charming beaches in Florianópolis.

Located in the northern part of the island, it is a perfect refuge for those looking for a more secluded beach, away from the hustle and bustle of the busier beaches.

With its clear, fine sand, Sambaqui beach offers a calm, tranquil sea. When bathing in the sea, check the signs.

In addition, the beach is surrounded by green hills, which makes the scenery even more enchanting.

Sambaqui beach infrastructure

The infrastructure of this beach is very simple, with few kiosks, fishermen's huts and restaurants.

Along the way, you can find some establishments offering typical Azorean dishes such as oysters, mullet and others.

History of the Sambaqui

The history of Sambaqui beach is directly linked to Azorean culture.

The beach was named after the sambaquis shells that were found in the area.

These sambaquis are ancient shell mounds that were left behind by the prehistoric communities that inhabited the region thousands of years ago.

In addition, the beach is a place of great historical importance, as it was here that the first battle of the War of the Triple Alliance in 1864.

The battle was fought between Brazilian and Paraguayan troops, in a confrontation that lasted around three hours and resulted in a Brazilian victory.

Dolphins and the Sambaqui

One of the most interesting curiosities of Sambaqui beach is the frequent presence of dolphins and porpoises in the area.

These animals usually swim close to the shore and are a special attraction for those who visit the beach.

In short, Sambaqui beach is a charming place with a peaceful atmosphere and unique natural beauty, especially at Ponta do Sambaqui.

With its rich history and culture, the beach is a must for anyone visiting Florianópolis.

Evidence of the Sambaqui Man

There are several archaeological studies carried out in the Florianópolis region that provide evidence of sambaquis.

One example is the study by Vasconcellos and Silva (2016), which describes the presence of sambaquis in the Sambaqui region of Florianópolis and presents data on the shells found in these archaeological sites.

The study identified the presence of several species of molluscs in large quantities in the shallowest layers of the sambaquis, such as the Crassostrea brasiliana oyster and the Perna perna mussel.

These species were used by the region's pre-colonial inhabitants as food, but also as raw materials for the production of objects such as arrowheads and cutting tools.

The first sambaqui in the region was found by the French naturalist Auguste de Saint-Hilaire on his expedition to Brazil in 1820.

Prehistoric scientific records

Several researchers have reported the existence of sambaquis in the Florianópolis region over the years, such as the German geologist Wilhelm Friedrich von Eschwege in 1833 and the French naturalist Auguste de Saint-Hilaire in 1820.

Other important researchers include the Brazilian archaeologist João Batista da Rocha, who carried out excavations at various archaeological sites in the Florianópolis region from the 1940s onwards.

In addition to him, the German archaeologist Andreas Mieth conducted important studies on the region's sambaquis in the 1990s.

How to get to Sambaqui

Sambaqui beach is 25 kilometers from the city center and can be reached via Avenida Beira-Mar Norte, up the CIC elevated road and along Avenida da Saudade until you reach the SC-401 highway (José Carlos Daux).

This highway connects the city center to the central and northern beaches.

Follow this highway straight until you reach Square Corporate on Rodovia Virgílio Várzea. Follow the signs, the route is usually well signposted.

By car
Sambaqui beach is in the north of Florianópolis Island, 25km from the bridge and the center.

Once over the bridge, stay in one of the two right-hand lanes, heading towards Avenida Beira Mar and Norte da Ilha.

Just follow the signs to the north of the island and take the SC-401 to Santo Antônio de Lisboa.

Take Rua Padre Lourenço R. de Andrade, Rodovia Gilson da Costa Xavier and Rodovia Rafael da Rocha Pires in Sambaqui

Buses
For those arriving by bus in Florianópolis, you should go to the Terminal Integrado do Centro (Ticen), which is 400m from the bus station.

Go to platform C, where the urban buses leave for the Santo Antônio Integrated Terminal (Tisan).

When you get to Tisan, you have to take another Sambaqui bus. You don't have to pay for a ticket again.

Timetables can be found here https://www.consorciofenix.com.br/ or https://www.floripanoponto.com.br/

Uber or Taxi
Uber or a similar service to Sambaqui beach costs around R$ 90 from the airport and R$ 60 from the bus station.