Campeche Beach is a very popular destination for tourists and locals alike in Florianópolis, the capital of Santa Catarina.

Located in the south of the island, it is considered to be one of the most beautiful beaches in the South of the island, with a strip of fine white sand 3.5 km long and a sea of clear, choppy waters.

Campeche Beach has no physical divisions separating it from its neighbors, Joaquina Beach to the north and Morro das Pedras Beach to the south, and walking is free.

This Praia do Campeche beach shares its white sand dunes with Joaquina beach, which form a beautiful natural setting and are popular with visitors for sandboarding and contemplating the panoramic view of the beach.

Sports and youth beach infrastructure

Campeche Beach is very popular with surfers and kitesurfers due to its strong and constant waves, as well as being the stage for important national and international competitions.

The infrastructure is well-developed, with several kiosks, bars and restaurants offering everything from snacks and drinks to full meals, as well as parking and rental services for chairs, umbrellas and surfboards.

The wide range of accommodation on offer and the neighborhood's population growth in recent years have attracted many families to enjoy the sands of Campeche.

This makes it one of the most inclusive beaches on the island.

History of Campeche beach

The history of Praia do Campeche dates back to pre-Columbian times, when the Sambaquis Indians inhabited the region and left traces of their culture.

Later, the beach became a refuge for fishermen, who built small huts made of straw and wood to house their families during the fishing season.

Based on information from the town hall, the 1786 map indicates that the entire east coast of the island was considered to be a single beach, called Praia do Mandú.

However, the map by Paulo José Miguel de Brito, dated 1790, already depicts Campeche Island with this nomenclature.

Later, from 1860 onwards, the beach was also referred to as Campeche.

The name comes from the period of colonization, when the presence of several Campeche trees, also known as Pau de Campeche, was frequent, which possibly contributed to the origin of the name, together with the story of Saint-Exupéry that we'll see below.

However, Praia do Campeche became better known in the 1970s, when a group of hippies discovered the beauty and tranquillity of the region and settled on the beach, building wooden and straw houses and living in harmony with nature.

This hippie community gave rise to a series of legends and mystical stories surrounding the beach, such as the legend of the “Portal of Light”, a supposed opening to another dimension located in the rocks on the beach.

An illustrious visitor made history in Campeche

Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, renowned French writer and aviator, was one of Campeche's most illustrious visitors, He was honored with the name of the neighborhood's main avenue, Pequeno Príncipe.

During the 1920s, Saint-Exupéry commanded flights for the French post office and made stopovers in a field of landing installed in Campeche, This has become an important historical point in the community.

Rumor has it that the story of the Little Prince was written on the island.

According to reports, during the 1920s, the French air courier Société Latécoère discovered an airfield in the region due to an emergency and after that, it always stopped to refuel its Paris-Buenos Aires flights.

Saint-Exupéry, who often stopped in Campeche to rest, ended up making friends here.

It is said that it was at this time that the French writer used the expression “Champ et Pêche” to refer to the fishing camp, which would have given rise to the name Campeche.

Point do Riozinho

Among its attractions is Riozinho, a famous spot that receives many visitors, especially in the summer.

Riozinho is a river that flows into the sea and forms a small lagoon where people gather to swim and sunbathe. There are also bars and restaurants offering a variety of food and drink options.

During the summer, Riozinho is the scene of various events and parties that attract people of all ages.

There are theme parties, music festivals, sports competitions and other activities. It's also common to see street performers and street vendors roaming the area.

Campeche Island

Campeche Island is one of the most famous and beautiful islands in Florianópolis, located in the south of Santa Catarina Island.

Considered a National Archaeological and Landscape Heritage Site, the island has a rich history and a unique ecosystem, with crystal-clear waters and unspoiled fauna and flora.

Campeche Island is known for its paradisiacal beaches, which attract tourists from all over the world.

In short, Campeche Beach is a true paradise on earth, combining natural beauty with the infrastructure and comfort that tourists and locals are looking for.

The history and mysticism surrounding the beach make it even more interesting and unique, and certainly contribute to its charm and popularity.

Lagoa da Conceição Dunes Park

The dunes in the vicinity of Campeche cover an area of 121 hectares and are officially recognized as the municipality's Natural and Landscape Heritage.

It is a complex of fixed, semi-fixed and mobile dunes that line the coast.

The region is home to a diversity of vegetation, ranging from herbaceous, shrubby and arboreal restinga to undergrowth.

In addition to the dunes, visitors can explore other ecological reserves in the region, such as Lagoa da Chica and Lagoinha Pequena.

How to get to Campeche Beach

Campeche beach can be reached via the Gov. Aderbal Ramos da Silva highway.

The route follows the SC-405 highway to Pequeno Príncipe Avenue, in Campeche.

Follow the signs, the route is usually well signposted.

By car
Campeche beach is in the east of Florianópolis Island, 18 km from the bridge and the center.

When you reach the Pedro Ivo bridge, go straight along the Gov. Aderbal Ramos da Silva highway.

Just follow the signs to the south of the island along the SC-405 highway (Rod.Francisco Magno Vieira).

Past the Fire Brigade, turn left onto Pequeno Príncipe Avenue. Go straight and this road will end at Praia do Campeche.

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 Rio Tavares Integrated Terminal (Tirio).

When you get to Tirio, you have to take another bus that goes to the Tirio stop. Campeche.

You don't have to pay for a ticket again.

Uber, 99 or Taxi
Uber or a similar service to Campeche beach can cost around R$ 70 from the airport and R$ 110 from the bus station.

The price depends on the day, time and service offered.