Self-drive in the mountains of southern Brazil

Santa Catarina in southern Brazil has a coastline of sand-swept beaches and rocky bays with low-key family friendly resorts, great surfing opportunities, rainforest-shrouded rugged hills and, inland, a lost world of plateaux, canyons and waterfalls, a utopia for walkers.

We recommend self-drive as the best way to get around as it offers you the freedom to travel at your own pace and to choose your own route following picturesque, good quality paved and dirt roads. Most roads are only lightly used and local drivers are courteous. Discover the coastline, Santa Catarina Island and the interior mountains at your own pace with a hire car and accommodation both booked for you in advance.

Santa Catarina is within easy reach of Argentina’s Buenos Aires to the south and Rio de Janeiro or São Paulo to the north, with at least daily flights of less than 2 hours. Pick up your car in Florianopolis and away you go!