Capital of the state of Santa Catarina, Florianópolis means one thing to tourists, mile after mile of beautiful sandy beaches, lots of water sports, Azorean fishing villages, and tasty seafood. The city is small and very nice but holds no real interest for most tourists except as a jumping off point to the unpolluted, pristine beaches. The most popular beach areas during December, January, and February, or high summer, are in the northern part of the island while further south offers a large lagoon with sand dunes that partially surround it. The best surf beaches are in the east like Mole, Galheta, and Joaquina with more rugged beaches in the south, making them a good spot if one is looking to avoid the crowds. The south also has plenty of small, quaint Azorean fishing villages, lush hills and views of the Baia Sul.
