Santinho Beach - Florianopolis Beach
Região: north of the island
Subdivision: English from Rio Vermelho
Nearby beaches: Ingleses Beach (north)| Mozambique beach (south)
Distances: Centro e Bus Station 38 km | Airport 45 km
Beach Type: Intermediate Beach (variable bottom, with sandbanks)
Curling: High (from medium to large waves)
Sand range: Media (between 10 m and 20 m) and Long (above 20 m)
Beach Length: 2 km
water temperature: Fria
Also find: water sports, surf, trail, dunes, archaeological heritage, fishing
In the north of Florianópolis, next to Praia dos Ingleses, is the sophisticated and secluded Praia do Santinho.
Known for the practice of surfing, the beach has strong waves, open sea and a long strip of sand that, in its northern part, turns into long dune fields.
In Santinho, the modern meets prehistory. It is there that one of the largest collections of rock art in Florianópolis is deposited. The works date back more than 5 years.
At the same time, a luxurious hotel complex attracts tourists and businessmen from all over the world for moments of relaxation.
Natural Features of Praia do Santinho
The beach is open, facing the ocean to the east. It borders the Ingleses Beach and with Mozambique beach.
Between Ingleses and Santinho, there is the Morro dos Ingleses, where there are trails. To the south, between Ingleses and Mozambique, is the place called Costão do Santinho, where a famous resort of the same name is installed. It is also in Costão do Santinho that diabase rocks with rupestrian inscriptions can be found.
The beach is about 2 km long, with a strip of sand that varies between 10 and 120 meters in width. The widest part is to the north, where the strip of sand mixes with the dunes.
ADVERTISING
The waves are strong and high, reaching 8 feet. The draft is intense and makes the sea very dangerous on some occasions.
The sand is clear and fine, following the pattern of the dunes that surround part of the beach.
History of Praia do Santinho
Praia do Santinho was known by the ancients as Praia das Aranhas. This is because of a small archipelago located a few meters from the beach. On these islands, the quantity and diversity of the arachnid were very large. Currently, only the southern tip of the beach is known by the name of Ponta das Aranhas, or also Morro das Aranhas.
Rock Inscriptions
The name Praia do Santinho appeared on printed maps from the 1970s onwards, due to a mysterious image, carved in a stone, which resembled a saint. Some said it was witchcraft, but others prayed in front of the image, asking for protection on the high seas.
Today it is known that this inscription of a saint, in addition to other inscriptions, are cave inscriptions dating back five thousand years. They form one of the largest archaeological sites on the island. There are approximately 3m² of a black diabase wall. Along the beach, they are covered in signs carved deep into the rocks. The motifs are concentric circles with dots or X in the center, parallel wavy lines and stylized figures of men.
ADVERTISING
Modernity came with the implementation of the modern complex of Costão do Santinho, a high standard hotel that has an immense list of services and facilities. A community around this establishment began to grow and organize. Most were people who worked at the hotel. Today, Santinho is practically “glued” to the Ingleses, due to the expansion of the community, which has many summer houses and apartments.
DISCOVER MORE North Island beaches
- Bom Jesus waterfall
- cacupé
- Canasvieiras
- Daniela
- English
- Jurerê International
- Traditional Jurerê
- Lagoinha
- Ponta das Canas
- Brava Beach
- Forte beach
- Santinho beach
- sambaqui
- Saint Anthony of Lisbon
other regions
Looking for beaches in other regions of the island? Visit the links below:
