DISCOVER SANTA CATARINA
Santa Catarina is a region that brings a little bit of Europe to Brazil.
SANTA CATARINA
Colonized by Italian and German immigrants, the cultural roots of these people remain strong until today. The state’s social indicators are among the best in Brazil. It has the highest rate of life expectancy in the country, the lowest infant mortality rate and is also the state with the lowest economic inequality and illiteracy in Brazil. Santa Catarina has the sixth-highest GDP in the country, with a diverse and industrialized economy.
DEMOGRAPHICS
The population of Santa Catarina is 7.6m and was the second state with the highest population growth in Brazil. The population density is 61.53 inhabitants per square kilometer (159.4/sq mi). The last PNAD (National Research for Sample of Domiciles) census revealed the following numbers: 7.609. 601 White people (86.96%), 608,000 Brown (Multiracial) people (9.98%), 160,000 Black people (2.63%), 15,000 Asian people (0.25%), 5,000 Amerindian people (0.09%).
SANTA CATARINA
European Settlement
Santa Catarina is one of the Brazilian states with the most obvious signs of 19th-century European immigration, where the vast majority of the population descends from European settlers. It is also the state with the highest percentage of European phenotype citizens.
The state is also famous for having towns where most of the populations belongs to a single main ancestry thantks to the settlement program with European colonists. Here are a few examples of such towns in the Southern region:
ECONOMY
SANTA CATARINA IS A REFERENCE
The industrial sector is the largest contributor to the GDP at 52.5%, followed by the service sector at 33.9%. Agriculture represents 13.6% of GDP. Santa Catarina exports include aviculture 26.1%, wood products 15.4%, compressors 8.5%, cotton 6.8%, and vehicles 5.8%.
Santa Catarina has one of the highest standards of living in Brazil and is a major industrial and agricultural center.
The capital city, Florianópolis, has a diversified economy, being an important location for the technology industry and a major tourist destination. Commerce and services are also very strong in the capital.
In the northeast of the state, electric-mechanical, textile and furniture industries are strong; in the west, cattle and poultry breeding predominate, while in the south it is ceramics and shellfish. The corridor between Joinville, Jaraguá do Sul and Blumenau is heavily industrialized —more than 50% of the state’s industrial output is concentrated in this small, but highly developed area.
MAJOR CITIES AND THEIR RESPECTIVE ECONOMIC FIELDS ARE:
Brusque:
textile.AIRPORTS
National and international flights arrive at Hercílio Luz Airport (FLN) in Florianópolis and Victor Konder in Navegantes (NVT).
TOURISM
There is only one state further south than that of Santa Catarina in Brazil, but as far as the list of most beautiful, Santa Catarina ranks right at the top. This part of Brazil has a touch of everything: dense jungle, glimmering beaches, great nightlife, wild nature, Latin flare, European influence. Although it is roughly the size of Portugal, it is one of the smaller states in the country, meaning that exploring most of it is very manageable. The following is a highlight of the main tourist attractions.
SERRA CATARINENSE
Araucaria forests, hills, canyons and waterfalls are the main components of one of the most incredible landscapes of Brazil. Although rural tourism and wine tourism are the main local tourist segments, every year the region attracts tourists because it’s the only part of Brazil where snow falls frequently.
SERRA DO RIO DO RASTRO
To get a good idea of the range of contrasting topography that Santa Catarina has to offer, visit the jawdropping sierra known as Serra do Rio do Rastro. Venture inland from the golden beaches of Florianopolis, to this rugged, mountainous terrain—
high enough to receive dustings of snow. It’ll be hard to believe you are in the same country, let alone the same state.
EXPLORE FLORIANÓPOLIS
Santa Catarina is home to some amazing sights, and spending at least one day exploring this island paradise is an absolute must. You have the Public Market and nightlife of the city of Florianópolis, often shortened to Floripa, to the north of the island is the historic town of Santo Antônio de Lisboa and the fortress of São José da Ponto Grosso, and, as you turn the north bend and head south on the east side of the island, little beach towns and the golden coast open up before you.
FLORIANOPOLIS, THE CAPITAL OF SANTA CATARINA ESTATE, HAS MORE THAN FORTY BEACHES THAT ATTRACT TRAVELERS ALL YEAR ROUND.
BEACHES
Life’s a beach – at least in sunny Santa Catarina, which has 350 miles (560km) of spectacular coastline. If you like your beach deserted, there is a spot of sand for you in the south of Florianopolis. If
you prefer a party scene, head further north on that same island. If you’ re all about big surf, it’s up in Guarda do Embaú and Praia do Rosa, two absolutely stunning surf villages south of Florianópolis.
From Praia do Rosa, Garopaba and Imbituba in the south, to Bombas, Bombinhas, Praia Mariscal, and Balneário Camboriú in the north of the state, you are simply spoiled for choice when it comes to beaches in Santa Catarina. To put it in perspective, the state has a beach roughly every 10 kilometers (6.2 miles), making for a picture-perfect coast.
SURF
If you like to surf or want to be a beach bum for a little while, you will find every type of wave in Santa Catarina. The state is home to some of the world famous surf breaks, like Joaquina
ILHA DO CAMPECHE
Off the town of Campeche, in the island of Florianopolis, you will find a small chunk of rock known as Ilha Campeche, which is covered in jungle, sprinkled with white sand, and rimmed with multiple shades of postcard-worthy blue water. This location will be home to some of the most jawdropping photos you take during your time in Santa Catarina.
OKTOBERFEST BLUMENAU
We weren’t kidding when we said Santa Catarina has European influence. Blumenau will have you feeling like you are right in the middle of Bavaria.
Oktoberfest is a 17-day long festival in Blumenau and the third-largest on the planet. This is as authentically German as you can get.
VALE EUROPEU
The main attractions of Vale Europeu came from the German cultural heritage, Austrians, Italians, Polish and
Portuguese. The region is famous because of Oktoberfest, the largest German party in America, and by the Rota das Cervejas (Beer Route). Shopping routes, ecotourism, and rural tourism also have great relevance.
BETO CARRERO WORLD
With so many outdoorsy things to do in Santa Catarina, it’s sometimes nice to just switch off and have some mindless fun.
Thankfully the state is home to one of Brazil‘s premier amusement parks. A huge tourist attraction since its opening in 1991, Beto Carrero World is the largest amusement park in South America. It has recently partnered with DreamWorks Entertainment and Universal Studios, to take their rides, performances and even its zoo, to the next level.
MAIN CITIES AND THEIR MAIN TOURIST ATTRACTIONS
1 – Florianópolis — the state capital, also known as Ilha da Magia (Island of Magic), is one of the most popular beach destinations.
2 – Balneário Camboriú — a lively beach city famous for its jovial nightlife and one of Brazil’s most impressive urban skylines.
3 – Blumenau — host to the planet’s third largest Oktoberfest, it is a major center of German and Italian culture.
4 – Bombinhas — a small municipality containing
some of the state’s best beaches.
5 – Garopaba — a good base for exploring the vast array of beaches south of the state capital.
6 – Joinville — possibly the major cultural center of the state, with several museums and traditional events. It is the state’s largest city.
7 – Lages — a popular base for ecotourism and rural tourism in the Serra Catarinense region. It is close to the charming sierra town of Urubici.
8 – Pomerode — a charming and very authentic German town
9 – São Francisco do Sul — home of Santa Catarina’s best preserved Colonial historical center.