Floripa Total – Leaving Florianópolis by Itaguasul Turismo

See Florianópolis from end to end. Floripa Total is built for first-time visitors who want a fast, broad look at Brazil’s island capital rather than a slow day at one beach. In about eight hours, the air-conditioned vehicle links the historic center with Lagoa da Conceição, Joaquina, Praia Mole, Barra da Lagoa, Ingleses, Santo Antônio de Lisboa, Canasvieiras, and Jurerê Internacional.

I like the wide coverage and the chance to compare very different parts of Florianópolis in a single outing. I also like the helpful guide service, which has earned praise for clear explanations, patience, punctuality, water offered during the day, and assistance when someone falls behind.

The trade-off is simple: this is a lot of island for one day. Traffic can eat into sightseeing time, and many stops last only 15 minutes. The tour suits you if you want an overview, but it may frustrate you if you prefer long beach visits or unhurried meals.

Five useful things to know before booking

• The route covers three sides of Florianópolis: You see the central district, eastern beaches, and northern beaches in one long loop.
• Most stops are short: Fifteen minutes is enough for a photo and a quick look, not a full beach day.
• Barra da Lagoa gets the longest break: Plan on about 90 minutes for lunch, with food paid separately.
• The guide can make or break the day: Strong reports praise clear explanations, kindness, and careful help with the group.
• The group may reach 40 people: The vehicle offers air conditioning, but this is a shared excursion rather than a private tour.
• The price is modest for the coverage: At $25.45 per person, transport and passenger insurance are included, while food, tickets, and personal spending are extra.

Why Floripa Total works as an island introduction

Florianópolis is spread across a large island and a mainland section, with beaches, lagoons, historic districts, and resort areas separated by busy roads. Seeing even a portion of it independently can require several days of planning and repeated taxi or rideshare trips.

Floripa Total solves that problem with one continuous route. You do not need to decide which beach deserves your limited time before arriving. Instead, you get a quick visual survey of the city and its coastline, then you can return later to the places that suit you best.

That broad view is the main value. The tour is not designed for swimming, hiking, or extended time in a single neighborhood. Think of it as a moving introduction with frequent photo stops and commentary along the way.

The schedule begins at 9:00 a.m. at the Hercílio Luz Lookout, near the bridge in central Florianópolis. Pickup is offered, but the supplied meeting information identifies the lookout square as the starting point, so confirm your exact pickup arrangement when booking.

The company has operated for more than 30 years. That does not guarantee a perfect day, but it is useful context when choosing a shared excursion in a city where route timing depends heavily on traffic.

Central Florianópolis: bridge views, markets, and old civic landmarks

The opening section gives you a quick orientation to the city center. The first stop is the Hercílio Luz Bridge, where the group boards and begins the tour. The stop lasts about 20 minutes and has no admission fee.

The bridge is one of Florianópolis’s best-known visual markers. From the lookout, you can frame the structure, the water, and the city in one photograph. This is also a useful place to understand the city’s setting before the vehicle heads toward the island’s beaches.

Next comes Feira do Largo da Alfândega, with about 15 minutes to look around and take pictures. The market area gives you a brief taste of central city life and works as a change from the bridge viewpoint. Do not expect a long shopping session. The schedule is meant for a quick look.

The Metropolitan Cathedral follows. Again, you have around 15 minutes. The stop gives you a chance to see one of the city’s major religious buildings and hear some local context from the guide. Since the visit is brief, you should treat it as an exterior and orientation stop unless the guide’s timing allows more.

Praça XV de Novembro and Palácio Cruz e Sousa round out the central portion. The square is an important civic space, while the palace adds an architectural and cultural note to the morning. Together, these stops prevent the tour from becoming only a beach circuit.

I like this balance. A day spent seeing beaches alone can leave you with little sense of Florianópolis as a city. The central stops give you a basic framework before the route turns toward lagoons and sand.

Lagoa da Conceição, Joaquina, and Praia Mole

The eastern section starts with Lagoa da Conceição, one of the island’s defining natural features. The stop is listed at about 15 minutes, so your time is mainly for a quick look and photographs.

The lagoon helps explain why Florianópolis feels different from a standard coastal resort. Water, hills, roads, and settlements come together here, creating a setting that is visually distinct from the open Atlantic beaches. The short visit is enough to get your bearings, but not enough for a full exploration.

Joaquina Beach is next. Its broad coastal setting makes it a popular stop, and you get another 15-minute photo break. This is a good place to compare the open beach with the calmer lagoon scenery you have just seen.

Praia Mole follows, also for about 15 minutes. The stop gives you another view of the eastern shore and adds variety to the morning. The repeated short visits are useful if you want to collect an overview of several famous places, but they require discipline. You will need to be ready to leave when the group reconvenes.

The route also includes Morro das Sete Voltas and an eastern island viewpoint in the wider description of the tour. These viewpoints add height and help you see how the roads and beaches connect. Since the detailed stop list does not assign separate times to them, the actual time at each viewpoint may depend on traffic and the guide’s schedule.

This is where the tour’s main weakness appears. Traffic can be heavy, especially around popular beach areas. A full day can stretch beyond the advertised eight hours, and extended road delays may reduce time at the stops. If you dislike fixed group schedules, this section may feel rushed.

Barra da Lagoa gives you the day’s longest break

Barra da Lagoa Beach is the practical center of the route. The tour allows about one hour and 30 minutes here, mainly for lunch. Food is not included, so budget separately for your meal and any drinks or personal purchases.

That longer pause is welcome after several short photo stops. You have time to eat without the pressure of a 15-minute turnaround, though the exact amount of free time can be affected by traffic earlier in the day.

The lunch stop also gives you the best chance to slow down and experience a beach district at a more normal pace. Still, you should not confuse it with a dedicated beach excursion. The main purpose is a meal break, and the schedule continues afterward.

Bring a little patience to this part of the day. A 90-minute lunch may feel generous if you want more sightseeing, while other visitors will appreciate the chance to sit down. One of the useful lessons from the feedback is that the tour’s value depends on your preferred rhythm. Some people found the long day worthwhile, while others felt too much time went into stops that did not interest them.

TAMAR Project and the northern route

The wider tour description includes a visit to the TAMAR Project at Barra da Lagoa. The project is connected with sea turtle protection, giving the day an educational element beyond viewpoints and beaches. However, the supplied detailed stop schedule does not assign a separate duration or admission detail to this visit.

That means you should confirm how the TAMAR visit fits into your specific departure. Admission tickets are not included in the tour price, so any entry fee would be your responsibility. This is one of the few parts of the day where checking the current arrangement matters.

After Barra da Lagoa, the route heads north to Praia dos Ingleses. The stop lasts about 15 minutes and is mainly for pictures. Ingleses is one of the island’s well-known beach areas, but the short timetable does not allow much time to walk along the shore or settle in.

Santo Antônio de Lisboa comes next, and this is one of the most appealing stops for anyone who wants more than beach scenery. The historic district has a distinct character, and the route gives you a quick chance to look around and take photographs. If you enjoy older neighborhoods and local atmosphere, pay close attention here.

The difficulty is that 15 minutes can feel too short. One piece of feedback singled out Santo Antônio de Lisboa as the best part of the day while also wishing for more time there. I agree with that instinct: if the schedule changes because of traffic, this is the kind of stop you will wish had been protected.

Canasvieiras follows with another 15-minute visit. The stop adds one more view of the northern coast and lets you compare it with Ingleses and the eastern beaches. It is not long enough for a full beach outing.

The final stop is Jurerê Internacional, with about 20 minutes for a look and photographs. This area gives you a different side of Florianópolis, with a more polished resort feel than the central district or historic Santo Antônio. Seeing both in the same day helps show the island’s range.

What the vehicle, group size, and guide service mean

The tour uses an air-conditioned vehicle and may carry up to 40 people. That capacity keeps the price down, but it also affects the pace. Loading and unloading a large group at every viewpoint takes time, so listen carefully for meeting instructions and return promptly to the vehicle.

The tour includes total and passenger insurance. Food, tickets, and personal expenses are not included. At $25.45 per person, the cost is attractive for a full-day route with transport, insurance, and a guide. You are paying for access to a broad circuit, not for admission to a major attraction or a private vehicle.

The guide is especially important here. Several strong comments praise the guide for explaining each location, being polite and attentive, offering water, and helping people who fall behind. One person specifically appreciated being waited for and escorted back to the group.

That kind of care matters on a packed route. You are moving often, sometimes through busy areas, and a clear guide can keep the day from becoming confusing. The driver and guide may be the same person, and the feedback includes praise for a professional driver-guide who explained the history of each place.

At the same time, good guiding cannot remove traffic or create extra hours at the beach. The tour has a fixed route and a full schedule. I would book it for orientation, not for a relaxed coastal escape.

Timing, comfort, and practical planning

The listed start time is 9:00 a.m., and the activity ends back at the meeting point. In practice, the day may run longer than eight hours if roads are congested. One report described leaving a hotel around 8:30 a.m. and returning around 7:30 p.m., with traffic taking up a large part of the day.

That is an important warning for evening plans. Do not schedule a flight, restaurant reservation, or long-distance bus immediately after the tour. Leave a generous cushion.

Wear comfortable shoes and bring whatever you need for a long day out. The supplied information confirms air conditioning and water offered by at least one guide, but it does not specify a full list of refreshments. Food at lunch is your responsibility.

You should also remember that the excursion is built around getting on and off the vehicle many times. Most visitors can participate, and service animals are allowed, but anyone who needs extra time should tell the operator in advance.

The cancellation terms are friendly: you can receive a full refund by canceling at least 24 hours before the 9:00 a.m. start. Changes made inside that window are not accepted, and the experience requires a minimum number of participants. If the operator cancels for that reason, you are offered another date or experience, or a full refund.

Who will get the most from this $25.45 tour?

I would recommend Floripa Total to a first-time visitor with one free day who wants to understand the island’s layout. It is also useful if you are deciding where to spend extra days later. The route lets you compare city landmarks, lagoon views, open beaches, historic districts, and resort areas without arranging separate transport.

It suits people who enjoy guided commentary and do not mind a structured schedule. Families may also appreciate the air-conditioned vehicle and the fact that transport is handled throughout the day.

I would hesitate if your priority is swimming, beach lounging, or local food. The longest stop is lunch at Barra da Lagoa, while most beaches receive only 15 minutes. You may leave with plenty of photographs but little time in the water.

I would also think twice if you become stressed by long vehicle rides or crowded beach roads. The tour can be fun and informative, but the itinerary is ambitious. On a busy day, the island may give you more traffic than free time.

Should you book Floripa Total?

Book it if you want a low-cost first look at Florianópolis and understand that the day is a survey, not a slow holiday. The combination of central sights, eastern beaches, Barra da Lagoa, the possible TAMAR Project visit, and northern districts is hard to match independently for $25.45.

Skip it if you already know the island or want deep time at one beach. In that case, choose a smaller, more focused outing instead.

My best advice is to use Floripa Total as a planning day. Take notes about the places that catch your attention, especially Santo Antônio de Lisboa, Lagoa da Conceição, or whichever beach suits your style. Then return later with enough time to enjoy them properly.

FAQ

Where does the Floripa Total tour start?

The listed meeting point is Hercílio Luz Lookout Square in Centro, Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, at 9:00 a.m.

Where does the tour end?

The activity ends back at the meeting point.

How long does the experience last?

The tour lasts approximately eight hours, although traffic may make the day longer.

Is hotel pickup available?

Pickup is offered. The stated meeting point is Hercílio Luz Lookout Square, so confirm the exact pickup details when booking.

What is included in the price?

The price includes passenger insurance, an air-conditioned vehicle, and the service of a company with more than 30 years in the market.

Is lunch included?

No. Lunch is not included. The tour allows about one hour and 30 minutes for lunch at Barra da Lagoa Beach.

Are attraction tickets included?

No. Tickets are not included, and personal expenses are also your responsibility.

How many people can join the tour?

The maximum group size is 40 people.

Are service animals allowed?

Yes. Service animals are allowed.

Can most people participate?

Yes. Most visitors can participate, according to the supplied tour information.

What is the cancellation policy?

You can cancel at least 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the start are not accepted for a refund.