Floripa Total – Leaving Florianópolis by Itaguasul Turismo

Florianópolis is too spread out for a quick look on foot, and this full-island circuit tackles the problem in one long day. You move from the Hercílio Luz Bridge and colonial center to Lagoa da Conceição, Joaquina, Barra da Lagoa, Ingleses, Santo Antônio de Lisboa and Jurerê Internacional.

I like the wide range of scenery and the friendly, attentive guide service, which can include historical explanations, water and help keeping the group together. I also like the low price of $25.45, especially if this is your first time on the island. The tradeoff is clear: traffic can eat into your stop time, and several beach visits last only about 15 minutes.

Key points to know before booking

• A true north, east and center circuit: You see many parts of Florianópolis in one day rather than settling into one beach area.
• Short photo stops dominate: Most stops last 15 minutes, so this is a survey tour, not a beach day.
• Barra da Lagoa gets the longest break: You have 90 minutes for lunch, with food paid separately.
• The guide-driver matters: Past guests especially praised the guide’s courtesy, explanations, patience and practical help.
• Traffic is the main risk: The planned duration is about eight hours, but one excursion ran from roughly 8:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
• The group can reach 40 people: Expect a shared coach rather than a small private outing.

What Floripa Total is really designed to do

This is a first-look tour, not a slow coastal outing. It gives you a working map of the island’s main zones, which is useful because Florianópolis has beaches, lagoons, historic districts and viewpoints scattered over a large area.

The tour begins at 9:00 a.m. at the Hercílio Luz lookout in central Florianópolis and returns there at the end. Hotel pickup is offered, but the supplied details do not specify which hotels qualify, so confirm that point when booking.

The vehicle is air-conditioned, and the company has more than 30 years in the market. Passenger and tour insurance are included. Food, attraction tickets and personal expenses are not.

I would think of the day as a moving introduction. You will collect ideas for a later visit, take photographs at a dozen locations and see how different the island’s districts feel. You will not have enough time to swim, walk far on the sand or explore each neighborhood properly.

The central sights, from Hercílio Luz to Praça XV

The first stop is the Hercílio Luz Bridge lookout, also the boarding point. The bridge is one of Florianópolis’s best-known visual symbols, and the lookout gives the day a strong opening view. The scheduled time is 20 minutes, including boarding arrangements.

From there, the group moves to Feira do Largo da Alfândega for about 15 minutes. This is a quick chance to see the central market area and take photographs. I would not expect a full market visit at this pace, but it helps place you in the city center before the coastal circuit begins.

The Metropolitan Cathedral follows, with another 15-minute stop. Then comes Praça XV de Novembro, also scheduled for 15 minutes, along with the nearby Palácio Cruz e Sousa in the overall central route.

These central stops are valuable because they keep Florianópolis from becoming just a list of beaches. The city has an urban and historic side, and this portion gives you a brief look at it. Still, keep your expectations modest. Fifteen minutes is enough for an exterior look and photos, not a detailed museum or architectural visit.

If you want longer time in the cathedral, market or palace, note the locations for a later independent visit. The tour’s strength is coverage, not extended cultural study.

Lagoa da Conceição, Joaquina and Praia Mole

The eastern section changes the mood quickly. At Lagoa da Conceição, you get about 15 minutes to look around and take photographs. The lagoon is one of the island’s best-known natural settings, and this stop helps connect the inland water with the beaches farther east.

The stop is short enough that you should arrive ready to get out, see the view and return to the vehicle. It is not planned as time for a long walk beside the lagoon.

Joaquina Beach comes next, with another quick 15-minute visit. Joaquina is a famous beach name in Florianópolis, and the stop is useful for a first impression of its broad coastal setting. You may have time for photographs and a brief look at the sand, but not a relaxed beach session.

Praia Mole follows on the same schedule. The sequence gives you three very different eastern sights in quick succession: lagoon, beach and another beach. I like this part for comparison. If you are trying to decide where to spend a future full day, the contrast helps.

The drawback is timing. You can easily spend more than 15 minutes simply getting off the coach, orienting yourself and taking a few photos. The schedule works best if you treat each stop as a preview rather than expecting a proper visit.

Barra da Lagoa is the day’s useful pause

Barra da Lagoa Beach receives the longest planned stop, about 90 minutes. This is the main break for lunch, and food is not included in the tour price.

Ninety minutes gives you more breathing room than the other beach stops. You can eat without rushing quite as much and take a short look around Barra da Lagoa. The stop also breaks up a day that otherwise involves frequent boarding and unloading.

You should budget for your own meal and personal purchases. The tour does not list a specific restaurant or meal arrangement, so the exact food options and prices are not fixed by the booking information.

I like that the schedule allows a proper pause here. At the same time, one past booking found the lunch break too long compared with the time available at other interesting places. That is a fair concern if you would rather spend the day walking and photographing than sitting down for a meal.

The itinerary also lists a visit to the TAMAR Project in the Barra da Lagoa section. The general tour details do not state a separate admission price or exactly how much time is allocated to the project, while the inclusions say tickets are not included. Ask before departure if entry is part of the plan or an optional extra.

Northern beaches and the character of Santo Antônio

After Barra da Lagoa, the route turns north to Praia dos Ingleses. The scheduled visit is 15 minutes, enough for a quick look and photographs. It is another broad beach stop in a day already filled with coastal scenery, so the value here is seeing the island’s range rather than spending time in the water.

Santo Antônio de Lisboa also gets about 15 minutes. For many people, this is one of the more distinctive stops because it offers a historic coastal village atmosphere rather than another large beach. The supplied feedback specifically singled it out as the best place of the day, while also noting that the stop felt too short.

I agree with the practical lesson: keep your camera ready and do not wander far from the group. If Santo Antônio appeals to you, write it down as a place to revisit with more time. The brief stop can show you why it is special, but it cannot give you a full sense of the area.

Canasvieiras comes next, with 15 minutes for meeting the place and taking pictures. This is another popular northern beach area and adds a different stop to the route, though the short timing again limits what you can do beyond looking around.

Jurerê Internacional is the final scheduled stop, with 20 minutes. The name points to a more polished northern beach district, and the extra five minutes gives you slightly more time than most of the beach stops. Even so, it remains a quick visit, not a full afternoon by the sea.

Why the guide can make or break the day

A long coach circuit depends heavily on the person leading it. The strongest part of this experience appears to be the guide-driver service. The guide is described as polite, attentive and helpful, with clear explanations about the places along the way.

That matters on a day with many short stops. You need someone who explains what you are seeing while the vehicle moves, gives clear return times and notices when someone is falling behind. One especially positive account described a guide who offered water, waited for a slower member of the group and went back to help when that person was left behind.

No guide name is provided, so I would not expect to book a particular individual. The company can accept up to 40 people, which means the experience may feel like a standard group excursion rather than a personal tour.

A full coach also creates a simple rule for enjoying the day: listen carefully to meeting times and stay close to the pickup point. A few lost minutes at every stop can quickly become a major delay for the entire group.

Traffic, timing and the real length of the outing

The advertised duration is about eight hours, with a 9:00 a.m. start. In practice, road conditions can stretch the day. One past excursion began around 8:30 a.m. with hotel collection and ended near 7:30 p.m., after spending a great deal of time in traffic.

That is the main issue I would consider before booking. Florianópolis is a large island, and the route crosses several busy areas. The price buys access to a lot of ground, but it cannot guarantee equal time at every stop.

The plan includes about 20 minutes at the opening bridge lookout, a series of 15-minute central, lagoon and beach visits, 90 minutes at Barra da Lagoa, and 20 minutes at Jurerê Internacional. Those numbers tell you exactly what kind of day this is: frequent transitions, quick photos and one substantial lunch break.

If you dislike sitting in traffic, this may feel tiring. If you want to identify the places worth returning to, the same driving time can be useful. I would avoid scheduling an important evening activity too close to the expected return.

Is $25.45 good value?

At $25.45 per person, Floripa Total is inexpensive for a full-day route that includes an air-conditioned vehicle, passenger and tour insurance, and guided transport across the center, east and north of the island.

The value is strongest for a first visit. You can see the bridge, historic center, lagoon, several major beaches and northern districts without arranging separate transport. A private car covering all these areas would normally require more planning and could cost much more, though the supplied information does not provide private-tour pricing for a direct comparison.

The price does not cover lunch, attraction tickets or personal expenses. You should also remember that the low fare comes with a larger possible group, up to 40 people, and limited time at most stops.

I would not book this expecting a restful beach holiday. I would book it as a low-cost orientation day, then choose one or two favorite areas for a slower return visit.

Who will enjoy this day most

This tour suits you if:

• You are visiting Florianópolis for the first time.
• You want to see many districts before choosing where to spend more time.
• You prefer organized transport to navigating the island yourself.
• You enjoy viewpoints, photographs and brief stops.
• You want a budget-friendly introduction rather than a private experience.

It may not suit you if you want long swims, quiet walks or detailed visits to historic buildings. It is also a poor match if you need a tightly controlled schedule, since traffic can extend the day.

Most people can participate, and service animals are allowed. The activity is capped at 40 participants, but no smaller group size is promised.

Booking advice and cancellation terms

Confirmation is provided when you book. Free cancellation is available if you cancel at least 24 hours before the local start time. Cancellations or changes made inside that window are not accepted for a refund.

The tour requires a minimum number of participants. If the operator cancels because that minimum is not reached, you can receive a full refund or choose another date or experience.

Those rules are simple, but I would still confirm the pickup arrangement, expected return time and TAMAR Project admission before paying for extras.

Should you book Floripa Total?

Book it if you want a broad first look at Florianópolis for a low price and can accept a long day with short stops. The best features are the island-wide coverage, air-conditioned transport and guide service that can add useful explanations and hands-on help.

Skip it if your priority is time on the beach. You will see many beaches, but most visits last only 15 minutes, and traffic may reduce that time further.

My practical choice would be to use this tour early in a Florianópolis stay. Mark the places that catch your interest, then return independently to the beach, village or historic area you liked most. That is where the tour gives its best value: not as your entire island experience, but as a useful map for the days that follow.

FAQ

How long does Floripa Total last?

The planned duration is about eight hours, starting at 9:00 a.m. Traffic and hotel pickup timing can make the actual day longer.

Where does the tour start?

It starts at the Hercílio Luz Lookout Square in central Florianópolis, at Centro, Florianópolis, SC 88010-140, Brazil.

Where does the tour end?

The activity ends back at the same meeting point.

Is hotel pickup available?

Pickup is offered, but the provided information does not specify which hotels are covered. Confirm your pickup details when booking.

What is included in the price?

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

Is lunch included?

No. Lunch is not included. The tour provides about 90 minutes for lunch at Barra da Lagoa, and you pay for your own food.

Are attraction tickets included?

No. Tickets are not included, and personal expenses are also separate.

How many people can join the tour?

The activity can have a maximum of 40 participants.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes, if you cancel at least 24 hours before the local start time. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the start are not accepted for a refund.