Boat Tour to Ilha do Campeche, Florianópolis

The Lagomar schooner leaves the Barra da Lagoa pier at 10am and takes about 1h10 to reach Ilha do Campeche, sailing past the Barra's Natural Pools, Praia Mole, Galheta and Joaquina along the way. Once ashore, you get up to 4 free hours on a stretch of white sand and clear water, on land listed by Brazil's federal heritage institute (IPHAN) as an archaeological and landscape site. The schooner carries up to 82 passengers, with two restrooms, a captain and three crew members on board. The return trip departs sharply at 3pm, arriving back in Barra da Lagoa between 4pm and 4:30pm.

Ilha do Campeche sits off the eastern coast of Santa Catarina Island, covering just over 420,000 m² — about 1,620 meters north to south and 563 meters east to west. Its pale sand beaches and calm sea contrast with the forest covering the island's interior, a remnant of restinga and Atlantic Forest vegetation that survived because the island stayed cut off from the mainland. That same isolation preserved traces left by people who occupied the site long before the Azorean settlers reached Santa Catarina Island.

Carved into the island's rocks are figures researchers count among the largest concentration of lithic workshops and rock engravings on the Brazilian coast — geometric symbols, mask-like shapes, arrow-like markings and a nine-meter monolith covered in inscriptions. There are also whale-processing ruins dating back to 1772, from the era when whaling drove the region's economy. Because of this, the island was listed by IPHAN in 2001 in the Archaeological, Ethnographic and Landscape Heritage Registry, and today visits are capped — up to 770 people a day, rising to 800 between December and February, from 9am to 5pm.

Boarding in Barra da Lagoa — Check-in at 9:15am and boarding on the pier at 9:30am. The Lagomar schooner departs at 10am sharp, with Wi-Fi and power outlets on board for anyone who wants to enjoy the crossing without worrying about their phone battery. The company has no parking lot of its own — the first street to the left after the office has paid parking, with rates that vary by season.

Crossing and free time on the island — The 1h10 crossing passes the Barra's Natural Pools, Praia Mole, Galheta and Joaquina before reaching Ilha do Campeche. Once there, you get up to 4 free hours: relax on the white sand, swim and snorkel in calm water, or walk the island's easy trails. Snorkeling gear costs R$80 extra, and guided land trails cost R$30 or R$40 — activities that may not be available in low season. Chairs, beach umbrellas and coolers with food and drink are allowed; speakers, barbecue grills and climbing the rocky headlands are not.

Return to Barra da Lagoa — The boat back departs sharply at 3pm, arriving in Barra da Lagoa between 4pm and 4:30pm. The tour can be cancelled on the same day due to heavy rain or unsafe sea conditions, with the possibility of rescheduling for the next day, subject to availability — an overcast day with no rain does not affect the operation.

Quick summary: 

•  Duration: 6h30 (departs 10am, returns between 4pm and 4:30pm)

•  Difficulty: easy

•  Restrictions: none reported

•  Included: life jacket

•  Not included: transport, breakfast, lunch

•  Note: on-island activities (snorkeling and trails) have limited spots — book as soon as you land

Ideal for: 

•  Anyone who wants to see Ilha do Campeche without worrying about trail logistics or renting gear

•  Families and groups looking to spend the day on a calm beach with restrooms and a rest area on the island itself

•  Visitors curious about archaeology and history, drawn to the rock engravings and the whaling-era ruins

•  Couples and friends who enjoy a lively boat ride, with views of the island's eastern beaches along the way

Why it's worth it: The real difference isn't just reaching Ilha do Campeche — it's arriving on a schooner licensed for landing, with restrooms and a rest area right on the island, passing the Barra's Natural Pools, Praia Mole, Galheta and Joaquina on the way. That's four free hours on a listed archaeological site, with no rush to be back before 3pm.

Expert's take: 

“Ilha do Campeche is the kind of tour we recommend to people who've already been to Floripa several times and think they've seen it all. There's no cars, no coconut-water stand on the sand — just bush, carved rock and a sea that looks like a swimming pool. I take visitors there for exactly that reason: you can sit on the white sand with no rush, and still leave knowing a bit more about who was there before us.”

— Guta, co-founder of Acalanta