Lagoinha do Leste Boat Trip – Round Trip

The Trilhas do Mar crossing reaches Lagoinha do Leste by water, skipping the roughly 2.3km trail from Pântano do Sul or the 4km trail from Praia do Matadeiro. Boats leave in intervals of about 45 minutes, each carrying up to 20 passengers, with a smaller support boat available for boarding when needed. How long you stay on the beach is up to you, within opening hours and the day's availability. Along the way, the route runs past rocky headlands between Lagoinha do Leste and Pântano do Sul, showing angles of the coastline the trail never reveals.

Lagoinha do Leste sits isolated in the southeast of Santa Catarina Island, with no road access — only on foot or by sea. That very difficulty of access kept one of the last preserved remnants of Atlantic Forest around Florianópolis intact, now protected as a Municipal Park since 1992, covering 453 hectares under permanent preservation.

At Morro da Coroa, which closes off one end of the beach, there are jagged rock formations described as unique on the island, along with Toca da Baleia, a cave carved out by the sea over the years. From the top of the hill you can see Lagoinha do Leste sitting isolated below, and continue on to Ponta da Felicidade, with an open view of the ocean — a lookout that anyone arriving by boat also catches, from a different angle, during the crossing.

Boarding — Arrive early at the boarding point for a smooth check-in — departures happen roughly every 45 minutes, and can shift depending on visitor flow and the day's conditions. Boarding the main boat may involve a smaller support boat.

Crossing — The outbound trip takes about 1 hour, sailing close to the coast between Pântano do Sul and Lagoinha do Leste, with views of the rocky headlands and the area's marine life. Life jackets are provided to every passenger.

Beach time and return — Time on Lagoinha do Leste is yours to decide, within opening hours and the day's availability. It's a protected area: taking your trash back with you is part of the deal. The return follows the same frequent departures, weather and sea conditions permitting.

Quick summary: 

•  Duration: 1h crossing (beach time is unlimited)

•  Difficulty: easy

•  Restrictions: none reported

•  Included: life jacket

•  Not included: transport, breakfast, lunch

•  Note: boats carry up to 20 passengers; departures roughly every 45 minutes, weather permitting

Ideal for: 

•  Anyone who wants to see Lagoinha do Leste without tackling the 2.3km or 4km trail on foot

•  Families with young children or older travelers who prefer arriving without the physical effort

•  Photographers drawn to the rocky headlands and Toca da Baleia seen from the water

•  Visitors short on time who still want beach time on their own schedule

Why it's worth it: The main advantage is skipping the trail — the only other way to reach Lagoinha do Leste — without giving up the scenery: the same headlands and the same Toca da Baleia hikers see from above show up here from a different angle, straight from the water. On top of that, how long you stay on the beach is your call, not a fixed itinerary's.

Expert's take: 

“Lagoinha do Leste is one of the beaches I love most in Florianópolis, but not everyone is up for the hike — and that's fine. This crossing exists for anyone who wants to feel that water and that sand without worrying about their knees or their stamina. Arriving by boat and being able to stay as long as you want, with no fixed time to head back, is a different kind of freedom.”

— Berenice, founder of Acalanta