MORRO DA PEDRA BRANCA

Pedra Branca is a granite wall on the border between São José and Palhoça, roughly 500 meters high, visible from several points around the region — which is why it long served as a landmark for navigation and travel. The trail starts and ends at the same point, on Acesso Camilo Francisco da Silva, in Sertão do Maruim, São José, covering 6 km in total and about 5 hours of activity. It's an intermediate-difficulty option, suited for anyone who wants a real physical challenge on a mountain climb without the demands of the region's longer trails. From the top, the view stretches over Ilha de Santa Catarina from north to south.

The granite wall of Pedra Branca is one of the most striking rock outcrops in the terrain between São José and Palhoça, formed by the same chain of hills and ranges that cuts across Greater Florianópolis. That kind of formation — exposed rock, steep slopes, Atlantic Forest vegetation lower down — is what gives the trail much of its physical challenge, especially on the rougher terrain near the top.

Historically, Pedra Branca served as a landmark for anyone crossing the region on foot or on horseback, which earned the trail the nickname Caminho dos Tropeiros — a nod to the routes cattle drovers once used to cross the Santa Catarina interior toward the coast. That legacy of passage and travel still shows in the route, a trail that has always been, one way or another, a path for anyone who wanted to see farther.

Meeting in Sertão do Maruim — The start is on Acesso Camilo Francisco da Silva, 1179, in Sertão do Maruim, São José — the same point the activity returns to at the end. The CADASTUR guide checks equipment and runs through the safety briefing before entering the trail, which climbs through forest right from the start.

Climb to the granite wall — Over the 6 km route, the trail gains 487 meters of elevation over stepped sections and uneven terrain, with physical effort classed as significant. As the trail climbs, the vegetation opens up and the granite wall comes fully into view, up to the lookout at the top, where Ilha de Santa Catarina stretches out from end to end.

Descent and return to the starting point — The descent retraces the same path, with extra care on the rocky, stepped sections. The group returns to the meeting point in Sertão do Maruim, closing out an activity of roughly 5 hours between the climb, time at the top, and the way back.

Quick summary:

• Duration: approximately 5 hours

• Difficulty: significant physical effort, stepped sections and uneven terrain

• Minimum age: 10 years old

• Includes: individual insurance, CADASTUR-certified guide with advanced rescue certification, photos of the activity, trekking pole and gaiter loan on prior request

• Not included: transport to the meeting point, food and drinks

• Note: private activity for up to 4 people, with full refund for cancellations made up to 48h in advance