Another look at Iguazu - Responsible Tourism

Looking back at my last visit to Iguazu (and my last blog), there were other reasons that made that trip remarkable, besides the gigantic volume of water in the Falls.

Besides doing the usual inspections and day trips to the National Parks, we also looked at some different activities in the region.

The reason is that, our clients, I am happy to say, are every day more engaged in responsible tourism. This is a broad definition and for many simply means being "greener" during their holidays but for some, responsible travel means giving back something to the local community.

So I requested our local partners for ideas and we were pleasantly surprised by the number of initiatives they have in Iguazu.

Firstly, we visited the local Guarani community of Yriapu, in the Argentinean side, where the youngsters are receiving training to work with tourism in a sustainable way. On a 2-hour visit they take you on a guided tour of their reservation telling you about the fauna and flora of the Misiones Forest and also of their traditions and way of life. A fee is paid that benefits the whole community and you also have the opportunity to buy their handicrafts at the end, if you wish.

The next day we visited a local NGO, CIENS, that grows medicinal plants near Itaipu. They are now associated with the Itaipu power plant to produce phytotherapic medicines according to the regulations from Brazilian Health Authorities. Their produce is distributed free to many health centres in the region, allowing doctors to prescribe them to those that can't pay for the expensive commercial options.

The last visit was the most inspirational. We had lunch at Lar Casa dos Anjos (LACA), a home for children with HIV/AIDS started a few years ago by a local woman, Solange de Sousa, at her own house. The children that come to the house, from a few weeks old to teenagers, have either been abandoned, or are orphans or have been removed by social services from their homes because of negligence or abuse. At LACA they receive medical and psychological care, an education and are assisted during the whole process of adoption. Many will never be adopted, however, and will remain there until adulthood. These long term situation ends up transforming the Lar into their true family home.

What could be a very depressive experience was in fact a very heart-warming one. The kids love the attention and are very welcoming. We had a very short time there but we left with the feeling that we would like very much to promote their NGO and help them to maintain their amazing work, so we are recommending to all our clients a visit when in Iguazu. The small contribution for the delicious lunch served helps with the running costs of the home but there are many other ways to contribute.

Contact:
LACA
Website: http://www.laca.org.br/- the site is not updated frequently due to lack of time and resources.
Email: laca@laca.org.br
Phone: +55 45 35223457
Staff does not speak English, but we would be happy to intermediate any contact;

Revisiting Iguazu Falls - I

I have been many times to the Iguazu Falls. Last time I visited, I had the most amazing experience, being lucky enough to be in the deserted main platform of the Brazilian Falls at sunrise. It was a very emotional experience and I thought I could never get excited about the Falls again after that.

I returned last week and was taken aback once more by the incredible sight (and sound!) of the Cataratas. October brought an exceptional amount of rain to the whole south of Brazil and, as a result, the volume of the Falls was over 5 times their normal level. It might not have been the most beautiful time to see it (as the heavy rain gives the river an ugly chocolate colour), but it was certainly the most dramatic of all my visits. While inspecting the renovated Hotel das Cataratas, you could hear the windows of the Itaipu restaurant shaking with the force of the water nearby.

Inspecting new hotels was one of the purposes of the visit and the new Hotel das Cataratas (now under the Orient Express group management) has really benefited from its 60 million Reais renovation work. Rooms are lighter in décor and all well equipped- and the windows have all been changed, so they do not shake anymore! The new pool area and the grill restaurant offer a more relaxed option to the formal colonial style of the main building. From December 2009 all the work should be finished and Hotel das Cataratas becomes again, in our opinion, the best choice of accommodation in the Falls. Expensive, but worthy for its location, and, now, also for its facilities.

Outside the National Parks you can find more economical options, but there is nothing worth writing home about, at least in the Brazilian side. In Argentina, however, they are investing heavily in stylish "Jungle Hotels".

The brand new Loi Suites, located only 15 min away from the Argentinean National in the middle of the Selva de Misiones is a great choice for those that have time for spending an extra night in the region. Unlike the infamous Sheraton building, this hotel blends in perfectly with the landscape. The 800 sq metres pool, with huge tropical trees in the middle and built in different levels to follow the terrain and allow the pool water to be filtered (when flowing from one level to the other) and reused, it is one of the great features of the hotel. Another one is the very Zen Namasthé Spa- such a relaxing place that you would wish to stay that extra night only to enjoy the facilities.

Brazil Ecojourneys tips:

• Plan to spend at least two nights in the region to have time to visit both the Brazilian and Argentinean sides as they provide very different angles and experiences.
• Puerto Iguazu, the town in the Argentinean side is a tenth of the size of Foz do Iguaçu, but offers some very good choices of restaurants. Try Aqva- their specialty is fresh-water fish (specially the famous Surubi), but being Argentina you will not go wrong on the beef or the Patagonian Lamb. It is worthy the trip wherever you are staying!
  
• For our Essential Iguazu package check our site- www.brazilecojourneys.com

Kindness of Strangers : Community Tourism in Brazil

Visitors to Brazil usually list the stunning nature of Brazil as the number one attraction, but the friendly nature of Brazilians themselves comes a close second. As anyone who has visited Brazil can attest, Brazilians are fun loving and very welcoming. You will encounter this warm hospitality everywhere you go, whether it is in a small remote community or the big city. There is even scientific evidence for the “simpatico” mentality of the Brazilians: a study called “Kindness of Strangers” by Robert Levine (CSU-Fresno) published in American Scientist (2003), showed that Rio de Janeiro was the friendliest of 23 large cities in the world.

No wonder then, that there are plenty of community tourism possibilities in Brazil.

Interested to read on : Download here Kindness of Strangers : Community Tourism in Brazil (pdf)

Text by Ariane Janer from Ecobrasil institute.

See Brazil Ecojourneys site for community tourism programs.

Whale Watching Season Begins

Last week the Projeto Baleia Franca, the NGO that monitors the numbers of Southern Right Whales on the coast of Santa Catarina, made their first helicopter flight of the season.

The biologist in charge reported more than 60 whales observed on this first flight and predicted that 2009 should be one the best years in number of individuals since the monitoring started.

The record was in 2006 when nearly 200 different whales were identified in the Southern Right Whale Environmental Protection Area (that runs south from Florianopolis to Torres, on the northern coast of Rio Grande do Sul).

The tendency is that the same group returns every 3 years to our coast, so this should be a great season for whale watching in Santa Catarina.

Tips from Brazil Ecojourneys:

• You can ocasionally spot the Southern Right Whales in Florianopolis, but their numbers are greater around Garopaba and Imbituba( around 2 hours away from Florianopolis by car);
• They can even be spotted from the shore, but if you want a great experience, take an organised boat trip;
• Besides whales , the southern Santa Catarina coast offers good opportunities for spotting bottlenose dolphins;
• Because our winter can make it for variable sea conditions, allow 3 or 4 days in the region for a better chance to see whales.

Brazil Ecojourneys 4days/3 nights whale watching tour starts from Florianopolis and runs from 1st August to 31st October.

Buenos Aires Welcomes Gay & Lesbian Tourists

WELL, I am definitely going way down south on this one, but there is a good reason for it.

Last week we were in Buenos Aires for the GNETWORK event - the 2nd International Meeting for Gay and Lesbian business. The event was at the beautifully designed Axel hotel , the first "hetero friendly" hotel in South America. It was a great event with speakers from all over the world and with a big audience on both days.

I gave a talk on incoming LGBT tourism in Brazil and the promotion of destination Florianopolis for the international LGBT market (here is the connection to this blog!).

Another reason to link Buenos Aires to Florianopolis is that a lot of Europeans and North Americans that visit one, want to visit the other. And it is a great combination for a short holiday: Buenos Aires with all its culture, excellent restaurants and parties and Floripa with its great beaches and relaxing atmosphere (and parties too!).

In summer, there are direct flights (a mere 2 hours journey) between the two cities, making it a very easy going holiday.

Brazil Ecojourneys tips:

• To find your way around gay and lesbian Bs As grab a GMaps guide. Updated every 3 months the guide is a great help for any G and L visitor;
• An economical alternative for accommodation in Buenos Aires is to rent a flat. There are many options but these two companies cater mainly for the LGBT community: BA4U and Friendly Apartments.
• When going out to clubs , remember that Argentineans go out even later than Brazilians- places don't get busy until 3 am!

• Tango has become popular once again with the younger crowd and there are venues that cater for same-sex tango classes- check GMaps for details;

More Adventure in Santa Catarina

For those adventurous travelers out there that are more into trekking than biking, you can join this month a small group ( maximum 8 people) on the best long-distance trek in Santa Catarina, the crossing of São Joaquim National Park.

This park in the Serra Geral mountains was created to protect the remaining Araucaria forests of the catarinense highlands and is one of the last natural habitats of the puma in South Brazil.

Next departure is scheduled for 28th July, departing from Florianopolis the day before. For more information, click here.

Brazil is the Best Destination for Adventure

The editors of the National Geographic Adventure have chosen Brazil as the Best Adventure Destination of 2009.

This award is a recognition not only of our natural potential for adventure tourism but also the hard work on developing safe adventure travel in our country by the Brazilian Association of Ecotourism and Adventure Companies (ABETA), of which Brazil Ecojourneys is a member.

The Aventura Segura, a program of ABETA and the Ministry of Tourism, has helped to create an excelent standard of safety in Brazilian adventure outfitters that is now being recognised internationally.

Santa Catarina, and Florianopolis in particular, are amongst the destinations recognised by ABETA to be hotspots for adventure in Brazil.

Top 5 Adventure Trips in South Brazil by Brazil Ecojourneys :

• Rainforest Expedition to the Lagamar Estuary: canoeing in mangroves and trekking through the largest remnants of Atlantic Rainforest in Brazil
• Santa Catarina by bike: from the highlands to the coast: bike all the way from the stunning Serra Geral mountains to the Island of Santa Catarina, Florianopolis
• Crossing of Sao Joaquim National Park: a 3-day hike across this park, created to protect the Brazilian Araucaria, and one of the last natural habitats for pumas in South Brazil
• Aparados da Serra Canyons: an active tour of the "Grand Canyons of Brazil"
• Active Adventures in Florianopolis: rafting, trekking and biking your way around Florianopolis

Sao Paulo deserves a stopover!

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We ventured further north last weekend to attend the Sao Paulo Pride, where I was invited to speak at a Forum on LGBT Tourism.

It was my first time at the largest Pride Parade in the world and besides being amazed by the sheer size of it (2 to 3 million attendees, depending on sources), I was pleasantly surprised by the institutional support the event gets from all levels of government. For example, it was the first time I saw a campaign from the Ministry of Tourism targeting the LGBT segment. The slogan of their campaign was even cute: Diversity - Brazil is more beautiful with it.

Apart from the Gay Pride events, I must say that last weekend changed my perception about Sao Paulo- it was never a city I recommended to visitors, but I can see that it has its charm (even if it is quite hidden!).

Sao Paulo is well known in Brazil as cosmopolitan capital, for its great nightlife, cuisine and contemporary culture, but there is also quite a lot of history and beautiful architecture too, especially in the old part of town. Add to that some great hotels and your stopover could be quite enjoyable.


Brazil Ecojourneys tips:

• The Tourism Office downtown ( in the old Banco de São Paulo building- Rua XV de Novembro), provides good information about places to visit.
• From the top of the BANESPA building - a Brazilian version of the Empire State Building- you have a 360 degrees panoramic view of the city. Entrance to the tower is free.
• The MASP Museum has a wonderful exhibition from Vik Muniz , a local artist now internationally renowned that makes amazing portraits with recycled and perishable materials. Entrance is free on Tuesdays.

Kayaking in the mangroves...in Florianopolis!

One of my favourite destinations in South Brazil is the Lagamar Estuary in Paraná, where you can find the largest tracts of Atlantic Rainforest in Brazil(+mangroves+ deserted beaches+ the unique Caiçara culture…) Lagamar is a magical place set against the background of the stunning Serra do Mar. Our Rainforest Expedition offers a 2-night stay at a simple lodge in the middle of the forest from where we do lots of outdoor activities around the area. I love everything about this trip but for me the best time there is to be had kayaking down the mangroves, watching all the aquatic birds and quite often meeting dolphins at the bay of Pinheiros… Unfortunately this paradise is a few hours from Florianopolis so I don’t get to go kayaking in the mangroves that often.

Well, this is about to change… today I found out that I can kayak in mangroves about 5 min from my home! The possibilities for outdoor activities in Santa Catarina Island in Florianopolis has always amazed me, and, yes, I already knew of many mangroves in the north and west of the island but they are either inside nature reserves or in the middle of the city. I could not imagine that I could kayak in mangroves literally down the road from my house.

The Sangradouro River is a small river that meets the sea between the beaches of Armação and Matadeiro on the south coast of Floripa (both gorgeous beaches on their own). Today, tipped by a local resident that rents out kayaks, I just paddled up that river and within minutes it seemed I was miles away from anywhere. On the way I met kingfishers, 3 or 4 species of herons (white-necked herons, small blue heron and the yellow-crowned night-heron) besides numerous egrets. I didn’t see any but I was told that yellow-throat caimans can be seen on this stretch of the river.This non-aggressive species is the only caiman found in South Brazil.

What a great place!

Tips from Brazil Ecojourneys:

• You can also rent kayaks in the nearby Lagoa do Peri. This a beautiful fresh water lake inside a nature reserve that is really worth visiting. If you go up the river at the far end of the lake early in the morning you might spot red-breasted toucans ;
• Lagoa do Peri is also home for the endangered Brazilian River Otter- you can volunteer for a week in a conservation and scientific project studying these otters, staying right in the middle of the nature reserve;
  

• If you are in Florianopolis area and want to do some paddling contact us: we can put you in touch with kayak rental places, arrange for a private guided tour of Peri Lake or even take you kayaking down rapids at nearby Caldas da Imperatriz;

South Brazil in ecoDestinations

Brazil Ecojourneys partnered with The International Ecotourism Society to promote ecoDestinations in South Brazil.




ecoDestinations is a campaign of TIES to highlight Ecotourism in different parts of the world. As part of the campaign there is an online auction of tours donated by tour operators and hotels engaged in responsible travel on their destination.

Brazil Ecojourneys and partners donated two tours for the auction.

If you want to contribute to this campaign access the site below and start bidding now!

All proceeds raised from this auction will go directly to TIES to support their numerous projects in support of ecotourism and responsible travel worldwide.

* Whales And Dolphins - Wildlife Adventure off the Coast of Santa Catarina

* Eco- Agrotourism - Home Stays with organic farmers of Santa Catarina
Please note that online bidding for this tour has closed but book this package this month through our site and we will donate the money to TIES!

Click HERE for more information on ecoDestinations and the work of The International Ecotourism Society

Birds of the Atlantic Rainforest

Brazil is one of the richest countries in the world in bird species and the region between Curitiba and the Parana coast offers unique diversity, as it is in a transition zone between two very different environments: the Aracauria forest and the Atlantic Rainforest.

Click here to watch a recent video from Bom dia Brasil, a Brazilian TV program, showing some local species and the scenery around Morretes, one of the oldest colonial towns in Parana.

Tips from Brazil Ecojourneys:

A great way to visit this area is to make the train journey from Curitiba to Morretes. The train leaves daily and the journey takes 3 hours.

If you have more time you could stay overnight after the train journey in a local lodge to best enjoy the region.

For the more adventurous our Atlantic Rainforest expedition gives you a greater insight into this unique environment.

Special birdwatching departures can be arranged with an ornithologist guide. Please contact us.

IGLTA discovers Florianopolis

Last week we co-hosted the International Gay & Lesbian Travel Association (IGLTA) bi-annual International Symposium here in Florianopolis.

This event, organised by Santa Catarina Tourist Board and the Brazilian Association of Gay & Lesbian Tourism (ABRAT-GLS), was the biggest international event for LGBT tourism ever organised in Brazil.

More than 300 people including IGLTA members from South America, USA, Canada & Australia participated. During 4 days travel agents, tour operators, local tourist boards and journalists had the opportunity to get to know some of Florianopolis attractions, join the discussions in the International LGBT Forum and network in a very busy market place.

Brazilian and international LGBT media also attended so we will add links to their articles as they come out.

Click here to read Roy Heale's comments about the trip on IGLTA's INSIDER OUT TRAVEL blog.

BRAZIL: Making Eco-History in a Southern Beach Town

Garopaba in Santa Catarina is participating in an international initiative called " Transition Towns" which aims for sustainable development.

Read more on this link:

BRAZIL: Making Eco-History in a Southern Beach Town

The Best Time to Enjoy Santa Catarina

Carnival marks the end of the Summer and high season in Brazil.

Santa Catarina, in special, suffers from seasonal tourism, being most visited from December to February.

But for those that are not tied to school's calendar there is no better time of the year to enjoy Santa Catarina coast than March & April: the weather is still hot, the sea is at its warmest, the fantastic beaches are completely uncrowded and prices are much lower.

Check our beach packages for some ideas.

Brazil Ecojourneys tips:

March and April are also ideal months to learn to surf. Besides the good water conditions you are still outside the Mullet fishing season (May-June) that closes down most of the surfing beaches.

Carnival 2009 in Florianopolis - Gay Parties

The Gay Carnival in Floripa is well established but this year seems bigger than ever, probably rivalling Rio as the biggest gay carnival in Brazil.

Besides the every night street parties downtown ( the traditional Carnival do Roma) and the Pop Gay festival that happens on Monday night, there are many other club parties happening in different parts of the Island.

Downtown the local clubs ( Mix Cafe and Concorde) are open every night this week and the Sunrise boat party today was sold out.

The most talked about and busiest is The Week, which is filling to capacity every night. We went last night and we were quite impressed with the whole set up. More than 3000 men were undressed to impress! The setting by the lagoon side makes it unique too. It seems everybody was having a great time.

During the day Bar do Deca on the left side of Praia Mole is still the favourite hang out place. Late afternoons sees more than a thousand people enjoying caipirinhas and the amazing views.

Tip from Brazil Ecojourneys team:

The gay Carnival should go on strong until the weekend- if you are in Brazil you still have time to join the party. Check our site for ideas and more information.

Carnival 2009 in Florianopolis -II

Carnival in Florianopolis happens all over the Island, but the most traditional events, the Samba Schools Parade, Bloco dos Sujos parties and the Pop Gay Festival, all happen downtown.

During the 5 days (20-24th February), there are street parties animated by bands playing on stages distributed around the centre. Next to the Public Market, around the XV November Square ( a.ka. Praça da Figueira) and in Hercilio Luz Avenue, an area almost exclusively frequented by the LGBT crowd during Carnival. Music starts from 21h and finishes 2 a.m.

Saturday (21st Feb) is the night of the Samba Schools Parade in the local Sambadrome (Passarela Nêgo Quirido). Tickets are cheap but difficult to get hold of unless you queue for hours, so it is easier to get them from touts on the day. They should cost from around R$50. The parade starts oficially at 20h, but delays are very common, so expect to wait until 21-21:30 until the first School appears. The whole show lasts around 7- 8 h, going into the early hours of the morning. Dress warm and take a rain coat, as the stands are not covered!

Sunday is the day of Bloco dos Sujos, a very traditional part of the local Carnival. Hordes of cross-dressed man (most of them straight and married...) parade during the afternoon through the centre of town dancing, singing and drinking- loads!, frequently accompanied by their whole families. Quite a sight! Later on the smaller neighbourhood samba groups -"blocos"- compete at the Sambadrome. From 19h.

On Monday night the biggest event is the Pop Gay Festival, which is a competition of Carnival costumes for Drag Queens and Transexuals. Traditionally it was held in the Hercilio Luz Avenue (where the LGBT crowd gathers), but due to its huge success ( last year 50 thousand people attended) , it was moved this year to Tancredo Neves Square, a few blocks away from the original site. The crowd is very mixed with lots of families attending. Starts from 21h.

Apart from downtown, the neighbourhood of Santo Antonio de Lisboa has a more low-key but still very popular Carnival, with parties every night and also the Children's Carnival on Sunday. Campeche and Lagoa are also neighbourhoods that have "blocos" on Carnival Sunday.

Carnival 2009 in Florianopolis - I

Unknown to many, this 4-day festival is celebrated all over Brazil. Besides Rio's famous Samba School's Parades and Salvador and Olinda street parties, you will find a lot of other cities that have great Carnival events.

Florianopolis has one of the most popular Carnival festivals in Brazil, because it mixes all the above (samba schools, street parties, neighbourhood "bandas") in a safe and friendly environment. It has also, rivalled only by Rio, one of the biggest Gay Carnivals in Brazil.

This week we will post news about all the upcoming Carnival parties in Floripa. If you would like to join the fun check Brazil Ecojourney's carnival packages.

To kick-off the season you can attend a Samba School rehearsal. From now to Carnival there are almost daily rehearsals in different points of the city.

One of the main candidates for Champion, Consulado, rehearses at their headquarters on Tuesdays, Thursday and Saturdays from 19h. Rua Custódio Fermino Vieira, 20
Saco dos Limões - Florianópolis. A small fee is requested after 20h.

The newcomer União da Ilha da Magia meets at the main square in Lagoa on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays from 20h. Free.

Another favourite, Copa Lord, rehearses downtown next to the Public Market from Monday to Thursdays at 20h. Free.

Have fun!

The New York Times: Florianopolis is the Place to Be

The New York Times recently declared Floripa the Party Destination of the Year and THE Place to Be in 2009.

The chic beach bars of Jurere and the famous gay Carnival parties of Praia Mole were mentioned, but beyond these areas that are favoured by visitors wanting to party, Floripa has many others that offer a lot of local fun.

Last night, for example, we took a stroll down Armacao main street , one of the oldest fishing communities on the Island and were met by a "bloco" formed by young drummers of a local NGO, rehearsing for Carnival.

Listening to the drums by the sea front while having an ice cream with the pretty old church of the Armacao in the background, I thought that this is what Carnival was really about in its origins: genuine community fun and not only a show for tourists.


Tips from Brazil Ecojourneys Team:

• These kind of events happen every weekend during January and February (until Carnival) in most neighbourhoods. Lagoa, Santo Antonio de Lisboa and Campeche, in particular, have good neighbourhood "blocos", so if you are in the Island during this time, check them out.
• The Afri Catarina NGO offers cultural workshops for the local youth of the south of the Island- check www.africatarina.com.br

Places to Eat in Florianopolis no. 1- South of the Island

We are frequently asked by our clients for tips on good places to eat on the Island.

I like to recommend our personal favorites, places that locals know about but that are overlooked by most guide books.

If you are visiting the south of the Island, I would make three very different recommendations.

In Pantano do Sul, in the extreme south, there is a simple restaurant on the beach front called Bar do Vadinho that serves the best typical food in the region. The place is very simple, you don't even have a menu: you ask for lunch (almoco) and they will bring you fish (fillets, steaks and a delicious dish of shredded fish with spices), rice, beans, salad, chips and pirao ( a local side dish made of fish stock, herbs and cassava flour). Service is friendly but very slow, but be patient because it is worthy. This is the freshest fish you can find anywhere on the island and it is great value: for US$ 7 per person, you can eat as much as you want. They will keep asking if you want a refill... During Summer it opens everyday, all day, in the rest of the year opens only for lunch a the weekends.

If you are on your way to/from the beach around Armacao or Pantano do Sul at lunch time and fancy a healthy alternative to fish and chips, then you MUST stop by Nutri lanches. Located near Lagoa do Peri on the main road (SC 406), this canteen-like restaurant serves a buffet by kilo (a great Brazilian invention= you chose your food from a buffet, weight it and pay a fixed amount per kilo) of the highest quality for a very reasonable price ( average meal US$ 4-5 dollars). Besides the good salads and creative vegetarian dishes, they also serve fish, seafood and chicken dishes. Open all year around ( except Mondays), Nutri is a meeting point for the alternative crowd.

On the west coast, in the quaint old village of Ribeirao, you will find a very different option, ideal for a late lunch or a summer evening meal. Ostradamus is a Florianopolis institution and justifiably so: it serves, by far, the best oysters in town! The setting is also magic: from their pier you can watch the sun going down behind the beautiful Tabuleiro Mountains. If you don't fancy oysters try their seafood risotto or the king prawn dishes.

Tips from the Brazil Ecojourneys team:

• In Ostradamus, the main course portions are huge, so ask for half a portion, which is plenty for 2 people.
• You can combine a visit to these restaurants with some of our day treks for a great day out.
• Florianoplis is the biggest producer of oysters in Brazil- a visit to an oyster farm followed by a tasting session is one of the many activities you can join in the island to experience local life.
  

Happy New Year in Florianopolis

Those that decided to come to Florianopolis for their New Year's holidays did not regret.

The weather was perfect for most of the week and although busy everywhere, the atmosphere was very relaxed throughout the Island. From the chic Jurere to trendy Praia Mole, locals and tourists alike had a great time partying on the beach.

Now Floripa starts getting ready for the next big holiday- Carnival week, in February.

Florianopolis Carnival is less known to foreigners but it is one of top five destinations in Brazil. It has a mix of the traditional festivities such as the street parties and the Samba Schools Parade as well as ultra trendy label electronic music parties, especially those catering for the gay crowd.

Although avaiability is already limited in some places, have a look at some of our Special packages: Carnival 2009 in Floripa