About two kilometers off the east coast of Florianópolis, Campeche Island is a rare case on the Brazilian coast: an island of turquoise sea and white sand that is, at the same time, an archaeological site listed by IPHAN in 2000 — home to the largest concentration of lithic workshops and rock engravings on the country’s coastline.
Why visit
For a combination impossible to repeat: a clear-water beach on the west shore, granite headlands, preserved forest and rocks marked by peoples who passed through here long before us. Since 2025 the island is also a Municipal Natural Monument, managed by the City Hall with support from FLORAM — visitation is controlled precisely so that all of this keeps existing. Campeche Beach, directly opposite, is the mainland base; the Campeche guide ties the full itinerary together.
Access and logistics
- Mandatory booking — visits are scheduled through the City Hall’s official system (ilhadocampeche.pmf.sc.gov.br): registration, choice of licensed transport (or your own means, within the quotas) and voucher issuance; there is a daily visitor limit and an entry fee.
- Crossings — licensed vessels depart from Campeche Beach (small boats), from Armação and from Barra da Lagoa (schooners and motorboats); rescheduling and refunds are not provided for, so check the weather before booking.
- On the island — landing only during a controlled daytime window; land trails and guided circuits only with licensed monitors.
- Rules — camping, smoking, feeding animals, sound systems and pets (except guide dogs) are prohibited; there is no commerce on the sand.
What to expect from the visit
A day of crystalline sea by appointment: swimming at the west-face beach, snorkeling in transparent water and, for those who book with the monitors, trails crossing the forest to the headlands and the engraving sites — always without touching the marked rocks, which are protected archaeological heritage. The limited capacity keeps the island silent even in high season; it feels like visiting a living open-air museum.
When to go and precautions
In high season (December to March) crossings operate daily; outside it, operation depends on the sea and on demand — check with the transporters and the official system. The crossing is over open sea: on strong-wind days, departures may be suspended. Bring water, sunscreen and the essentials; everything that enters the island returns with you.
🥾 Who is it for?
For those willing to trade spontaneity for preservation: families, snorkelers and archaeology enthusiasts find here the most special day in Florianópolis — as long as they book first. Anyone looking for a free, rule-less beach will be better off on the mainland coast.
Photo: Rodrigo Soldon, via Wikimedia Commons — CC BY 2.0.