Parque Municipal da Lagoa do Peri

Lagoa do Peri is the largest freshwater lagoon on Ilha de Santa Catarina, 5 square kilometres of clean drinkable water surrounded by protected Atlantic rainforest since 1976. It sits just inland from Praia da Armacao on the south-east coast, and it's the only major freshwater swim on the island — a genuinely refreshing contrast to salty Atlantic beaches. It matters because it's proof that Florianopolis has actively protected a significant piece of its interior, and because it's a free family outing that isn’t the beach.

The park has three parts. The main entrance on SC-406 gives access to a shaded picnic area with tables under the trees and a wooden pier where you can swim. From there a 6-kilometre trail loops through the forest around the north half of the lagoon; a shorter 1.5-km trail leads to a small sitio (a preserved Azorean farmhouse) with a working sugar mill that grinds cane on weekends and sells R$8 glasses of fresh garapa. The lagoon itself is calm and warm — good for kids, no dangerous currents, no jellyfish. Kayak rental at the pier is R$40 for two hours.

Best on a weekday from October to April. Weekends bring Florianopolis families with cool boxes; if you go on a Sunday, arrive by 09:30 to park. The forest trail is easy, well-shaded and takes two hours at a slow pace. Skip on rainy days — the trails get muddy. Combine Peri with an afternoon at Praia da Armacao or Matadeiro, both 15 minutes away, for a freshwater-then-saltwater double day.

Hours & entry

Always free

Daily 8:00-18:00 · Closes at sunset in winter · Trails last entry 16:00

What to see

{'what': 'Swim from the wooden pier', 'where': 'Main entrance area, 200 m from the car park'}

{'what': 'Working sugar mill and garapa', 'where': 'Sitio dos Colombos, on the short 1.5 km trail'}

{'what': 'Kayak on the calm lagoon', 'where': 'Rental hut at the main pier'}

Tips from the ground

Arrive before 10:00 on weekends; the car park fills fast.

The lagoon is cleaner at the pier than at the road-adjacent stretches.

Bring a picnic — the small kiosk sells only snacks.