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Praia Central de Balneario Camboriu

Brazil's Copacabana of the south — a six-kilometre urban beach backed by 40-storey towers.

Where
Balneário Camboriú
Time needed
Half day
Tickets
Free
Free entry
Yes
Wide urban beach at Balneario Camboriu with skyscrapers behind Wide urban beach at Balneario Camboriu with skyscrapers behind

What to expect at Praia Central de Balneario Camboriu

Praia Central of Balneario Camboriu is the six-kilometre beach at the heart of southern Brazil's most vertical coastal city — a wall of glass towers, including Latin America's tallest residential building, faces due east onto the sea. In 2021 the city completed a controversial R$70 million sand re-nourishment project that quadrupled the width of the beach; today it's a genuinely wide sun-strip again. It matters because you either love Balneario for its Miami energy or actively avoid it — either way it is what Brazilian domestic tourism looks like at scale.

The visit is a promenade: walk Av. Atlantica from Barra Sul at the south end to Barra Norte at the north, either along the wide boardwalk or on the new sand. Barra Sul is where the Unipraias cable car climbs over the harbour to Laranjeiras beach on the other side (R$95, 30 minutes each way) and where the yacht basin sits. The middle stretch, between Rua 1500 and Rua 2500, is the tourist heart — beach kiosks, sunbeds for R$25, jet ski rides. Barra Norte quiets down and is where locals actually swim. In the evening the boardwalk turns into a street-food strip: churros, tapioca, acai bowls.

Best in November, March or April for swim weather without January's crush. December through Carnaval turns Av. Atlantica into a slow parade of cars. The cable car is honestly worth the ticket if the day is clear — the ride over the water is spectacular. Skip driving in on New Year's Eve; walk anywhere within Balneario and take an Uber for anything further. Serra do Mar viewpoints inland are 30 minutes by car and give the sort of coastal panorama the postcards use.

Plan your visit TicketsFree Free entryYes Time neededHalf day WhereBalneário Camboriú Opening hours Beach open 24 h Cable car 09:30-18:00 Boardwalk cafes 07:00-24:00 Hotels near Praia Central de Balneario Camboriu

Questions about Praia Central de Balneario Camboriu

How much does the Balneario Camboriu beach cost?

Free. Sunbeds R$25, cable car R$95, jet ski R$180 for 20 min.

When is entry free?

Always. Both the beach and the boardwalk are public.

How long to visit?

Half a day for a swim and walk; a full day if you take the cable car and visit Laranjeiras.

Any closed days?

Beach never closes. Cable car closes on Wednesdays in low season.

Do I need to book?

Cable car online booking recommended in high season; beach itself no booking.

How do I get there?

Any Balneario Camboriu bus stops on Av. Atlantica; from Itajai airport it's 25 minutes by car.

Where to stay

Hotels near Praia Central de Balneario Camboriu

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