Praia de Laranjeiras

Praia de Laranjeiras is Balneario Camboriu's secret side — a small cove tucked behind the southern headland where the water is genuinely clear and no towers can be built because the whole hillside is protected Atlantic forest. Most visitors get there by cable car over the water from Barra Sul, which is why the beach feels like a resort even though it isn’t. It matters as the counter-example to Praia Central: the same municipality, ten minutes away, with 100 times less concrete.

The cable car ride from Barra Sul is the standard way in and takes 12 minutes; midway you can stop off at Parque Unipraias for a short forest walk and zip-line. The beach itself is 800 metres of soft sand, quite steep at the edge, with kiosks that all follow a couvert model — pay R$60 per person to a beach club and you get an umbrella and a full lunch credit. Two small islands offshore make the bay feel enclosed. Boats leave from the middle of the beach for Ilha das Cabras (R$40 return) with a 30-minute stop for snorkelling.

Best on weekdays in shoulder season — outside December-February the crowd thins right out. Book the cable car online for the discount. You can also reach Laranjeiras by road via Estrada do Amor (13 km around from Balneario), but the drive is slow and parking is limited to about 200 spaces. Skip Laranjeiras on cloudy days — the water clarity is what makes the trip worth it.

Hours & entry

Beach entry free · Cable car R$95 return

Beach open 24 h · Cable car access 09:30-18:00 · Beach kiosks 10:00-19:00 in season

What to see

{'what': 'Cable car crossing over the bay', 'where': 'Unipraias line, Barra Sul to Mata Atlantica to Laranjeiras'}

{'what': 'Boat trip to Ilha das Cabras', 'where': 'Pier at the central boardwalk of Praia de Laranjeiras'}

{'what': 'Zipline down through the forest', 'where': 'Parque Unipraias mid-station Mata Atlantica'}

Tips from the ground

First cable car of the day at 09:30 is the calmest ride and the least busy beach hour.

Kiosk couverts credit fully to food and drink — plan to have lunch there.

Coming by road, arrive before 10:00 or you’ll circle for parking.