Praia dos Ingleses

Praia dos Ingleses runs across the whole northern head of the island in a broad, shallow arc that gets full sun from morning to evening. It's the beach where mid-market Brazilian families rent apartments for the summer, the water rarely goes over your waist for the first fifty metres out, and the price of everything — a coconut, a fish plate, a night in a pousada — sits well below what Jurere charges. That mix of safe water and honest prices is exactly what a lot of visitors to Santa Catarina are actually looking for.

The main entrance is Praca Jorge Lacerda, where the bus turns around and the pedestrian promenade Rua das Gaivotas heads down to the sand. From the promenade you can walk left towards Praia do Santinho (about 2 km along the sand) or right towards the rocky end below Costao do Santinho resort. Kiosks along the beach serve caldinho de peixe for R$20 and grilled sardinha for R$45, and there's a small saturday craft market on the promenade selling pareos and jewellery. The wave is friendly enough for kids on boogie boards and there's a public shower at the end of Rua das Gaivotas.

Ingleses is best from November to April, and Sundays are livelier than Saturdays because Brazilian families come to spend the whole day. Book any accommodation at least two weeks ahead for January — the neighbourhood is genuinely full. From here you can walk 30 minutes up to Morro das Aranhas for the view over both Ingleses and Santinho, or take a boat across to Ilha do Frances for R$80 return.

Hours & entry

Always free

Beach open 24 h · Lifeguards 9:00-19:00 Dec-Mar · Boardwalk kiosks 8:00-23:00

What to see

{'what': 'Sunset walk south towards Santinho', 'where': 'Long sand stretch from Rua das Gaivotas heading south'}

{'what': 'Grilled fish lunch', 'where': 'Kiosk do Nego, Av. das Gaivotas 1500'}

{'what': 'Boat to Ilha do Frances', 'where': 'Boat point at the north-east rocky end below Costao do Santinho'}

Tips from the ground

The north end near the rocks has calmer water — better for small children than the centre.

Boats to Ilha do Frances go on demand from 9:00; agree the return time in advance.

Rua Dom Joao Becker one block back has the cheapest lunches — R$35 buffet by the kilo.