Praia Mole

Praia Mole is the one-kilometre curve of golden sand between two green headlands just north of Praia da Joaquina, and it is the beach Florianopolis' twenty- and thirty-somethings pick when they only have one afternoon. The name means 'soft' — the sand really is finer and looser than its neighbours — and the water sits somewhere between Joaquina's serious surf and Ingleses' bath-tub calm: a rideable wave for beginners, but nothing that will drown you. It matters as the island's social beach, where paragliders land on the sand and the kiosks turn into small parties at sunset.

You come in off SC-406, park along the road, and step down onto the beach through one of the boardwalks by the kiosks. The middle of the sand is where everyone lays out, the north end has a natural pool between rocks that's good for kids, and the south end is where the gay crowd historically gathers under the cliff. Paragliders from Morro da Lagoinha land right on the sand from about 15:00 onwards — you can tandem for around R$400 if you book at the top. Kiosks Cerveja & Pesca and Bar do Deca do R$50 fish sandwiches and cold Original beer through the afternoon.

Best in shoulder season — late March through April, or October — when the water is still 22 degrees and the crowds have thinned. Skip weekends in January; the road backs up all the way to Lagoa. Wear reef shoes if you plan to explore the north-end rocks, and stay for sunset even though the sun sets behind you — the sky over the dunes turns pink and everyone on the sand turns to face it. Praia Galheta, a nudist-tolerated beach, is a 20-minute walk over the north headland.

Hours & entry

Always free

Beach open 24 h · Kiosks 9:00-22:00 summer · Lifeguards 9:00-19:00 Dec-Mar

What to see

{'what': 'Paraglider landings on the sand', 'where': 'Central stretch in front of Bar do Deca, from 15:00'}

{'what': 'Natural rock pool', 'where': 'North end below Morro das Aranhas'}

{'what': 'Sunset caipirinha', 'where': 'Kiosk Cerveja & Pesca, boardwalk 3'}

Tips from the ground

Park at the far north or south end and walk in — the middle lot fills by 11:00.

The wave at Mole breaks close to shore and dumps hard; body-surf, don’t dive.

Tandem paragliders take payment in cash on landing; bring R$400 in notes.