Campeche Beach, Florianopolis
The verdict
- Best for: Surfers, kitesurfers and active families who want a long lively beach with a surf school and a famous protected island to visit, rather than a still, shallow paddling bay.
- Best spot: A surf lesson on the main beach in the morning, then the short boat trip out to Ilha do Campeche for calm, clear water and a forest trail.
- Know this: The surf on the main beach is strong and it is not a gentle swim for small children. The island is capped at about 700 visitors a day, so book ahead in summer.
Published 28 January 2026. Last reviewed 26 May 2026
Praia do Campeche is one of the great surf beaches of Florianopolis, a long open sweep of fine pale sand on the east coast of the island, facing the Atlantic and the low green island that shares its name. It has a proper beach town behind it, a string of surf schools and kiosks along the sand, and a culture built around the waves, so the mood is active and sporty rather than sleepy. Watch the surfers and kitesurfers work the swell, take a lesson yourself, and you understand quickly why this stretch has such a devoted following.
The honest read for a family is that the main beach is about the surf, not the swim. The same consistent, powerful waves that make Campeche a joy to ride bring strong currents and a heavy shore break that are demanding for casual swimmers and unsuitable for small children, and lifeguard cover is seasonal at best and never assured. So treat the main beach as a place for sandcastles, a surf lesson and a walk in the sea breeze, keep little ones at the water's edge under close watch, and choose a calmer beach on the island when you want a gentle swim with the family.
The real jewel here, though, lies just offshore, and it changes the whole picture. Ilha do Campeche is a protected island of Atlantic forest, walking trails, ancient rock inscriptions and, crucially, sheltered water that is calm and clear enough for lovely swimming and snorkelling on a settled day. Because it is protected, visitor numbers are capped at around seven hundred a day and you go only by authorised boat, a crossing of just a few minutes from Campeche beach. Book ahead in summer, go early to enjoy it quietly, and you pair a thrilling surf shore with one of the finest and gentlest day trips in all of Florianopolis.
Where to settle in
Campeche is a surf and kiosk beach rather than a daybed scene, so relax at a beachfront kiosk and see our directory for the island's polished clubs.
Campeche keeps things casual, with beachfront kiosks and cafes along the sand for a cold drink, a plate of food and a spot to watch the surf rather than a row of formal daybeds. When you want the polished side of Florianopolis, a lounger, a pool and service on the sand, the island's smart beach clubs gather on the calmer north shore around Jurere Internacional. Our Florianopolis beach clubs directory covers them, so you can pair a surf morning at Campeche with an easy club afternoon up north. Tell us your dates and we will pass your enquiry to the right operator so they can confirm space and any minimum spend, all of which are to be confirmed by season.
Praia do Campeche lies on the east coast of the island of Florianopolis, an easy drive or bus ride from the city and the airport, with parking and a walkable beach town of shops, cafes and surf schools behind the sand. For the island, the boats leave from Campeche beach itself in only a few minutes, or from Armacao beach nearby in thirty to forty minutes, with the round trip costing roughly thirty to fifty US dollars and to be confirmed by operator and season.
On the main beach, respect the surf, watch the flags, swim near the lifeguard towers in season and keep children at the water's edge, since the waves and currents are strong and cover is never assured. If you visit Ilha do Campeche, book ahead in the busy summer because numbers are capped, go early for the quietest sand, carry water and sun cover, and take your rubbish home to protect this fragile, protected place. Conditions here are typical and never guaranteed, so check locally on the day.
Not ready to book?
Keep the good shorelines coming. Shore Notes is our occasional letter on the best beaches and the clubs worth your day, sent straight to your inbox. One field, unsubscribe any time.
Plan your day on the coast
Pair a surf morning at Campeche with a polished club afternoon on the north shore. Tell us your date and party and we will point you to the right base in Florianopolis. No obligation, and we reply within 24 hours.
Independent and honest · 1,340 beaches ranked across 103 destinations · We answer to no resort
Common questions
Is Praia do Campeche good for swimming?
It is a lively surf beach rather than a calm swimming one, so it suits confident swimmers, surfers and kitesurfers more than small children. The open Atlantic here often brings strong waves and currents, which is exactly why the surf community loves it, so enter with care, keep within your depth and heed any flags. For a gentler swim, the sheltered water on the day trip to Ilha do Campeche is far calmer, and conditions on the main beach are typical and never guaranteed.
How do you visit Ilha do Campeche?
You reach the island only by authorised boat tour, since it is a protected area that limits numbers to around seven hundred visitors a day. Boats leave from Campeche beach itself, a crossing of only a few minutes, and from Armacao beach nearby, around thirty to forty minutes, with the round trip costing roughly thirty to fifty US dollars and to be confirmed. In high summer and on holidays it is wise to buy tickets in advance, as the daily cap fills.
What is special about Ilha do Campeche?
The island is a protected natural and archaeological treasure off the Campeche shore, with hills clad in Atlantic forest, walking trails and clear, calm water that is lovely for swimming and snorkelling on a settled day. It also holds dozens of ancient rock inscriptions and prehistoric sites, so visits are managed to protect them. The combination of pristine sand, gentle water and rich heritage makes it one of the finest day trips in Florianopolis.
Is Campeche Beach good for surfing?
Very much so. Praia do Campeche is one of the island's premier surf beaches, with consistent, strong waves that draw surfers and kitesurfers throughout the year, and a string of surf schools along the sand for lessons and board hire. Beginners should take a lesson and respect the conditions, since the same power that makes it a great wave makes it a demanding swim, and there is no assured lifeguard outside the busy season.
When is the best time to visit Campeche Beach?
The shoulder months from September to early December give warm weather with thinner crowds and lower prices, and are a fine time both for the beach and for the island day trip. The peak summer of December to February is hottest and busiest, when the beach fills and island tickets sell out, while winter is quieter and cooler. Whenever you come, treat the surf and any forecast as typical and never guaranteed.
