Photo: Guilherme Ikeda via Google
Secluded
Beaches in
Florianopolis
Wild, hike in shores with no facilities, and honest about the effort.
The verdict
- Best forWalkers who want an empty beach and will earn it, trading a trail through the forest for sand with no kiosk, no lifeguard and often no other soul, rather than a lounger and a drink within reach.
- Top pickLagoinha do Leste for the wildest, most untouched sand on the island, with Naufragados the classic walk to a lighthouse and Gravata the gentlest taste of seclusion.
- One thing to knowThese are undeveloped beaches reached on foot with no facilities and no lifeguard. Carry water and food, wear proper shoes, and judge the surf on the day.
Published 30 January 2026. Last reviewed 1 March 2026
Florianopolis has more than forty beaches, and while the famous ones fill with sunbeds and beach clubs in summer, the island keeps a set of wild shores that almost no one reaches. These are the beaches with no road to them, no buildings behind them and no kiosk on the sand, guarded by a forest trail or a boat ride that filters out all but the determined. They are the reason people who know Florianopolis well keep coming back, and they are the honest heart of this guide.
We have ranked these for real seclusion, weighing how empty and undeveloped the beach is, how the walk in protects it, and how much the setting rewards the effort. The standout is Lagoinha do Leste, a curve of pristine sand between green hills with nothing on it at all, followed by the lighthouse walk to Naufragados and the naturist trail beach at Galheta. We are honest about the trade you are making, because seclusion here means no facilities, no lifeguard and a proper hike, so we tell you which beach suits a gentle stroll and which demands a serious morning on the trail.
Secluded beaches in Florianopolis
Scored on how empty and undeveloped the beach is and how the walk protects it. Honest verdicts, the effort flagged.
Lagoinha do Leste
The wildest beach on the island and the one to beat. A perfect curve of soft sand between forested hills with no road, no buildings and nothing on the sand at all, framed by the Morro da Coroa lookout. The main trail from Pantano do Sul runs two to three hours through Atlantic forest, with a shorter and steeper climb from Armacao, and you can also arrive by boat. Bring everything you need, because there is nothing here but the beach, and that is the point.
Naufragados
The classic seclusion walk on the island, about forty five minutes on foot through the forest to a quiet beach at the southern tip crowned by a lonely lighthouse and steeped in shipwreck legend. It is a wonderful spot for a sunset and a sense of the end of the land, remote but reachable, with only the simplest of kiosks near the sand in season. Come prepared, since facilities are minimal and there is no lifeguard on the beach.
Praia da Galheta
The only beach on the island reserved for naturism, an undeveloped stretch tucked between the hills and reached by a moderate trail of around an hour from the Praia Mole end. It is beautiful and quiet with no infrastructure at all, so pack in what you need. Know its naturist status before you set out so it suits your group, and treat it as a walk for adults rather than a family beach day.
Praia da Solidao
Its name means solitude, and it earns it, a slender ribbon of fine white sand around eight hundred metres long in the sparsely settled south of the island. It is easier to reach than the true expedition beaches yet still feels a world away, backed by little more than a quiet village. A lovely, low key choice when you want emptiness without the longest walk, and the trailhead for tiny Saquinho next door.
Praia do Saquinho
A jewel of a cove barely seventy five metres of sand, reached by a scenic trail from Praia da Solidao, almost untouched and made for privacy and quiet. It is exquisite and utterly undeveloped, which also means no lifeguard, no shade and no facilities, so it is one for careful, self sufficient walkers who take real care in the water. Small, wild and unforgettable when you have it to yourself.
Praia do Gravata
The gentlest way into a wild Florianopolis beach, a small hidden cove on the coastal path between Praia Mole and Joaquina that takes about thirty to forty minutes on a moderate and mostly easy trail. It suits confident families and casual walkers who want a taste of seclusion without an expedition. Facilities are minimal, so carry your own water and food, and enjoy a pocket of quiet a short walk from the busy beaches.
Who it suits, who should skip
If you want an empty beach and you are happy to walk for it, Florianopolis rewards you like few places. Lagoinha do Leste is the prize, a pristine bay with nothing on it, and Naufragados adds a lighthouse and a sunset for a slightly gentler expedition. For a first taste without the long haul, Gravata and Solidao give you real quiet on shorter, kinder paths, and tiny Saquinho is a jewel for those who take care. Whichever you choose, treat it like a hike, because that is what protects it, and start early so you walk in the cool and are back before dark.
Who should skip what? If you want a lounger, a drink and a lifeguard, these are not your beaches, and there is no shame in choosing the easy, serviced sand instead. Families with small children should stick to Gravata at most and leave Lagoinha do Leste, Galheta and Saquinho for another trip, since the walks are long and the shores are exposed with no safety cover. Galheta is a naturist beach, so plan for that. And everyone should respect the wildness here, carrying out every scrap of rubbish, judging the surf honestly on the day, keeping within their depth, and remembering there is no lifeguard and conditions are always typical and never guaranteed.
Where to settle in
By their nature these secluded beaches have no clubs, no daybeds and no service, which is exactly why they stay so quiet. When you want the other side of Florianopolis, a lounger, a drink and a proper lunch on the sand, the island keeps its polished beach clubs on the developed north shore around Jurere Internacional. See our Florianopolis beach clubs directory to pair a wild morning walk with an easy afternoon, then tell us the beach and the dates and we will pass your enquiry to the operator so they can confirm space and any minimum spend, all of which are to be confirmed by season.
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Before you go
Which is the most secluded beach in Florianopolis?
Lagoinha do Leste is the wildest of them all, a curve of soft sand between forested hills on the southeast of the island with no road, no buildings and no facilities of any kind, reached only on foot or by boat. The main trail from Pantano do Sul takes around two to three hours through Atlantic forest, and a shorter, steeper path climbs from Armacao. The reward is one of the most untouched beaches in the whole state, so carry everything you need and treat conditions as typical and never guaranteed.
Do you have to hike to reach the secluded Florianopolis beaches?
For most of them, yes, and that is exactly what keeps them quiet. Lagoinha do Leste, Galheta, Naufragados, Solidao, Saquinho and Gravata are all reached by trails ranging from a gentle half hour to a demanding few hours, and some can also be reached by boat. The walk is the price of the seclusion, so wear proper shoes, start early, carry water and snacks, and tell someone your plan, since there are no shops or facilities on these shores.
Are the secluded beaches in Florianopolis safe to swim?
They are wild, undeveloped beaches with no lifeguard cover and no facilities, and the open Atlantic here can produce strong surf and currents, so swimming is at your own risk and calls for real caution. Some, like Lagoinha do Leste, can be calm on a settled day, while others are exposed and better for wading and sunbathing than a long swim. Judge the water on the day, keep within your depth, never swim alone, and treat all conditions as typical and never guaranteed.
Which secluded Florianopolis beach is easiest to reach?
Praia do Gravata is the gentlest introduction, a small hidden cove on the coastal trail between Praia Mole and Joaquina that takes about thirty to forty minutes on a moderate and mostly easy path, which even confident families can manage. It still has minimal facilities, so bring your own water and food, but it gives you a taste of a wild Florianopolis beach without the long expedition that Lagoinha do Leste or Naufragados demand.
Is Praia da Galheta a naturist beach?
Yes, Praia da Galheta is the only beach on the island of Florianopolis officially reserved for naturism, a beautiful undeveloped stretch nestled between the hills and reached by a moderate trail of around an hour from the Praia Mole end. It has no infrastructure, so come prepared, and be aware of its naturist status before you set out so it suits your group, especially if you are travelling with children.
What should you bring to a secluded beach in Florianopolis?
Treat it like a short hike, because there are no kiosks or taps once you leave the trailhead. Bring plenty of water, food, sun cover and sturdy footwear for the trail, pack out all your rubbish to protect these fragile places, and start early to walk in the cool and be off the path before dark. Check the forecast, since rain turns the trails slippery, and remember there is no lifeguard, so plan your swim conservatively.