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Slideshow Marcelo Bittencourt was Ellen's guide around The Island of Santa Catarina during her recent visit to this wonderful destination. Local surfer and tourism student as well as avid photographer, Marcelo has kindly shared some of his photographs with us which clearly show his passion for his beautiful home. Ellen's photos of her visit reflect the suprising diversity she experienced during her visit. enjoy the show. (to activate slide show click on first picture and then the slide show on/off button located on the navigation bar at the top)

Located in southern Brazil, Santa Catarina is a small and prosperous state not easily defined that unites a diversity of places and people that marvels visitors . From white sand beaches, tropical forests and snowy mountains to Azorean fishermen, Italian farmers, and German culture, this is a land of fascinating contrasts. The state’s geographical diversity extends from the manicured coastline to high mountains with snow top every year. It is enriched by a cultural mix inherited from the colonizers – Portuguese, Africans, local Indians, Germans, Italians, Ukrainians, Polish, Tyroleans amongst other. Old settlements progressed to beautiful villages; some seem to have come out of a fairy tale book.

Traveling by car is a pleasure as cities are close to each other as the state is relatively small and its roads are well structured.
The extensive Rain Forest is the main feature of the State, one of the most preserved in Brazil. The natural beauty of Santa Catarina impresses visitors. There are about 500 beaches along the long 350miles of coastline. Up in the mountains in the middle of rustic landscapes, the peaks reach some 6,000 ft there are many canyons between the mountains and the coast.

However, the very special attraction that one finds out while visiting Brazil is the Brazilian people. Much beyond the breathtaking scenery, they surprise everyone with their ways of simplicity, generosity, happiness and good irreverent humor.

The mosaic of peoples that formed Santa Catarina's current population is responsible for their amazing hospitality, clearly observed when traveling in southern Brazil. They cultivate the art of receiving people well, from large hotels to small family guesthouses one can se sure of excellent quality.

Santa Catarina has many festivities! Most in October when the Catarinense population break into celebrations of Oktoberfest.

Because of these reasons, there is an increased international interest in Brazil which can be observed through the numbers recorded in the first quarter of 2005. For a long time now, Brazil’s natural beauty and Carnival rendered its international fame, attracting thousands of tourists all year long. The number of foreigners visiting the country went from an average of 1.5 million per year in the 1990s to more than 4 million visitors per year from the year 2000 on, according to Embratur’s (Brazilian Tourism Institute) Statistical Yearbook.

This contributed to the constant modernization of older airports throughout the entire country.

Nature’s generosity along Princes’ Way – beaches, islands, dunes, forests, mountains, rivers and waterfalls – favor ecotourism.
which maintain strong traditions from the European colonizers
Tropical fish and penguins gather in the same landscape to the delight of divers

FLORIANOPOLIS

Santa Catarina’s capital busy urban center, offers the best quality of life in the country with all associated comforts, blended harmoniously with the natural surroundings. Sea, hillsides along the Atlantic forest are a truly lovely scenario in addition to the charm and history the Azorean brought.

The cities has 100 beaches. Some are perfect for surfing. Horse back riding. Day and night rides during the full moon. The route goes through the beach’s dunes and the national park. Located in an island, this delicious slice of paradise of green hills, lagoons and beaches is inhabited by 280,000 privileged people. It is one of the new found destinations in Brazil and a residential option for those who seek a good quality of life.

The ocean produces large well formed waves ideal for surfing, this region is known as "Brazilian Hawaii" and attracts surfers from all over the world year round. To the south, the montains are farther from the coast and the beaches become long blades of windswept sand with few inhabitants. All the way to the border with Rio Grande do Sul state the region offers numerous natural surprises.

OTHER ATTRACTIONS

Hotel farms: Be close to mountain traditions in hundred-year-old resorts, trout fishing and more. Lovely food.
The Prince’s Way: A circuit of cities full of gardens, clean roads lines up with flower, verandas decorated with valances and windows adorned with curtains, showing the strong European traditions. It is a naturally beautiful region along the preserved Atlantic Forest and the costline dotted with fishing villages and tourist resorts.