Private Tour – Full Island – Nature, beach and sea – Ecotour

One day, three sides of an island. This private Florianopolis tour links the city’s southern lagoons, eastern beaches, and northern shores in about eight hours, giving you a broad look at the island without arranging several separate outings. I like the private air-conditioned vehicle and the fact that hotel pickup and drop-off are included at selected hotels in Florianopolis or São José. I also like the strong mix of beach stops and nature, from Lagoa do Peri to Barra da Lagoa.

The main trade-off is time. Seven stops in eight hours means you will see many places, but most visits are short. This is a good way to get your bearings and compare Florianopolis beaches, not the right choice if you want a long swim, a relaxed lunch, or a full morning at one shore.

Key points to know before booking

• Seven stops across south, east, and north Florianopolis: You cover a large part of the island in one day.
• A private tour for your group only: You do not share the vehicle with other groups, which gives the day a more personal feel.
• Lagoa do Peri adds a freshwater nature stop: The tour is not only a beach-hopping run.
• Rafael received especially warm praise: One customer described him as respectful, fun, and a major reason the day was so enjoyable.
• Lunch is not included: Plan to bring money for food and drinks, and expect to fit lunch into the day yourself.
• $240 per person reflects private transport: The value improves for a small group that wants comfort, hotel pickup, and a wide island overview.

Why this tour works for a first look at the island

Florianopolis can be awkward to cover independently in one day. The island stretches between beaches, lagoons, and busy resort areas, and the best stops are spread across its southern, eastern, and northern sections. This tour handles the long-distance movement for you in a single air-conditioned vehicle.

I see the main benefit as orientation. After one day, you will have a clearer sense of which part of the island deserves more of your time. You can compare the quieter feel of the south with the open beaches of the east and the more developed northern shore.

The tour is private, so the schedule belongs to your group rather than a large coach. That matters when you want to spend a little longer at one viewpoint or keep moving if a beach is not your style. The supplied information does not promise a flexible custom itinerary, so I would confirm how much adjustment is possible before booking.

Pickup is available from your hotel or location in Florianopolis or São José, at selected locations. That saves the hassle of reaching a central meeting point. Transport and bottled water are included, but food and drinks are not.

Armacao Beach and Lagoa do Peri: the southern opening

The day begins at Armacao Beach, on the south side of the island, with about 45 minutes available. It is a useful first stop because you can step out, see the coast, and get a quick sense of the southern end without spending a large part of the day in one place.

Forty-five minutes is enough for photos and a walk along the shore. It is not enough for a slow beach morning, so keep your expectations clear. If your ideal outing involves settling into a chair and waiting for the sun to move, this tour’s pace may test you.

Next comes Lagoa do Peri, also for about 45 minutes. This changes the scenery from open sea to inland water and gives the ecotour label real substance. The stop adds variety and helps prevent the day from becoming seven versions of the same beach.

I like this pairing. Armacao gives you the coast, while Lagoa do Peri offers a calmer nature setting. The tour does not specify swimming time, activities, or a guided walk at the lagoon, so treat it as a scenic visit rather than a planned water adventure.

The south section also shows why a full-island tour can be useful. You are not simply visiting the most famous beach near your hotel. You are seeing how the island changes from one area to another, even when each stop is brief.

Mirante Ponto de Vista: a 20-minute view

The shortest stop is Mirante Ponto de Vista on the east side, with about 20 minutes. A viewpoint needs less time than a beach, and this quick visit gives the itinerary a visual pause between the southern stops and the eastern coast.

Bring your camera, but do not count on a long sit-down stop. Twenty minutes is a photo-and-look period. You will likely have time to take in the view and make a few images, but not to linger or explore beyond the immediate viewpoint.

This is also where the private format can help. A private vehicle means your group is not waiting for a large bus to load and unload. The schedule remains full, but the transitions should be simpler than on a large group outing.

The information does not specify exactly what can be seen from the viewpoint, so I would avoid booking this stop for one particular landmark. Think of it as a short scenic overlook that breaks up the beach visits.

Joaquina Beach: a focused eastern shore stop

Joaquina Beach receives about 40 minutes. It is one of the tour’s east coast highlights, and the timing gives you enough room to walk, photograph the shore, and enjoy the setting without turning the stop into a full beach day.

You should bring practical beach clothing, sunscreen, and footwear you can manage easily. The tour provides bottled water, but it does not provide beach equipment, food, or drinks. Since lunch is not included, this is a good point to ask the guide about the day’s food timing.

The short visit also means you should decide what matters most before you arrive. If you want photos, take them early. If you want to walk, start walking rather than spending the first half of the stop deciding what to do.

Joaquina works well in the larger plan because it gives you a recognized eastern beach while leaving time for Barra da Lagoa. Still, I would not choose this tour if Joaquina is your main goal. A separate beach outing would give you far more time there.

Barra da Lagoa: the longest stop of the day

Barra da Lagoa gets one hour, the longest scheduled visit. That extra time signals that this is more than a quick roadside photo stop. You have a better chance to walk around, take in the coastal setting, and pause before the route continues north.

I would use this hour carefully. The tour does not list a specific activity, meal, boat ride, or admission, so you should not assume that any paid attraction is part of the plan. The included features are transport, bottled water, and pickup and drop-off at selected hotels.

Barra da Lagoa is also the logical place to raise lunch. Food and drinks are excluded, and the tour does not include lunch. Ask in advance whether you will have time to buy food here or at another point along the route. That small question can make the difference between a pleasant full-day outing and a day spent watching the clock while hungry.

The one-hour stop makes the itinerary feel less rushed in the middle. After three southern and eastern visits, you have a chance to slow down a little before the northern beaches.

Santinho and Praia dos Ingleses: finishing in the north

Santinho is the first northern stop, with about 45 minutes. This gives you another proper beach visit rather than a quick pass through the area. By this point, you will have seen enough of the island to compare the north with the south and east.

The stop is long enough for a walk and photos. It is not designed as a long swim session, and the tour does not state that swimming conditions, beach chairs, or other equipment are included. Pack lightly and keep your plans simple.

Praia dos Ingleses follows for about 25 minutes. This is another short stop, best treated as a final look at the northern coast. You can take photos and get a quick feel for the beach, but you will not have much time for a full beach routine.

The northern section gives the tour a strong finish because it completes the island-wide sweep. You begin in the south, cross the east, and end in the north. That geographic range is the tour’s central promise, and the schedule delivers it through quick visits rather than long stays.

The drawback is easy to understand: seven stops require discipline. If you stop for a long meal, linger at every beach, or want to swim at each one, the day will feel too short. If you enjoy seeing several places in one outing, the pace is useful.

What the private vehicle changes

The private arrangement is the reason to consider this experience over a cheaper shared excursion. Only your group participates, and transport is provided in an air-conditioned private vehicle. You also receive bottled water, which is a small but welcome touch during a full day of moving between outdoor stops.

Private does not mean unlimited. The published duration remains about eight hours, and the stops have set approximate lengths. I would think of the format as private touring with a planned route, not a completely open-ended driver-for-hire service.

The private setup should suit couples, families, or friends who want to stay together. It can also help groups with different interests. One person may want photos, another may prefer a short walk, and another may simply want to see the next beach. A private group makes those small differences easier to manage.

The guide matters here. Rafael was praised for being respectful, fun, and helpful throughout the day. That combination is worth noting because an island tour depends as much on the person in the vehicle as on the beaches outside it. A good guide can make the long transfers feel useful and connect the stops into one story.

English is offered, which is important if you want explanations during the drive rather than only a ride between locations. Confirmation is subject to availability and is sent within 48 hours of booking, so I would not leave this until the last minute.

Is $240 per person a fair price?

At $240 per person, this is not a budget beach shuttle. You are paying for a private vehicle, a full-day route, hotel pickup and drop-off at selected locations, bottled water, and the ability to keep the group together.

The price makes the most sense for a small group. If several people split the cost, private transport and direct pickup become more attractive. For one person, or for someone mainly interested in one beach, the price is harder to justify.

I also value what the price saves you in effort. You do not need to plan a route across the south, east, and north, arrange transport between each stop, or work out how to return after a long island circuit. That convenience is the main value, not admission savings, since the listed stops have no admission charge.

Still, lunch and drinks are extra. Add that cost to your budget, and ask how the meal break fits into the schedule. The tour is better value for sightseeing than for a slow food-and-beach day.

Who should book this Florianopolis tour?

I would recommend it to you if you have only one full day in Florianopolis and want a broad introduction. It is also a good match if you prefer private transport, want hotel pickup, or are traveling with a group that values comfort and a simple plan.

It suits people who like variety. You will see beaches, a lagoon, a viewpoint, and several sections of the island in one day. The route is especially useful if you are deciding where to return for a longer visit.

I would be more cautious if you want a relaxed beach holiday. The longest stop is one hour, and several visits last 20 to 45 minutes. You may leave with plenty of photos and a useful sense of the island, but not with many hours spent swimming or sitting by the water.

Families and mixed-age groups may appreciate the private format, though the data does not specify child equipment or special arrangements. Most people can participate, and the tour is near public transportation, but pickup is still the more convenient option when available.

The experience is offered daily during the stated operating period, from August 21, 2024, through December 7, 2026. It is often reserved about 20 days ahead, so I would plan early if your dates are fixed.

Practical advice for making the day work

Wear comfortable clothes and shoes for short beach walks and viewpoint stops. Bring sun protection, since much of the experience takes place outdoors, and keep your personal beach gear compact.

Plan for food. Lunch, food, and drinks are not included, so ask before departure when and where you can buy something. Bottled water is supplied, but you may want more water for a full day in the sun.

Keep your phone or camera ready. Several stops are short, and you may not want to spend half of each visit getting organized. I would also avoid carrying anything you do not need, since the day involves repeated stops and vehicle transfers.

Finally, confirm your pickup point carefully. Complimentary pickup and drop-off apply at hotels or locations in Florianopolis or São José, but the information specifies selected hotels. Confirmation arrives within 48 hours, subject to availability.

Free cancellation is available if you cancel at least 24 hours before the experience begins. Changes or cancellations made within 24 hours are not accepted for a refund, and cut-off times follow local Florianopolis time.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if you want to see a large part of Florianopolis in one private day and value a guide, air conditioning, and direct pickup. The itinerary is broad, the nature and beach mix is sensible, and Rafael’s respectful, fun manner is a strong reason to feel good about the guiding side of the experience.

Skip it if your priority is a slow day at one beach or a long, included lunch. The schedule is active, and the $240 price needs to be shared by a group to feel like a strong deal. For first-time visitors with limited time, though, this is a practical way to get the island’s big picture before choosing where to spend the rest of your holiday.

FAQ

How long does the private Florianopolis tour last?

The tour lasts approximately 8 hours.

How much does the tour cost?

The listed price is $240.00 per person.

Is hotel pickup included?

Hotel pickup and drop-off are included at selected hotels. Pickup is available from your hotel or location in Florianopolis or São José.

Is the tour private?

Yes. Only your group participates in the activity.

Is transportation included?

Yes. Transport is provided in an air-conditioned private vehicle.

Is bottled water provided?

Yes. Bottled water is included.

Is lunch included?

No. Food, drinks, and lunch are not included.

Is the tour offered in English?

Yes. The experience is offered in English.