Lagoinha do Leste: The “Secret Beach” of Florianopolis, Brazil
Welcome to one of the most beautiful viewpoints and "hidden" beaches of Brazil- Lagoinha do Leste in Florianopolis.
Turquoise waters, white sands, and striking rock formation jutting over them, are just some of the things you can expect from this place. Known as the "secret beach", this is one of the best things to do in Florianopolis, and has no become not-so-secret.
The most beautiful places require some effort, so it's no wonder that Lagoinha do Leste isn't the most easily reachable place to visit. However, that is part of its beauty! In this guide we're going to share everything you need to know for how to get to Lagoinha do Leste, what to expect, and how to prepare.
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📍 Where is Lagoinha do Leste?
Lagoinha do Leste is one of the most most beautiful beaches in Florianopolis, and is located off the south east coast of the island. Florianopolis is located in the state of Santa Catarina, which is in the south east of Brazil in South America.
Lagoinha do Leste is off the south east coast of Florianopolis, Brazil.
How to Get to Lagoinha do Leste
There are two ways to get to Lagoinha do Leste, and neither of them is to drive. There are no roads that lead to this little slice of paradise, which is why it is the area's best kept (or not so best kept) secret gem.
The easiest way to reach Lagoinha do Leste is by boat, and the cheaper/ more rewarding option is to hike there.
Keep reading to learn all of the details about everything you need to know to reach Lagoinha do Leste, step by step.
Taking the Boat to Lagoinha do Leste
The easier option (and less strenuous) is to take a boat to Lagoinha do Leste. The rides start running at 9 am, and go until 5 pm. One way tickets are 50 Real, or you can get a round-trip ticket for 80 Real. Rides are a half hour, and there is no exact itinerary, but they leave quite often from Praia Armacao.
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Hiking to Lagoinha do Leste
First thing's first- there are actually two different trails to choose from. There is one trail that is 2.4 km for Pantano do Sul, and a 4.3 km trail that goes from Matadeiro. We chose to go the shorter route, which is the one we are going to give more details about.
If you plan on hiking to Lagoinha do Leste, you'll have to start at the beginning of the trail head, located on Rua Manoel Pedro Oliviera, which is right across from the boarding house "Naturgreen Hospedagem".
🅿️ Parking for the Lagoinha do Leste Trail
You can find a parking lot where everyone leaves their cars, which is right next to where the trail is. The crossroads to look for where the parking lot is located is Rua Manoel Pedro Oliviera and Rodrigo Francisco Thomaz dos Santos.
The parking lot is open 24/7 and costs 20 Real for cars, 10 for motorcycles, and 5 for bikes. In addition, they have showers and a bathroom for customers. There is someone always working there, so it's a safe place to leave your vehicle while going to the beach.
The parking lot is right at the crossroads near the trailhead entrance.
🥾 The Trail to Lagoinha do Leste
The trail is super easy to find, and is well marked. It is free of charge to enter, and is open at all times. The path isn't too difficult, and takes around 45-50 minutes to complete. It starts off with wooden steps, and then goes through the jungle.
It can get pretty muddy and rocky, as well as hot and humid, so you'll definitely want to keep this in mind. Other than that, the trail is very straight forward and easy to follow. The first half is uphill, and is all jungle, and then the second half starts to open up, and is mostly downhill.
The trail to Lagoinha do Leste goes through the jungle.
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Things to Do at Lagoinha do Leste
You've just arrived to the beach-now what? Well, this beach actually has quite a few things to offer.
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👀 Hike to the Viewpoint
When we initially saw those stunning photos of people sitting overlooking the beach, we knew we had to visit Lagoinha do Leste. However, many people have the misconception that the hike is to this viewpoint, when in reality, it is a hike that you can do once you are at the beach.
The trail to the viewpoint is from the beach itself.
The hike is pretty steep, and starts from the south side of the beach. You'll start off by walking through a small tunnel of greenery, and then it will open up to a very rocky trail. The walk up can be a little challenging, but there are quite a few places to stop and enjoy the view.
The hike up is steep, but has great views along the way.
It took us about 25 minutes to get up, and it started pouring rain at the very end. Then It got so muddy that we had to hide in a small cave on the side until the rain passed, and then finish the last minute of climbing.
The hike is not for the faint of heart, but the views are absolutely spectacular. Around the area there are a bunch of different rocks to climb on, and a large area to hang out. There is even a funny alien perched right on top.
At the top there are some beautiful views that you can appreciate above the beach.
🌊 Go For a Swim
After all the hiking, you'll definitely be craving a dip in the beautiful blue waters of Lagoinha do Leste. Make sure to do so far from the rocks, and be careful of the waves.
The water at Lagoinha do Leste is super refreshing.
In addition, there was a big nature lagoon in the middle of the beach that was created, which is perfect for those that want to just chill, or for those that have pets or small children. We also saw plenty of people setting up their beach chairs there.
There is a lagoon right on the beach.
🍹 Have a Drink or a Bite to Eat
After all of climbing, you'll be sure to work up an appetite. The good news is there are quite a few options when it comes to food & drink (which we're about to touch a bit more on).
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Amenities at Lagoinha do Leste
Now that you know the highlights of the beach and how to get to Lagoinha do Leste, here are a few other things to know while visiting.
🍴 Food & Drink
While we saw a ton of people bringing their own coolers, we decided hiking with a bunch of food & drinks simply wasn't worth it (unless you're a big group or are spending the entire day there).
The beach of Lagoinha do Leste has a few different options when it comes to food & drink. There is one small kiosk with fresh juices and açaí, and two restaurants that serve drinks, açaí, pastel (kind of like empanadas) and a few different lunch options. The one that is furthest south has the most amount of options, and also has live music at times.
We happened to get the açaí and a caipirinha from the one in the middle, and it was so delicious (also a little expensive, but pretty expected). We spent 30 Real on the açaí, and 25 on the Caipirinha. They also offered fried fish for lunch, and 1 or two other options.
🚿 Other Amenities
We personally didn't find any bathrooms nor showers down at the beach. We suggest asking one of the restaurants, or being prepared to go in nature. In addition, we also didn't find any chairs nor umbrellas for rent, and the only ones we saw were ones brought by people.
There is some shade for those that need, and the boat embarkation area is also covered, as well as the tables at the restaurants.
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Other Things to Know About Visiting Lagoinha do Leste
Now that you know how to get to Lagoinha do Leste and everything to expect, here are a few other things to keep in mind.
📶 Cell Service is Limited
The service was very spotty, and we barely had any during the hike. The beach itself does have coverage, so you'll be find when in the open areas.
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⏳ How Much Time Do You Need at Lagoinha do Leste?
From the moment we parked, to the moment we got back, we spent about 5 hours at Lagoinha do Leste.
Between parking and the hike, we spent an hour each way, then half hour each way hiking to the viewpoint, a half hour to enjoy the top, and an hour and a half enjoying the beach and having some food & drinks. We suggest blocking out half your day for this activity, so that you can enjoy it to its fullest.
☀️ Weather in Florianopolis
The weather in Florianopolis is mostly hot and humid, especially during the summer months. December, January, and February are the hottest, while the coolest months are June, July and August.
Summers average around 27-30 degrees Celsius during the day, and winters average around 22-24. The weather can definitely be tricky, as when we first went it was sunny on one side of the island, and pouring rain at the trailhead of Lagoinha do Leste.
Once we were there it also went from torrential downpour to super sunny and hot within just minutes.
The weather changed very fast from super rainy to very sunny.
🌅 The Best Time to Visit Lagoinha do Leste
When it comes to time of the year, the most popular is during the summer months. This is the prime time for swimming. However, we definitely think the hikes would have been much more pleasant during the rest of the year, as there is less rain and humid overall, as well as fewer crowds.
When it comes to the time of the day, we think the earlier the better. We got there are 6 am, but had to wait til 7 due to the weather. At 7 am the parking lot was already half full, and we had plenty of other people on the trail with us. We ended up heading back around noon, and the trail was super packed, and the sun was beaming down on us.
Even very early you can find plenty of people at Lagoinha do Leste.
🎒Packing For a Trip to Lagoinha do Leste
Here are a few things that you should bring with you for your beach day:
- Sunscreen (we got burnt even after just an hour in the sun!)
- Water Bottle (a big one- you'll need it! We use the 17oz Double Wall Vacuum Insulated Stainless Steel Water Bottle" rel="nofollow" style="outline: none;" target="_blank" class="">Cafago Water Bottle as it holds the temperature well)
- Swimsuit (the number one item to have)
- Bug spray (for the hike in the jungle)
- Towel (to relax on the sand, or a chair if you are taking the boat)
- Sneakers (you'll definitely want them for the viewpoint hike)
- Cash (there are no ATMs and most places don't take card)
- Power bank (We use Anker power banks, as they have super long battery life.)
- Camera (a must to capture the stunning views! - we use the Sony A7Riii)
- Standard Lens for a dynamic range (we use the Sony GM 24-70)
- Wide Lens to capture great panoramas (we use the Sony GM 14 F1.8)
- Telephoto Lens to capture the landscapes closer up (we use the Sony GM 70-200)
- Tripod to get pictures while no one is around or for multiple shots from far away (We use the JOBY Rangepod Tripod)
- Drone (You can get epic shots at the beaches! We use the Mavic Mini 4 Pro because it's super light and high quality)
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🤔 Is Lagoinha do Leste Beach Worth it?
Lagoinha do Leste was one of our favorite beaches in Florianopolis, and one of our most beloved hikes in Brazil! We definitely think if you go with good weather and are well prepared, that it's an adventure worth going on.
Lagoinha do Leste is definitely worth visiting!
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So are you ready for one of the most beautiful views in Brazil? We know you'll fall in love with this beach just as much as we did.
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