Florianopolis is an island off the southern coast of Brazil with 42 of the most beautiful beaches on the planet. Oceanswimfit is based on Campeche beach, stretching many miles and facing the sub tropical south Atlantic Ocean. Floripa as its called locally sits at 27 degrees south, about the same latitude as Tampa but has a decidedly more tropical feel with its Amazon like rainforest full of monkeys and exotic birds and lush green mountains cascading into the ocean. One third of the island is reserved for nature conservation and the rest is dotted with small clusters of colonial towns, surfing and fishing villages and a downtown facing the continent with a vibrant art, culture and nightlife scene. Floripa to a Brazilian is much like Hawaii to an American, a place we all want to visit.
Floripa attracts nature lovers, yoga students, world class surfers and kite surfers, hikers, mountain bikers and is also the second tech center in Brazil after Sao Paulo.
Oceanswimfit is based in Novo Campeche, next to many miles of almost empty beach and within view of the Ilha do Campeche, a small mountainous isle one mile off the beach. By the end of the week we will have swum or stand up paddled over to the island.
In the austral late Summer and early Fall (April and May) the water is wavy and cool with temperatures ranging from the mid to high 60’s to the mid 70’s and waves from 2-3 and sometimes up to 5-6 feet. Ideal conditions to connect with the beauty and power of the ocean. Don’t worry if the waves are too big in front there are many beaches within protected bays.
Summer time here is January to March and its tropical, hot but not sweltering, (the cool Southern Atlantic ensures coastal temperatures rarely top 90. The water can be cooler as water temps are set by currents and a prevailing current from the north brings cool deep ocean waters.
Winter is June to September with cool sometimes warm days and cool nights. Think northern California. Ad the waves are generally BIG!
Floripa has a strong fishing tradition as it was originally settled by Portuguese fisherman coming from the Azores. Almost all of the fish consumed locally is local and Floripa has some of the best squid, shrimp, oysters and mussels to be found anywhere.
