Schooner trip
Across the North Bay.
Matheus Hobold Sovernigo — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Mariahaversa — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Carlos Luis M C da Cruz — Public domain · Caroline — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Carlos Luis M C da Cruz — Public domain
The Fortaleza de Santo Antônio de Ratones stands on Ratones Grande island in Florianópolis's North Bay, one of the forts Brigadier José da Silva Paes built to defend Santa Catarina Island: work began after the Ponta Grossa fort in 1740 and finished about four years later, and it was abandoned during the Spanish invasion of the island in 1777. It reopened on 13 December 2025 after closing in January 2025 over problems with its pier. Tickets are R$20 and R$10 reduced, paid in cash at the gate or online, and it opens Tuesday to Sunday 8:30-18:30. It can only be reached by boat, most often on the tourist schooner trips, as the university that runs the fort does not operate boats.
Across the North Bay.
On the island.
Silva Paes's forts.
Ratones Grande island, North Bay, Florianópolis
By boat only, usually on a tourist schooner trip; the R$20 fort ticket is separate from the boat.