The view
Island and bridges.
Antônio João — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Antônio João — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Antônio João — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Antônio João — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Antônio João — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Antônio João — CC BY-SA 3.0
Cambirela is a mountain rising 1,052 metres almost from sea level in Palhoça, opposite the southern end of Florianópolis island, making it the highest point in the region and overlooking the whole «South Bay». It lies within Serra do Tabuleiro State Park and is thought to have been a volcano some 590 million years ago. Its name is Tupi-Guarani, read as «many breasts full of milk», a nod to its many summits and the clouds and waterfalls that drape it. Its grandeur drew artists such as Jean-Baptiste Debret and Victor Meirelles, and its name has become a regional byword. Florianópolis people also remember it for a plane crash in 1949 and for the snow that settled on its summit in 2013, a rare weather event. The climb is one of the area's best-known hikes: a steep trail that rewards you with views over Santa Catarina Island, its bridges and the bay. The trail is free, but tiring and rocky in places, so start early on a clear day with plenty of water, and go with a guide if you don't know the way.
Island and bridges.
Below the summit.
A state park.
Palhoça, Serra do Tabuleiro State Park, near Florianópolis
1,052 metres, the highest point in the Florianópolis area, climbed on a steep trail.