Sandstone cliffs
Tall rock walls.
Núbia de Rodrigues Araújo — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Núbia de Rodrigues Araújo — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Stanglavine — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Stanglavine — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Núbia de Rodrigues Araújo — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Stanglavine — CC BY-SA 4.0
Morro dos Conventos, the «Hill of the Convents», is the signature view of Araranguá in southern Santa Catarina, about ten kilometres from the town centre. Here a long beach meets sand dunes, tall sandstone walls and small caves that locals call «furnas», and at its edge the Araranguá River flows into the Atlantic. A Brazilian Navy lighthouse crowns the hill, with lookouts around it over the dunes, the river and the beach stretching south. Stories about the name vary: one says a Jesuit community once lived here, another that the rock formations look like a great monastery from afar, and neither has been proven. The area makes an easy day trip by car from Criciúma and suits walks on the sand and sunsets from the lookouts. Take care near the cliff edges, and avoid trying to drive across the river mouth, whose sand is notoriously hard to cross.
Tall rock walls.
Down to the river mouth.
From the lookouts.
Mouth of the Araranguá River, about 10 km from central Araranguá, Santa Catarina
About forty-five kilometres, under an hour by car.