Hilltop
Ocean view.
Scarlet silva — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Scarlet silva — CC BY-SA 4.0 · oscar fava — CC BY 3.0 · oscar fava — CC BY 3.0 · jce — CC BY-SA 3.0
Gravatá is a small, secluded cove on the east coast of Santa Catarina Island in Florianópolis, between famous Joaquina beach and Praia Mole, below Gravatá hill. No road reaches it, so only those who walk the trail get there, and it stays quiet and little visited even at the height of summer, ringed by rocks, coastal vegetation and the open sea. The trail starts near the SC-406 road to Praia Mole, at the end of Avenida das Rendeiras in the lagoon area, and takes thirty to fifty minutes. It opens with a steep climb of about 300 metres, then levels out at the top of the hill, where wide views open over the ocean, the Joaquina dunes and the lagoon. There is nowhere to park at the trailhead, so leave the car before it and walk up. Local groups have campaigned to protect Gravatá hill from building projects and make it a protected area. There are no facilities on the beach, so carry water and sunscreen, wear proper shoes and keep away from the rock edges, where fatal falls have happened.
Ocean view.
Few visitors.
From the trail.
East coast of Santa Catarina Island, between Joaquina and Praia Mole, Florianópolis
On a walking trail starting near the road to Praia Mole, taking thirty to fifty minutes.