Itajai

Introduction

Itajaí sits on the northern central coast of Santa Catarina, on the right bank of the Itajaí-Açu river mouth, where the river meets the sea. It belongs to the Vale do Itajaí Mesoregion and stands at a low elevation above sea level.

The city is one of the wealthiest in Santa Catarina, with a strong economy and the highest per capita income in the state. That prosperity shapes the waterfront and port character of the place, though the source offers little on specific neighbourhoods or sights.

When to go

Itajaí has a humid subtropical climate, with humid winters and dry summers, and temperatures that rarely fall outside a mild-to-hot range. Summer is the driest part of the year, so rain is less of a factor for visitors, though the season can be hot. Winter is humid and can be cool.

It is very rare for temperatures to fall outside this range, so you can generally expect mild-to-hot conditions whenever you visit.

Three days in Itajai

Day one: Start in Itajaí, the city at the heart of the Itajaí Mesoregion in Santa Catarina. Get your bearings along the Açu, the waterway that gives the place its rhythm, and take in the Vale that frames the city. In summer the weather is warm and humid, so plan your walking for the cooler hours.

Day two: Give the day to the river. The Açu is the thread that ties Itajaí together, and watching the boats work the water is a good way to understand the city. Winter here is mild rather than bitterly cold, so even a grey day is comfortable for strolling.

Day three: Slow down and let Itajaí set the pace. Wander the Vale side of the city, look back across the Açu, and finish with the easy pleasures of Santa Catarina's coast. That is Itajaí: a working port city in the Itajaí Mesoregion, best taken without hurry.