Understanding Santa Catarina
Santa Catarina is a state in southern Brazil, not a single city, so getting around means thinking in terms of its towns, coastal resorts and interior settlements rather than one urban transit network. The state is served by several airports, and the way you move between places depends heavily on whether you are staying on the coast or heading inland.
Arriving by Air
National and international flights arrive at Hercílio Luz Airport in Florianópolis and Victor Konder in Navegantes. If you are flying domestically, Serafim Bertaso Airport in Chapecó and Lauro Carneiro de Loyola in Joinville handle domestic services. Regional flights arrive at Diomício Freitas Airport in Forquilhinha/Criciúma, Carlos Alberto da Costa Neves in Caçador and Municipal de Joaçaba.
For most visitors, Florianópolis and Navegantes are the practical gateways, since they receive both national and international flights. From either airport you can continue into the state by road, using buses, taxis or a hire car.
Getting Around by Car
Driving is one of the most flexible ways to explore Santa Catarina, and the state's highway network links the coast with the interior.
- BR-101 runs north–south along the coast. It is duplicated in the northern section and in the final phase of duplication in the south. Toll stations are located at Garuva, Barra Velha, Porto Belo and Palhoça.
- BR-116 also crosses the state north–south but through the interior. It has a single lane, heavy truck traffic and is privatized, with toll stations at Monte Castelo, Santa Cecília and Correia Pinto.
- BR-282 is the main link between the coast and the interior, running from Florianópolis to the Argentine border at Paraíso. It has a single track and dangerous stretches of mountains.
- BR-470 heads west from Navegantes through the Itajaí Valley, where traffic is intense. The stretch between Navegantes and Indaial is being duplicated. It crosses the BR-101 at Campos Novo and continues south to the border with Rio Grande do Sul.
- BR-280 connects São Francisco do Sul to Porto União. It has a single lane but is being duplicated between São Francisco do Sul and Jaraguá do Sul.
- Other highways include BR-163 (access via Paraná to the Far West), BR-158 (access via Rio Grande do Sul to the West) and BR-153 (connecting Rio Grande do Sul and Paraná via the West).
Expect tolls on several of these routes and allow extra time on single-lane and mountain sections.
Getting Around by Bus
Long-distance buses are a practical way to travel between Santa Catarina's towns and to and from other states. The main interstate and international bus companies serving the state are Catarinense, Reunidas, Unesul, Pluma, Itapemirim and Eucatur. These operators connect the state's main centres and provide onward links beyond Santa Catarina.
Arriving by Boat
Several cruises dock during the summer season at São Francisco do Sul, Itajaí, Porto Belo and Florianópolis. If you arrive by cruise ship, these ports put you within reach of the coast's main resorts and towns.
Practical Tips
- Choose your gateway airport based on where you plan to spend most of your trip: Florianópolis and Navegantes for the coast, Chapecó and Joinville for domestic connections, and the smaller regional airports for specific inland areas.
- If you plan to cover a lot of ground, a car gives you the most freedom, but be prepared for tolls and slower going on single-lane and mountain roads.
- For point-to-point travel between towns, the interstate bus companies are the reliable option.
- In summer, coastal ports and roads are busiest, so plan around cruise arrivals and peak-season traffic.