Overview

Location

Traveling to Florianopolis with Nexus is an experience unlike any other. Florianopolis, or Floripa as it is affectionately known by locals, is an enchantingly beautiful city located in the South of Brazil. As the capital of Santa Catarina, one of the richest per capita states in Brazil, it ’s known as a wonderful vacation destination thanks to its unique combination of incredible beaches, world-class surf, great weather, amazing nightlife and friendly inhabitants, all in a setting of unparalleled natural beauty.

Florianopolis is also blessed with an organized and extremely safe urban environment, which helps to explain why for several years in a row now it has been named as the city with the best quality of life in Brazil by the local media.

How to get there ?
Florianopolis is the capital of Santa Catarina, one of the richest per capita states in all of Brazil, and is located in the southern region of the country. It can be reached in approximately 1 hour by plane from São Paulo and 2 hours from Rio de Janeiro.

Arriving in Florianopolis from the U.S. is simple – a connection is made in São Paulo with a second leg available directly to Florianopolis. There are direct flights to São Paulo from most major U.S. cities, though one stop-over in the U.S. prior to arrival in Brazil is not uncommon.

There is a major airport in Florianopolis (airport code: FLN), located just 20 minutes from your Nexus Surf accommodations.

The Surf

In Florianopolis, the surf capital of Brazil and host of South America’s only WCT pro surf tour event you have year-round consistent swell, great shape, incredible variety and a culture that lives and breathes surfing – you won’t find a truer surfer’s paradise anywhere in the world or a better backdrop for a truly unforgettable surf holiday in Brazil.

With nearly 100 miles of pristine coastline, Floripa, Brazil is blessed with over 40 beautiful beaches and is home to many world-class surf spots such as Praia Mole, Joaquina, Campeche and Lagoinha do Leste, while numerous other renowned breaks lie within close reach just south of the island.

Although Brazil may be best known for its powerful beach breaks, Florianopolis and the south of the Brazilian state of Santa Catarina have a diverse mix of points and rivermouths as well, providing a tremendous variety of waves suitable for all levels of surfers, making Floripa the ideal location for your Brazil surf holiday.

In addition to all the incredible surf spots Floripa has to offer, during your Florianopolis surf holiday you will also be in close proximity to numerous other renowned breaks just south of the island such as Guarda do Embaú (a goofy footer’s dream surrounded by jaw-dropping scenery, serves up quick barrels at the rivermouth and a peaky beachbreak along its shore), Praia Rosa in Garopaba (home to another hollow lefthander with right peaks scattered throughout the beach, complete with stunning views of nearby offshore islands and an electric summer beach scene that can make it hard to concentrate on the waves) and many more.

Accommodation

Nexus proudly offers a variety of deluxe beachfront accommodations in Florianopolis in private townhomes and beach houses to best suit your needs.

All of the Floripa accommodations are centered in the premier location in Florianopolis, beachfront and walking distance to two world-class surfing beaches and the Lagoa da Conceição lagoon, a postcard-perfect natural wonder.

You will also be but a short drive (less than 5 minutes) from two other world-class surfing beaches (one of which has in the past hosted WCT pro surf tour events) and a great beginner beach with calm waters and gentle swell.

No Florianopolis hotel can compare, as the accommodations of Nexus are comfortably elegant and depending on availability and group size may include conveniences and amenities generally not available in Brazil such as cable TV, air conditioning, wireless high speed internet, U.S. phone line, full kitchen, pool/spa/sauna and ocean views.

Your Brazil Surf Experience™ also includes fresh and healthy Brazilian-style breakfast delivered each morning to your residence. For lunch and dinner the Nexus team will direct you to a variety of the best restaurants in Florianopolis, from Brazilian all you can eat buffets to healthy smoothie stands and more.

They have great relationships with all of the top local restaurants and are able to provide you with VIP treatment not available to the general public.

Packages

DELUXE SURF VACATION PACKAGE:

Included:
• Daily guided surf tours (or surf lessons, depending on ability level) to the best breaks on and around the island.
• Guided VIP access to the best nightlife and restaurants in Florianopolis.
• 7 nights Deluxe beachfront accommodations ( ask for upgrade to Luxury ) in the best location on the island.
• Access to adventure sports, including river rafting, kitesurfing, sandboarding and more.
• Florianopolis city tours and insider’s view to Brazilian culture and local customs.
• A tremendous variety of stunning beaches and breathtaking natural beauty.
• Transportation to and from all day and night time activities.
• Rental car (compact with air conditioning and local insurance included).
• Breakfast service delivered daily to your residence.
• Local cell phone use to facilitate staying in touch.
• Personalized airport pickup and drop-off.
• Access to Nexus surf equipment.

You will have piece of mind that you’ll be in the expert hands of the Nexus team during your entire stay, 110% dedicated to ensuring that you have a hassle free and safe vacation experience of a lifetime and get the absolute most out of your time in Brazil.

Activities

in addition to the best surf in Brazil. They can arrange for you to go … kitesurfing, windsurfing, practice yoga and pilates, do motorcycle tours, sandboarding, paragliding, snorkeling, hiking, river rafting, horseback riding, swimming, massage therapy,…

The amazing time you have surfing in paradise-like surroundings during the day is only the beginning. Your Brazil Surf Experience™ includes a Florianopolis nightlife component worth the trip all on its own. Unlike many surf camps where you may get good surf during the day but at night are left with no choice but to play scrabble while swatting mosquitoes in the middle of nowhere, with Nexus you will have complete VIP access to some of South America’s hottest nightlife and best dining options.

Brazil is known worldwide for its outrageous parties, beautiful people and appreciation for living life passionately.

They arrange for shuttle service each night out partying in Florianopolis, so no need to worrying about calling taxis, getting directions … just sit back and relax in the party shuttle and recount the day’s surfing adventures while they handle the rest.

Surf Lessons

BEGINNER SURFERS

So you’ve always wanted to learn to surf, or maybe you’ve just started out and want to take your skills to the next level learning from the pros? Then the Brazil surf camp in Florianopolis is the perfect place for you as it includes everything you need to get you started and riding waves in no time in a fun, comfortable and safe learning environment.
- perfect learning conditions: one of the beginners beaches, Galheta, is located just in front of Nexus’ Brazil surf camp, and several others, including Barra da Lagoa, are just a few minutes away.
- The instructors are professionally certified and have undergone an intensive surf instructor training program. In addition, all instructors are fluent in English so there won’t be any communication barriers during the learning process.

EXPERIENCED SURFERS - GUIDED SURFING TOURS

The experienced surfer package also includes boat tours to breaks inaccessible by car. The Florianopolis surf guides know everything about surfing in Florianopolis and about the area in general. So when you go on a surf tour with them, they don’t just drop you off and let you figure things out for yourself, the surf guides are right there with you in the water.

You will never have a question unanswered, as your Florianopolis surf guide is incredibly knowledgeable (all have been surfing in Florianopolis their entire lives!!). Anything at all that you need, they are there to take care of it, something that makes being on a surf trip in a foreign country where you likely won’t speak the language almost as comfortable as being at home in your own back yard.

Bring your own familiar board, or let Nexus find the perfect board for you, you can even order one custom shaped to take home ....

F.A.Q.

Are there any special travel requirements traveling to Brazil?
Yes. U.S. citizens must have a Visa to enter Brazil. Processing costs $100, and it may take up to 10 business days to complete, so make sure to apply early to avoid any last minute complications. If you live in or near a city where there is a Brazilian Consulate (Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York, Miami, Houston, Washington D.C., Chicago and Boston), you may apply in person. If not, or if you can’t get away to during the day to drop off your application, there are a number of third-party services specializing in Visa processing also.
Each Brazilian Consulate has its own website that provides more information on what is required for processing the Visa application at that particular location.

I always travel to places and surf on my own, why should I book a trip with Nexus?
While anyone is of course free to book a trip to Florianopolis and break out the tourist guidebook, what Nexus offers its clients is a totally different experience. From the moment you walk off the plane and are picked up by Nexus team you can relax and enjoy your trip to the fullest, knowing that every last detail will be taken care off.
You should also know that Brazil is a destination where travelers are often surprised to find that the average person on the street (taxi drivers, store clerks, hotel receptionists, etc.) does not speak much, if any, English. Nexus not only demystifies Brazilian culture, it provides you access to the very best it has to offer and allows you to see things through the eyes of a local. Travel with Nexus and you won’t just see Brazilian culture, you will experience it!

Reviews

“I wanted to drop you a quick note to say what an amazing time I had down in Floripa — I can’t wait to return and the only negative thing about the whole trip was having to leave and re-engage in work. I live in one of the best places in the world by my estimation, but I was blown away by the trip last week - in all aspects, but most significantly by the staff of Nexus. The people you have found hands down make the experience and I cannot say enough nice things about how they all took care of us, they were amazing. I have honestly not been on a holiday quite like it before and will definitely return and of course highly recommend Nexus to anyone who will listen to my raving!”

– Wendy, San Diego/California

“On the flight down to Brazil, we talked about how our trip couldn’t possibly live up to the lofty expectations set by the Nexus website. However we weren’t on the ground long before we happily realized that Nexus actually under-promises and over-delivers. Floripa provides great surfing for all abilities, wild parties, delicious (and affordable) restaurants, and world-class natural beauty. Oh, and the views of the ocean, mountains, and lagoon aren’t too shabby either. Quite simply, Mexico and the Caribbean don’t even compare. Despite being physically exhausted every day, we always felt relaxed because the whole Nexus crew took care of everything from the time we got off the plane until we were sadly dropped off at the airport. We can’t wait to go back.”

– Ted, New York/New York

When to go

April-October
Florianopolis sees its most consistent surf during the months of April through October and then water temperatures range from the low 70’s into the mid 60’s, hardly the frigid temps surfers in the US are accustomed to. As a side benefit, the cooler water temps thin out the temperature-sensitive local lineups considerably, often resulting in epic and uncrowded surf. Though the beaches themselves are generally less crowded during this time of year (save for weekends and holidays), the nightlife is as consistent as the surf and firing just about every night of the week.
These dates make for an ideal Brazilian surfing holiday for those wanting to maximize their overall surfing experience while taking advantage of Nexus’ low season pricing (from May to end of October).

November-March
This time of year is perfect for those looking for a great balance between great surf, incredible nightlife, fantastic weather and warm water temperatures. Though the surf is slightly less intense, you are still likely to score solid waves (overheads not uncommon) thanks to the consistent swell and large diversity of surf spots on and around the island, at least a few of which are likely to be “on” at just about any given moment. The beach and nightlife scene is unparalleled during these months, particularly during the Brazilian vacation season (Christmas through Carnaval), providing a unique blend of quality surf during the day and outrageous nightlife in the evenings.

Rates

DELUXE SURF VACATION PACKAGE:

High Season: Nov - April:
$ 2,299 per person
Low Season: May - Oct :
$ 1,899 per person