Porto Belo

When Portuguese navigators first entered this sheltered bay on the coast of Santa Catarina in the early 16th century, they were so struck by its beauty that they named it Porto Belo — "beautiful port." Five centuries later, the name remains an understatement. This small fishing village, tucked into the base of a forested peninsula between Florianopolis and Balneario Camboriu, is one of southern Brazil's most enchanting coastal discoveries — a place where the Atlantic Forest tumbles down emerald hillsides to meet calm, crystalline waters of such clarity that the sandy bottom is visible at six metres.

Porto Belo occupies a rare position on the Brazilian coast: genuinely picturesque yet largely unknown to international tourism. The town centre clusters around a curved beach where painted fishing boats bob at anchor and the daily catch — grouper, snapper, and shrimp — is sold dockside each morning. The architecture is a charming blend of Azorean colonial heritage and the pastel-coloured simplicity typical of Santa Catarina's coastal villages, a region settled predominantly by Portuguese islanders and German immigrants whose cultural influence persists in the local cuisine, festivals, and the impeccable cleanliness that surprises visitors accustomed to the more chaotic energy of northern Brazil.

The culinary scene in Porto Belo revolves around seafood of extraordinary freshness. Sequencia de camarao — an elaborate multi-course shrimp feast that begins with shrimp cocktail and progresses through fried, grilled, and stewed preparations — is the regional speciality, served at waterfront restaurants where the view across the bay toward Ilha de Porto Belo is part of the meal. The island itself, a short boat ride from the town pier, offers hiking trails through Atlantic Forest to viewpoints, snorkelling in protected marine waters, and the remains of a 19th-century fishing village. Ostra, or oyster farming, has become a significant local industry, and Porto Belo's cultivated Pacific oysters — plump, briny, and served with lime and pimenta — rival any on the Brazilian coast.

The peninsula that forms Porto Belo's western flank is laced with hiking trails leading to secluded beaches accessible only on foot or by boat. Praia de Estaleiro and Praia do Caixa d'Aco are among the most beautiful — small crescents of white sand backed by forest, where the only sounds are birdsong and the gentle percussion of wavelets on shore. Bombinhas, the neighbouring municipality, adds world-class diving to the mix: the Reserva Biologica Marinha do Arvoredo, a marine reserve encompassing several islands offshore, protects coral formations, sea turtle nesting grounds, and some of the best underwater visibility on Brazil's southern coast.

Porto Belo is visited by Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises on their South American itineraries, with ships typically anchoring in the bay and tendering passengers to the town pier. The most pleasant visiting season is November through April, when summer temperatures hover in the high 20s and the water is warm enough for comfortable swimming, though the shoulder months of October and May offer quieter beaches and equally beautiful weather.