Nature sets the tone along the Santa Catarina coast. There are 500 km of beaches, lined by lagoons, rivers, mountains and the exuberant Atlantic Coastal Forest. From the quiet Babitonga Bay, on the Paraná border, to the long stretch of open sea at Araranguá, the curtain rises on a fascinating scenery of clear waters, white sands and much greenery.

São Francisco Island, at the extreme north, is home to the state's oldest settlement. Founded by the French in 1504, São Francisco do Sul houses valuable historic landmarks and a fascinating special charm. With 30,000 residents, it is a land of fishermen and sailors. The city sits atop Babitonga Bay, a nautical paradise of calm and sheltered waters with 13 beaches and countless islands on which nature rules. Across the Saguaçu Lagoon, one reaches Joinville, the largest city in the state and a landmark of German immigration.

The Santa Catarina coast has an Azorean face. The colorful canoes, the fishing nets, the food, the faces and accents have their roots in the Portuguese archipelago. The immigrants came in search of whale oil and created cities such as Barra Velha, Piçarras, Penha e Armação. On the ancient lands of the native Carijós tribes also arose Itajaí, which today has 140 thousand residents and disputes with São Francisco do Sul the ranking as the largest port in Santa Catarina. The Beto Carreiro World theme park, in the municipality of Balneário de Penha, is the largest tourist attraction of the region, together with the beautiful beaches and the historic heritage of São Francisco do Sul.