Scuba Diving
Florianópolis is not a diver's paradise, but if you want to check out the waters, Parcel (tel. 048/3284-5564; www.parcel.com.br) offers a number of dive tours depending on the weather and group size. One regular trip heads out to the biological reserve of Arvoredo. A 4-hour tour, including two dives and equipment, costs R$120 (US$60/£32).
Hiking
The island has several excellent hiking trails. Recrearte (tel. 048/3246-2821; www.guiafloripa.com.br/recrearte) and Triptur (tel. 048/3269-3929; www.triptur.com.br) run daily hikes to Lagoinha do Leste, the lighthouse at Naufragados, Santinho, Moçambique, and Morro dos Ingleses. The less-developed southern part of the island is best for hiking as it has several preserved beaches and parks. Even in the peak season you can find some secluded spots. Excursions start at R$50 to R$65 (US$25-US$33/£14-£18) per person, based on two people.
Windsurfing
The prime windsurf spot in Florianópolis is the Lagoa da Conceição. If you know how to windsurf you can rent a board from Open Winds (tel. 048/3232-5004; www.openwinds.com.br). Beginner boards cost R$35 (US$17/£9.50) for the day; advanced surfers can rent better equipment for R$45 (US$23/£12) for the day. For those needing lessons, Open Winds has an 8-hour beginner's program for R$680 (US$340/£183) that you can take over a couple of days. Private lessons are R$150 (US$75/£40) per hour.
