Santa Catarina: Beach and mountain.
2015 July
This journey started in Penha and finished in Blumenau and was made in 9 days and 7 nights.
Check the route here!
Arriving in Penha
The long 615 km driving was compensated by the beauty right on the way.
Penha is a city that dazzles every one. It looks like there's not so many things to do beyond Beto Carrero, but the beaches are beautiful and deserve to be visited.
BR 101 scenes
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Beto Carrero
For those who wanna have some fun, it is worth spending one day there. There's an option for everyone. I enjoyed the kart!
For those who are really kart fans, the International Kart Track is next to Beto Carrero.
Penha
In a day assigned to explore all Penha coast, we started by the first beach on north, Praia Alegre. On the left corner is a river, from which a pirate boat leaves to make a tour to Ilha Feia. There's a platform too, which belongs to the neighbor city (Piçarras).
After Praia Alegre we went to Praia da Saudade, that has an access to Bacia da Vovó, by its left side, and Praia do Quilombo by its right side.
River dividing Penha and Piçarras
Piçarras platform
Trail that leads to Bacia da Vovó
Located on the left corner of Praia da Saudade
Bacia da Vovó
Praia da Saudade
Praia da Saudade
Viewed from above the rocks
Between Praia da Saudade and Quilombo
Ilha Feia on the backgroung
Trail connecting Praia da Saudade to Praia do Quilombo
Praia do Quilombo
Trail between Praia da Saudade and Quilombo
 Fit na Praia da Paciência |  Praia da Paciência |  Costão da Praia da Paciência |
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Petisqueira Sombreiro
This seafood restaurant situated on the right side of Praia da Armação served us a great gratin oyter and breaded shellfish! Very good indeed.
Talking with some fishermen next to the restaurant after my dinner, I was told that that beach's name is due to the whale fishing, that used to be a very important commercial activity of the city a long time ago. The whale bones were buried right in the beach, and a long time after that, they started to get unearthed spread throughout the city. The restaurant we had had our dinner was one of them.
Só depois de conversar com os pescadores que eu me toquei que a decoração do restaurante era feita de ossos de baleias!
On the way to São Joaquim: Serra do Tabuleiro State Park and European Valley
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Waterfalls National Capital
Arriving in São Bonifácio
Belvedere on the road
Igreja Matriz
Igreja Matriz: "Mother" church
Lutheran church
Leaving São Bonifácio
The path we took by SC-435 (leaving BR-282) outlines the Serra do Tabuleiro National Park and gifts us with beautiful landscapes that reminds Europe a lot.
After São Bonifácio the road becomes dirty, but with good driving conditions.
The secret is to not hurry, 'cause the way may yield great shots.
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Vargem do Cedro and Fluss Haus
After arriving in Santo Antônio, go to Vargem do Cedro, mainly if you're hungry, because there you'll find Fluss Haus, a cookies factory that serves a colonial café that on the weekends offers more than 100 items! It makes the deviation worthy.
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With a great colonial café, the Fluss Haus emerged as a cookies factory. Today, more than selling the cookies, it sells lots of other german-imported products and has a very pleasant garden in the backyard.
The café served on the week is reduced compared to the weekend one, but it also had us from getting us completely satisfied. A great meal!
Rising Serra do Rio do Rastro
When we went up to the mountains, there was fog and the night was coming, but anyway we could have a taste of the beauty of the place. The narrow road makes the trucks trip hard on the curves and some driving skills are needed so that the big trucks can pass.
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São Joaquim
Even in the Winter, São Joaquim may be very pleasant at night. Visiting the main touristic spots is a good opportunityfor the ones who want to enjoy the town when it's empty.
Touristic information centre
Low temperature. But not enough to bring the snow tourists were waiting!
Belvedere view
João Ribeiro square, in front of the church
São Joaquim Main Church
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 Museu HistóricoÉ uma casinha bem discreta localizada perto do centro de informações ao turista. |  SanjoCorporativa de maçã que produz sucos e vinhos. |  |
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Villa Francioni
As it rained all over our staying in the town, it left us, as good options, enjoying the restaurants, museums and wineries of the region. The Francioni was the most impressive.
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Coming down the Mountains
We woke up on the departure day to Blumenau and saw a totally clear blue sky. We decided, instead of going through Lages, to take the way back into the mouintains.
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Blumenau
German village - Vila Germânica
In the Vila we found lots of German food restaurants and bought some souvenirs too. Therefore, as it was too early for lunch, we chose to have just a little breakfast.
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Museums
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The Hering Museum stays a little bit away from the city, next to its factory - which can be visited on the mid-week -, and next to its store too. The Mausóleu Dr. Blumenau - who was the city founder - stays next to the Bear Museum and various other museums concentrated on that region.
Any doubt about the travel?
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