Over the past few months, I’ve noticed a quiet trend among friends of mine, all remote workers living in Brazil. One by one, they’ve traded the bustle of Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo for a big, leafy island in the country’s often-overlooked South Region.
That island is Florianópolis, or Floripa to those who live there. Safe and accessible, with a bridge linking it to the mainland, it is home to dozens of idyllic beaches—many of them delivering year-round surf—backed by rolling green mountains.
Floripa sits far enough south to bring cool, rainy winters, which has often been a deterrent for sun-seeking visitors. Yet whispers of its laid-back, California-like coastal vibe, just a short flight from Rio and São Paulo, have drawn in the curious.
This year alone, about 5,600 digital nomads have based themselves there, a 224 percent increase since 2018. DashCity, an AI-fueled platform that tracks this type of data, ranks Floripa as the second fastest-growing destination in the world for remote workers. The island’s burgeoning tech scene adds to the appeal. Last year, Floripa was named the Startup Capital of Brazil, with more tech businesses per capita than anywhere else in the country.
Most nomads come and go within a month, but some are making the move more permanent. “Even though Rio is surrounded by nature and you have very easy access to it, you need to go a little further to be in that completely-isolated-from-society type of nature, where you can really, really calm down,” says Helio Souza Liberman, a 34-year-old digital nomad who just moved to the island after three years living in Rio. “Whereas in Floripa, it’s more accessible.”
Maria Jose Gomez, 30, who left São Paulo after more than a decade, speaks of the island in almost mythical terms. “I feel like being in Floripa puts you in a place where you finally permit yourself to be creative with your life and your desires—where you feel like anything is possible,” she says. Since relocating, she’s continued her work as a nutritionist while exploring real estate investment, a life experiment she says would have felt out of reach in the city.
Her and Souza Liberman’s motives echo those of many others who have chosen Floripa as a base: a slower pace of life, more safety, and a deeper connection, both to nature and to community. And that’s precisely what you’ll find there.
Best Things to Do
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A village along Costa da Lagoa.
When you ask anyone about the best things to do in Floripa, the responses lean toward hikes, beaches, and long seafood lunches by the water. It’s a lifestyle built more on nature than nightlife, and that’s part of what makes people stay. That was the case for Anastasia Ovechkina, 29, who first came to Floripa as a digital nomad during the pandemic and never left.
“It happens with most of the people that come here. They kind of feel at ‘home,’” she says. “Since I don’t have these short periods of time for which I am coming and going, I don’t need the over-excitement that Rio brings, for example. Floripa is very chill.”
Try the local oysters.
Floripa is the oyster capital of Brazil—and Rancho Açoriano in Ribeirão da Ilha is one of the most classic seafood restaurants to try them, freshly harvested from nearby farms.
Learn a water sport.
Floripa is a great spot for both surfing and kitesurfing. Beginners can head over to Lagoa da Conceição, a big lagoon at the island’s center, while more experienced riders can cruise the waves at Barra da Lagoa and Campeche.
Explore the Costa da Lagoa.
Joshua Stevens, founder of local coffee chain Café Cultura, calls the Costa da Lagoa “a must-visit.” “You can arrive by trail, community boat, or Táxi Náutico. Great local seafood dishes right on the lake, right in the middle of a community that has no roads or cars.”
Hike to a remote beach.
The trek to Lagoinha do Leste is the island’s most iconic hike, while the Trilha de Naufragados ends at a wild, undeveloped beach with historic ruins.
Take a boat trip to Campeche.
Just offshore is the much smaller island of Campeche, famous for its crystal-clear turquoise waters and pearly white sand. Boats leave daily from the main island, making it an easy day trip to one of the region’s more stunning shores.
Best Beaches
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View of Praia da Barra da Lagoa.
There are more than 40 registered beaches on the island, but legend has it that there are countless more tucked away where only locals can find them. Here are the ones worth crossing off first.
Joaquina
Joaca, as it’s known locally, is a famous surf break. Even if you’re not a wave rider, its wide stretches of open sand are perfect for hanging out, sunbathing, or catching the sunrise. The beach is also flanked by notably large dunes, where sandboarding is available.
Praia Mole
Named for its soft, fine sand, Praia Mole draws in a younger crowd. Expect lively beach bars and laid-back surf shacks serving acai bowls. It’s another top contender for surfers, with consistent waves year-round.
Campeche
Long, wide, and breezy, Campeche offers plenty of space to spread out. It’s located in a neighborhood that goes by the same name and has become a popular spot for remote workers, with trendy restaurants and cafes within walking distance from one another.
Lagoinha do Leste
This wild, crescent-shaped beach can only be reached on foot or by boat. The result is an untouched slice of shoreline that makes you understand why some trade Rio’s busy Copacabana Beach for Floripa’s secluded shores.
Barra da Lagoa
This is a charming, low-key option with calmer waters. The relaxed, small-village atmosphere draws families and anyone wanting something slower than the more popular surf spots. There are also natural pools nearby.
Where to Stay
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A busy pedestrian street in Florianopolis’ Centro neighborhood.
Short-term stays can be arranged through Airbnb or ZAP, with many rentals catering specifically to remote workers (fast Wi-Fi and flexible contracts). Travelers also use this digital nomads group on Facebook as a resource.
Centro
The downtown core has a strong city vibe with plenty of shops, restaurants, and amenities. Beach access is farther out, but transportation options are generally good.
Lagoa da Conceição
This neighborhood is set right on the edge of the lagoon, with restaurants, bars, and houses lining the waterfront. Ubers and bikes make getting around easy, and beaches are a short ride away. If you’re just passing through, the Quinta das Videiras offers an upscale stay in a 19th-century mansion.
Campeche
This is a large, diverse neighborhood that’s popular with digital nomads. In areas like Novo Campeche, you’ll find excellent walkability with beach access, grocery stores, and cafes nearby. Other parts are quieter and more dispersed, so your experience will depend on where you stay.
Rio Tavares
Nestled between Campeche and the lagoon, Rio Tavares combines a relaxed residential feel with proximity to both beach and nature. Some parts are very convenient, though commercial amenities are not yet evenly distributed everywhere.
Best Cafes to Work From
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High angle view of a person working remotely on a laptop.
Ask any digital nomad where to work from in Floripa, and their first answer will be Café Cultura. With airy locations in Lagoa and Campeche, the chain offers plenty of space to settle in with a laptop.
“This past year, I saw an influx of digital nomads, and I’m expecting this next year as well,” says Stevens, who moved from California to Brazil more than 20 years ago. “It’s a catch-22 for us sometimes. In our busy times, the cafe is full of computers, and people don’t have a space to sit and just chat with friends. But also, it fills up the place during the week. If it weren’t for the digital nomads, it would be a little slow.”
In addition to Café Cultura, here are a few other spots to comfortably work from.
Founder Haus (Jurerê)
Founder Haus is a coworking hub tailored to tech-driven nomads and entrepreneurs. Beyond desks and meeting rooms, it hosts networking events like Breakfast Club and Founder Fridays, making it a community as much as a workspace.
Anómada (Campeche)
At this stylish cafe with beautiful garden seating, there’s excellent coffee and a fresh, healthy food menu, plus wood-fired pizzas.
Om Coffee (Campeche)
A cozy hideaway set in a garden, Om Coffee serves specialty brews and fresh pastries from a charming cafe cart. It’s an inviting spot to spend a slow morning or settle in with your laptop.
Café Decor (Near Lagoa)
A beautifully designed cafe with open-air seating framed by tropical plants, it sits right across the lagoon, offering sunny views of the water.
Sehat (Novo Campeche)
Sehat is a hybrid space that combines a cafe, an organic market, and a Thai restaurant. By day, it’s bright and work-friendly with good coffee; by night, it transforms into a laid-back spot for drinks and Thai food.
Garapuvu Café & Bistrô (Itacorubi)
Attached to the Mercure Hotel, in between Centro and Lagoa, Garapuvu doubles as a cafe and coworking space with free Wi-Fi and plenty of seating.
How to Be a Respectful Digital Nomad
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Man overlooking a beach in Florianpolis, Brazil.
Stevens simply asks remote workers who visit his cafes to be mindful. “I have people [who] stay all day, eight hours almost. They just order water or a small coffee,” he says. “We don’t want to scare them away—but it’s not a coworking place, as much as it almost becomes that at some points.”
Meanwhile, longtime resident Rachel Waterman tackles another issue: the digital nomad bubble. It’s easy for newcomers to visit the same cafes and rarely leave the neighborhoods where they’re staying, which limits their economic impact to a narrow slice of the city. Waterman makes sure that doesn’t happen. She runs a WhatsApp group for nomads, organizing outings like full-moon hikes, dinners at local restaurants they might not otherwise try, and trips around the state that intentionally prioritize Brazilian-owned businesses.
“For us, it’s all about helping the nomads learn more about the culture of where they are and seeing new places, as well as supporting Brazilian-owned businesses and other smaller communities that normally don’t get the traffic of these foreigners,” she says. “We feel like it’s a win-win.”
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