You’ll hike up Morro da Coroa from Florianópolis with a small group and a local guide who actually knows these trails by heart. Expect salty sea air, stories about island life, and a relaxed photo session at the summit—with your pictures sent that same day. You’ll leave feeling both windblown and kind of proud.
"Don’t rush—nature here likes to take its time," Jucilene said, pausing where the South Pântano trail starts to climb for real. I’d already noticed she greets everyone we pass—sometimes with a joke, sometimes just a nod. The air smelled like wet leaves and ocean salt, which is kind of Florianópolis in a nutshell if you ask me. Our group was small, just five of us, so it felt more like tagging along with friends than being on some big organized day trip. I kept lagging behind because I couldn’t stop looking back at the way the light hit the trees.
The Morro da Coroa hike isn’t too tough if you’re used to moving, but there’s one rocky bit where my shoes slipped (Juci laughed and showed me how to sidestep like locals do). She pointed out this tiny orchid growing from a branch—honestly, I would’ve missed it—and told us how her grandmother used to collect them for tea. The climb took about an hour and a half; by the end, my shirt was sticking to my back but nobody seemed to care. At the top, you get this wild view—sea on one side, green hills rolling away on the other—and wind that smells almost sweet.
Then came the photo session part. I’m not usually into posing for pictures (I never know what to do with my hands), but Juci made it easy—she’d say stuff like “just look over there” or “pretend you’re not tired,” which made us all laugh for real. She uses her own camera and somehow caught me mid-laugh with hair in my face. It didn’t feel staged at all. She promised we’d get our photos by evening (and she did send them—mine’s now my phone background).
The way down was quieter; maybe everyone was thinking about lunch or maybe just tired in that good way you get after being outside for hours. There were birds calling somewhere off trail and someone in our group started humming softly—I still think about that silence mixed with laughter echoing back down the path. It’s funny how those moments stick more than any perfect view.
The total hiking distance is about 6 km round trip, taking roughly 1 hour 30 minutes up.
The trail has moderate difficulty; travelers should have at least moderate fitness.
Yes, professional photos are taken during the tour and sent by evening.
The experience is offered in Portuguese only.
The maximum group size is 6 people per tour.
No hotel pickup is mentioned; public transportation options are nearby.
You should wear comfortable walking shoes and bring water; other equipment is provided.
This tour is recommended for ages 10 to 60; not suitable for pregnant travelers or those with knee problems.
Your day includes guiding by an accredited adventure tourism guide (Jucilene), use of a GPS satellite tracker for safety, first aid support throughout the hike, plus all your professional summit photos delivered digitally by evening after your return.
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