Everything You Need To Know To Hike To Lagoinha Do Leste Beach, Florianopolis, Brazil

Have you ever thought of finding an almost empty beach in Florianopolis, Brazil? Dive into our guide on trekking to Lagoinha do Leste and Matadeiro Beach, one of the most breathtaking beaches in Floripa.

This hike was one of our highlights from Florianopolis. Depending on what route you take, it has absolutely breathtaking views of the Brazilian coastline but the penultimate view is of the vast beach which can only be reached by hiking or a boat.

Hike to Lagoinha Do Leste is one of the best things to do in Florianopolis, Brazil.

*If you’re looking for more inspiration for an upcoming trip, why not visit our “How to spend 3 weeks in Brazil” post

Where to start the hike to Lagoinha do Leste

The hike to Lagoinha do Leste starts at the south of Florianopolis.

Head to the town Aramcao or Pantano do Sul (depending on which route you take).

There are two different hikes leading to Lagoinha do Leste. The longer trail takes approximately 2.5-3 hours and the shorter around 1 hour. We recommend hiking the longer route to Lagoinha do Leste and the shorter on your way back.

We took the route starting in Praia do Matadeiro to Lagoinha do Leste Beach and then finishing in Pantano do Sul. The first part of the hike takes longer, however, it is by far the prettiest route and will make you appreciate the easy return.

To start this hike, look for this sign at the most southerly part of Praia do Matadeiro

How long does the hike take?

The route to Lagoinha do Leste from start to finish took us approximately 3 hours in total. This of course depends on how many stops you take and your fitness level. As well as which of the two routes you take.

How hard is the hike?

The hike is a medium – hard hike with steep and very warm parts.

The route is mostly through forest and therefore, can be largely affected by the weather. Be prepared to climb over boulders and move branches at certain points.

A few times on the Matadeiro part it looks like there could be more than one path. We suggest having Google Maps downloaded so you can check that you are heading the right way. Also for this part of the route, just before arriving at the beach, there is a steep descent (if heights aren’t your thing then be aware before attempting this way).

We recommend wearing suitable footwear and making sure you have plenty of water.

Once you arrive at the beach at Lagoinha do Leste there are a few bars that serve cold water, beers and even food. So, don’t worry too much if you’re starting to run low.

The beach itself is beautiful and due to being inaccessible via car, it means it’s extremely quiet compared to some of the other beaches and is a great place to relax for a couple of hours.

The hike to the viewpoint

We missed out on the incredible view over the lagoon and wide ocean the famous Pico da Coroa has to offer. Instead, we decided to opt for relaxing on the beach as opposed to hiking up the viewpoint over Lagoinha do Leste. In hindsight we probably should have pushed ourselves a little more to get to the viewpoint.

It is a different trail starting at the end of the beach close to the Trilha Lagoinha Do Leste do Pântano do Sul.

Getting back from Lagoinha do Leste

We were offered multiple times a boat which would take you back to Pantano do Sul which was 50 real (approx £8) each. We were extremely close to getting it as we didn’t fancy the walk back due to the time and legs shaking a little by this point. However, the boat was just about to leave and wouldn’t be back for 30 minutes so we opted to hike to Pantano do Sul.

It’s a fairly easy hike back. To find the path from Lagoinha do Leste look for this sign at the opposite end of the beach where you arrived, near the bars.

The route back was still relatively challenging but nothing a person with average fitness wouldn’t be able to complete. The hike back is far easier than the hike going (if you opt for the same route that we did). The forest was beautiful and we managed to catch it as the sun was setting through the trees. Making it even more beautiful. Plus, it meant that the sun wasn’t bearing down on us for what felt like the first time that day. This part of the hike took us around 45 minutes and you end on the main road in and around Pantano do Sul.

Overall, this is a highly rewarding and sometimes challenging hike which is well worth if for the beautiful view of Lagoinha do Leste.