Ibiraquera entre Praia do Rosa e Praia do Luz — localização do Ibirahill
Between Sea & Lagoon

THE PLACE

We travelled a long time before choosing where to stop. Between the Atlantic Forest and the open sea, it was here — in Ibiraquera — that the landscape began to set the pace of our days.

Where is Ibiraquera?

Ibiraquera is in Imbituba, on the southern coast of Santa Catarina, Brazil — about 90 minutes south of Florianópolis by car. The region brings together three beaches: Praia do Rosa, Praia do Luz, and Barra de Ibiraquera, with the Ibiraquera Lagoon set between the ocean and the Atlantic Forest. Ibirahill sits on Morro do Elegante, ten minutes from Praia do Rosa and three minutes from Praia do Luz.

The Place: A Meeting of Three Worlds

We didn't end up in Ibiraquera by chance. After a lot of coast around the world, we chose this hill for three things that meet here: the lagoon, the open sea, and the forest.

Ibiraquera: Cradle of Nature and Winds

The Barra de Ibiraquera is where tradition and nature meet. With a history rooted in artisanal fishing and environmental preservation, this is one of the rare places where the lagoon meets the sea.

  • The Experience

    The lagoon has an international reputation — they call it the "Hawaii of windsurfing and kitesurfing," and we understand why: flat water, steady wind. It's also where we take anyone who wants an unhurried SUP, family in tow.

  • Highlight

    The spectacle of the bar opening, when the lagoon unites with the ocean, is a natural event that renews local energy and biodiversity.

Praia do Luz: The Best-Kept Secret

Immediately adjacent to Ibirahill, Praia do Luz maintains a mystical and wild atmosphere. Historically less explored than its neighbors, it offers a wide stretch of sand and trails that wind through the hillside.

  • The Experience

    It's the refuge for those after isolation and silence. A wide stretch of sand, trails climbing the hill, and the most preserved sea in the region. At low tide, the SUP out to Ilha do Batuta is worth the whole morning.

  • Highlight

    In winter and spring, the Southern Right Whale chooses these calm waters to raise its calves. You watch them from the beach — or, if you'd rather, from the balcony of every house at Ibirahill.

Praia do Rosa: Vibration, Gastronomy & Surf

Voted one of the world's most beautiful bays, Praia do Rosa merges the rustic with the cosmopolitan. Once a fishing village and cattle-ranching settlement, today it draws surf, good food and people from all over, without losing the sand under its feet.

  • The Experience

    Divided between Rosa Sul (more vibrant with great beach clubs) and Rosa Norte (wilder and preferred by surfers), the beach offers consistent waves and a charming downtown with award-winning boutiques and bistros.

  • Highlight

    The contrast between the soundtrack of the waves and the aroma of fine dining emanating from hillside restaurants.

Beyond Luz and Rosa, the Imbituba coast hides a dozen more beaches worth knowing. Read: 10 Best Beaches Near Imbituba →

Gastronomic Tourism: Flavors of Santa Catarina Coast

The gastronomy of Imbituba and Garopaba is a chapter unto itself. Local cuisine celebrates Azorean heritage with fresh seafood and seasonal fish, harmonized with organic regional ingredients.

  • Rosa Bistros: Candlelit sophisticated dining experiences.
  • Mills & Markets: Cachaça, cassava flour and fresh fish, straight from Ibiraquera.
  • Our shortlist: where we eat, where we buy the fish, where the table is worth it. From caiçara cooking to fine dining. Explore Guia Ibira →
Restaurantes e gastronomia local em Ibiraquera e Praia do Rosa
Surf e kitesurf em Imbituba e Ibiraquera, Santa Catarina

Surf: the cluster of breaks around the hill

Ibirahill sits at the center of a handful of beaches surfers know well. In under 20 minutes, you reach any of them:

Praia do Ouvidor e Vermelha

Untouched nature and magnificent ecological trails.

Praia da Vila e Ribanceira

Known for heavy waves and Southern Right Whale watching.

Praia do Rosa

Where flawless surf meets a cosmopolitan scene.

Atividades em família na lagoa de Ibiraquera e praias de Imbituba

Leisure and family experiences

Far beyond the sand, the region offers total immersion:

  • Adventure: Sandboarding on the Siriú Dunes or skydiving over the ocean.
  • Tradition: Guided horseback rides on the trails linking Praia da Vila to Rosa.
  • Family: Agritourism experiences, educational farms and playgrounds.
  • Lifestyle: Local craft fairs and design boutiques in Garopaba.

Nightlife and local culture

When the sun goes down, the energy shifts. Nightlife in Praia do Rosa is small lounges, live music, and bars that fill up without a sign on the door. Barefoot by day, well-dressed by night.

Vida noturna e restaurantes no centrinho da Praia do Rosa

The logistics of your refuge

On Morro do Elegante, Ibirahill sits in the quiet of the hill, inside the forest — and minutes from each of these:

3 min

Praia do Luz and Ibiraquera Lagoon

10 min

Praia do Rosa village center

15 min

Dining hub and gourmet markets

See the Houses in Ibiraquera →
Fale conosco