Florianopolis, or the locally named, Floripa, is the new Brazilian hotspot for Argentines in search of a paradise away from home.

Just a few years ago Floripa was merely a quiet island inhabited by locals and die-hard surfers. Today, it is one of the trendiest resort towns in all of South America. In fact, Floripa gets more tourists in the summer than any other place in Brazil, aside from Rio. Yes, the place is gorgeous, with its sprawling 777 square meters of pristine white sand beaches, rain forest covered hills, and emerald lagoons, but why the sudden popularity craze?

Perhaps it had something to do with Veja Magazine naming it one of the best and safest places to live in Brazil. This sounded very appealing to wealthy urbanites and sophisticated Argentine vacationers who were tired of the increased crime rates in Rio and Sao Paulo. In the last few years, many people have been buying up beach homes, including Argentine ex-pats.

The main scene is at the Lagoa da Conceicao, a village set around the main lagoon in the heart of the village. Here you'll find surfers and sunbathers at the beach and tourists being ferried to nearby restaurants. The sidewalks by the beach are lined with hip coffee shops, surf shops, and seafood restaurants, giving it the feel of a bohemian beach town. Um Rosa is also known for its excellent seafood.

Confraria das Artes, a sprawling indoor/outdoor nightclub with a clothing boutique and art gallery, is the place to be seen at night. Frequent celebrity sightings have included supermodel Gisele Bundchen and local tennis star Gustavo Kuerten. With this mix of culture, beautiful beaches, cuisine, and nightlife, it is no surprise that this has caught the attention of a new demographic of travelers from Argentina that is both trendy and family-friendly.

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About the Author Michael Zurakhinsky has been a professional travel writer for over seven years. He is an editor to the website BrazilTravelInformation - an online travel guide to Brazil and South America.

First Published: Oct 20, 2007