Six days in Laguna: from the centre to the lighthouse, with a day in Itapirubá

Two bases to follow the changing landscape

You can plan six days in Laguna with a change of scenery halfway through: first, historic houses, museums and Canal da Barra; then, Santa Marta Lighthouse and nearby beaches. We suggest staying in the centre or Mar Grosso until the morning of day four and then changing accommodation. Visit Itapirubá before that move, while you are still based in the urban area.

Choose the centre if you want to emphasise walking between squares and museums. Mar Grosso suits those who prefer fitting the seafront between outings and staying near access to Praia dos Botos. For the second stay, look around Farol with visits to Prainha, Cardoso and Cigana in mind. These are location choices for this itinerary, without recommending a particular hotel.

The count here is six full sightseeing days, excluding arrival and departure. When booking, include those nights and your travel times too. This is one way to enjoy six available days, not a compulsory length of stay for exploring Laguna.

Arrive by car and organise the crossing before moving

This route was designed for travellers with a car. The tourism portal lists BR-101 for access from the north and SC-100 via Jaguaruna for arriving in the Farol de Santa Marta area from the south. Jaguaruna and Florianópolis airports are listed as arrival gateways; choose according to your route and organise ground transport without relying on a fixed journey time.

When changing base, the ferry carries vehicles and passengers, with boarding listed at Rua Pedro Rosa, 27, Magalhães. It is separate from the Molhes da Barra passenger boat. Check operation before setting off with your luggage: the land alternative goes via the south, through Jaguaruna and SC-100, and requires reorganising the journey.

Jaguaruna appears here as an access route. The only municipality added to the sightseeing is Imbituba, on the Itapirubá day and, if chosen, for Museu da Baleia. This keeps the itinerary focused and leaves room to enjoy each place.

Day 1: two squares and two visits to discover Laguna

Start in Praça República Juliana and Museu Histórico Anita Garibaldi, in the former Câmara e Cadeia building on Rua Raulino Horn. The collection brings together archaeological material, household objects and pieces related to Laguna’s cultural development. It is a good introduction to the city before heading out to look at its façades.

The suggested walk continues past historic houses to Praça Vidal Ramos. The Historic Centre has federal heritage protection, and the buildings between stops are part of the route’s appeal. Observe doors, windows and decoration without turning the morning into a race between sights.

In Praça Vidal Ramos, visit Casa de Anita beside Igreja Matriz Santo Antônio dos Anjos. This is a separate venue, with a section devoted to Anita’s life and participation in the Ragamuffin War. Together, the visits give the day two focuses: Laguna’s development and the life of a figure linked to its history.

The official information consulted indicates museum visits from Tuesday to Sunday but gives conflicting hours. Confirm with Fundação Lagunense de Cultura. On 4 October 2026, both will be exceptionally closed; on that date, visit Mar Grosso and Praia dos Botos and reschedule the indoor museum visits for another day.

Day 2: Canal da Barra and Mar Grosso’s seafront

Devote the first part of the day to Praia dos Botos on the northern bank of Canal da Barra, accessed through Mar Grosso. Go to observe the landscape and fishing culture. When cooperation happens, dolphins drive the shoals and fishers cast their nets in response to the animals’ signals — knowledge recognised as state intangible cultural heritage.

Watch from the bank without treating the encounter as a scheduled performance. The dolphins are wild, and the activity may not happen during your visit. The outing remains worthwhile for the contact with the channel and understanding of the relationship between fishing and nature.

Then continue to Mar Grosso’s seafront. The promenade allows a change of pace and an afternoon walking beside the beach. If you prefer more heritage, an alternative is returning to the centre and exploring the historic houses between Praça República Juliana and Praça Vidal Ramos at leisure.

Day 3: Itapirubá, between conservation and the beach

Leave your urban base for the Itapirubá day trip. The beach is divided between Laguna and Imbituba: its southern section belongs to Laguna, while Instituto Australis’s Visitor Centre is in Itapirubá Norte, Imbituba. We suggest beginning with the visit and leaving the sea for later.

At Espaço Australis, the skeleton of a 14-metre adult southern right whale helps convey the animal’s size. Educational materials, a video room and content about marine wildlife complete the experience. The operator lists service Tuesday to Saturday, 09:00–12:00 and 14:00–17:00, and requests booking at least 72 hours in advance for the scheduled experience, subject to availability.

Afterwards, keep the afternoon for exploring Itapirubá beach. Between July and November, the southern right whale breeding season reported by the institute, there is an extra seasonal reason to watch the sea. Even so, plan the day around the visit and beach: whale sightings are not guaranteed.

For a cultural afternoon, replace the beach with Museu da Baleia at Barracão Manoel Rosa on Rua Itagiba, Praia do Porto. The museum explores whaling and whale protection. It is elsewhere in Imbituba, so allow for the extra journey and confirm opening before continuing. There is no need to fit both venues and a long beach afternoon into one day.

Day 4: lunch in Ponta da Barra and luggage on the way to Farol

Use day four to change accommodation, stopping in Ponta da Barra before continuing to Farol. If using the ferry, confirm operation before leaving your first base. The portal publishes phone (48) 3646-0887 and WhatsApp (48) 99183-3400; do not rely on a guaranteed crossing duration.

Our lunch suggestion is Geraldo Restaurante at Rua Vereador Tomé Machado de Souza, 45, Ponta da Barra. Its official website describes its seafood cuisine, connecting the stop with a day devoted to the fishing area. Confirm opening hours using the restaurant’s official contact details: Tuesday does not appear among the published opening days.

To include a walk, Praia do Gravatá has foot access from Ponta da Barra. Treat it as optional, after checking local path conditions. The available information supports the access route but does not guarantee the trail’s current state.

After lunch — and Gravatá, if chosen — continue to your accommodation at Farol de Santa Marta. Without the extra walk, there may be time to explore Prainha that day. With it, leave Prainha for the following day and change base without rushing.

Day 5: Santa Marta Lighthouse with time for Prainha

Now that you are staying in the area, devote a day to Santa Marta Lighthouse and Prainha. Start with the lighthouse exterior, where the Navy permits daytime access without booking. Entry inside can complement the outing, provided it is confirmed.

The published rule for interior visits requires an email request at least two working days in advance and mandatory confirmation. Listed days are Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays at 10:00. The page also provides for visits without booking on the first weekend of each month in exchange for non-perishable food; consult the Navy directly for this option’s conditions.

Rain or very strong winds may cancel the visit. Without interior entry, keep the visit to the lighthouse grounds in your itinerary when conditions permit and continue to Prainha, between Morro do Farol and Morro Azul. This combination leaves time to explore the beach and return to your accommodation without another major journey.

Day 6: Cardoso and Cigana, with fishing on the horizon

Begin the final full day at Praia do Cardoso. Alongside the landscape, fishing sheds near the rocky headland show how fishing forms part of this coast. We suggest walking and observing the surroundings without assuming access to workplaces.

Then continue to Praia da Cigana, also associated with artisanal fishing in the municipal description. The combination broadens the view beyond the lighthouse: you end the trip exploring beaches and communities that continue the theme introduced at Canal da Barra.

To reduce travel, spend longer at Cardoso and return to Prainha, leaving Cigana for another visit. The day’s purpose is to explore this stretch of coast at leisure; the itinerary does not depend on swimming, and the sources used do not confirm current bathing conditions.

Adjust the sequence to your travel calendar

Settle the day order before finalising bookings. The Australis visit, listed Tuesday to Saturday, and museum visiting days guide the first part. In the second, fit in lighthouse entry only if it matters to you and is confirmed. It is also worth placing lunch in Ponta da Barra on a Geraldo opening day.

For those travelling now, there is a dated exception: Casa de Anita and Museu Histórico Anita Garibaldi will be closed on 4 October 2026. Swapping that day with Praia dos Botos and Mar Grosso keeps the trip moving without missing the museums.

The programme was consulted on 3 October 2026. The Dia de Baleiólogo editions found took place in September 2026, and the municipal summer programme found referred to the season ending at Carnival 2026. These publications do not confirm future events to add to the itinerary; that does not mean there is no local programme. The regular Australis visit is the activity considered here.

Turn the itinerary into organised luggage and a budget

With both bases defined, use Mala Inteligente to turn the trip into a checklist. Consider walks in the centre, beach days and the change of accommodation. One practical suggestion is to set aside what you intend to use on the Ponta da Barra day, avoiding reorganising all your luggage during the move.

In the cost calculator, enter your intended accommodation, food and transport spending in reais. Include fuel, any crossing and the nights needed for arrival and departure. The result is an illustrative estimate with editable figures, not a quotation.

If you decide to expand the day trip, use the Imbituba page as your next research point. Within these six days, the proposal already offers a clear choice: Itapirubá with Instituto Australis, replacing the beach afternoon with Museu da Baleia when you prefer more culture.

Which option suits you?

Your itinerary, ready to save

Before you go

• Allow six full sightseeing days and add arrival and departure; check how many nights this means at each base.
• Confirm Museu Histórico Anita Garibaldi and Casa de Anita hours with Fundação Lagunense de Cultura: the official pages consulted give conflicting times.
• If your trip includes 4 October 2026, move the museums to another day: an exceptional closure is confirmed for that date.
• Arrange your visit to Instituto Australis at least 72 hours in advance, according to the published guidance, and wait for confirmation of availability.
• Before changing accommodation, check the vehicle ferry by phone on (48) 3646-0887 or WhatsApp (48) 99183-3400. The Molhes boat is for passengers.
• Check Geraldo Restaurante’s service for your chosen day; the website consulted does not list Tuesday opening.
• Check local conditions along the walking route to Gravatá before including it on moving day.
• To enter the lighthouse, follow the Navy’s procedure and confirm the visit. Rain or very strong winds may cause cancellation; drones are prohibited, and visitors may not remain on site at night.
• If choosing Museu da Baleia, confirm visits through the published contact, (48) 3255-0268, and allow for the additional journey to Praia do Porto.
• Build a budget in reais using your own accommodation, food and transport figures, including nights related to arrival and departure.

Questions to help you decide