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Campeche
Surfer, Eco-friendly, Residential🛡️ Safety RatingVery Good
💰 Avg 1BR Rent2,500 - 4,500 / month
✓ Key Pros
- Direct access to a huge surf beach
- New trendy cafes & organic shops
- Calmer and more relaxed
✗ Potential Cons
- Requires a car/scooter for most tasks
- Strong cold winds in winter
- Fewer formal coworking spaces
📸 Neighborhood Gallery
Campeche combines developed middle- and upper-class urban infrastructure with wild ocean nature, protected dunes, and a strong surf culture. It is an ideal spot in the south of Florianópolis island for expats seeking a balance between remote work and an active lifestyle by the water.📍 Size and population: Campeche is one of the largest and fastest-growing districts and neighborhoods of Florianópolis. Its area exceeds 35 km², and the official population of the entire district (including Rio Tavares and Morro das Pedras) is estimated to be between 45,000 and 55,000 people, multiplying during the peak summer season. This makes it a true 'city within a city' with its own schools, medical centers, and shopping malls.
Ocean and beach: character, waves, and features
Campeche beach is the longest on the southern side of Florianópolis island. Unlike the northern resorts (like Canasvieiras or Jurerê) where the water is calm like in a bay, Campeche faces the open Atlantic Ocean directly.- Water temperature and clarity: The water here is crystal clear, but cold (due to ocean currents from the south).
- Waves and surfing: The ocean in Campeche is "alive" and powerful, with a strong break and undertows (correntes de retorno). It is one of the island's main surf spots. A true legend of the area is Direitas do Campeche (Campeche right waves), which form during a strong south swell and northwest wind (vento terral). The waves become long, smooth, and fast, attracting professional surfers from all over Brazil.
- Swimming: The beach is not ideal for relaxed swimming with small children due to the constant shore break and depth starting quite close to the shore. However, for walking, running along the water's edge, and relaxing on the white sand, it is one of the best places on the island.
- Campeche Island (Ilha do Campeche): Directly opposite the beach lies the uninhabited island of the same name, declared a national archaeological and ecological heritage site. Unlike the ocean coast of the neighborhood itself, the water at Campeche Island is completely calm, turquoise, and transparent, resembling the Caribbean. You can get there by motorboats directly from Campeche beach in 15–20 minutes (depending on weather) or by schooners from Barra da Lagoa.
Lifestyle: Between the Little Prince and Silicon Valley
Campeche is unique in its urban history. In the 1920s, the French airline Société Latécoère built Florianópolis' first airfield here, used for refueling flights between Paris and Buenos Aires. A frequent guest and pilot on this line was writer Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. He befriended local fishermen, and in memory of this, the main artery of the district today is named Avenida Pequeno Príncipe (Avenue of the Little Prince).In the late 80s and early 90s, the city hall planned to turn this green plain into "Novo Campeche" — a giant tech hub with a racetrack, universities, and skyscrapers for 450,000 residents. The local community of native residents and environmentalists fiercely defended the district, forcing the plan to be canceled.Thanks to this, today Campeche is developing as an eco-friendly, low-rise, and green neighborhood. A special lifestyle has formed here:- Health and sports: Locals' morning starts with surfing, yoga on the beach, or functional training on the sand. Cycling is a full-fledged mode of transport.
- Expat and digital nomad culture: Many coworkings, specialty coffee shops, vegan and organic restaurants, craft breweries, and eco-markets have opened in the area. IT specialists from São Paulo, Europe, and North America actively relocate here.
- Environmental consciousness: Residents care deeply for nature. A wide strip of sand dunes and unique coastal vegetation (restinga) is legally protected around the beach, belonging to the Municipal Natural Park of Lagoa da Conceição Dunes. Inside the district, local freshwater bodies like Lagoa Pequena and Lagoa do Peri — great for children — are also preserved as family leisure spots.
- Panoramic hiking (Morro do Lampião): A popular hiking trail is Trilha do Morro do Lampião. It is an easy walk up (about 25 minutes) that rewards you with a stunning 360-degree view of the entire Campeche district, the ocean, and the island.
- Public spaces: Leisure centers like Oka Floripa and Campeche Park combine shops, organic farmers markets, skateparks, beach tennis courts, and diverse food parks.
Infrastructure features for living
Campeche officially includes not only the central part but also neighboring zones — Rio Tavares (in the north) and Morro das Pedras (in the south).| Parameter | Campeche District Infrastructure Features |
|---|---|
| Housing | Dominated by modern gated mid-rise condominiums (up to 3–4 floors) with pools and BBQ areas, as well as spacious private houses. A prominent place is the prestigious micro-neighborhood of Novo Campeche — an area with the most expensive real estate, stylish architecture, and direct access to the best part of the beach. |
| Logistics & Transport | A huge plus of the area is its strategic location. The Florianópolis International Airport (FLN) is only 10–15 minutes away via a modern highway. The city center (Centro) is about 20–25 minutes. During peak hours, traffic jams can occur on the SC-405 highway when entering the district from the bridges, though the construction of a new overpass has significantly improved the situation. |
| Safety | Considered one of the safest neighborhoods in Florianópolis. Gated condominiums have 24/7 security, and streets are patrolled. Residents walk safely in the evenings. |
| Commerce | All infrastructure is concentrated along Avenida Pequeno Príncipe and the Rodovia Francisco Magno Vieira highway: large supermarkets (Hiper Select, Fort Atacadista), private clinics, bilingual schools and kindergartens, fitness centers, and food parks. |
🏨 Where to stay: For initial acquaintance with the district, many quality options are available — from classic beach pousadas to highly-rated hotels (such as Hotel Natur Campeche and Pousada Makani Kai).
Pros and cons of moving
Why choose Campeche:
- Balance of nature and city: Ocean within walking distance, but without the feeling of isolation from civilization like in the deeper south of the island (e.g., in Pântano do Sul).
- Proximity to airport and center: Ideal for those who need to fly often for work or do business in the city's commercial center.
- Community: Easy to make friends among like-minded people — entrepreneurs, tech workers, surfers, and creative expats.
- Low-rise construction: No oppressive concrete high-rises, plenty of sky and sun.
What to be prepared for:
- Prices: The cost of renting and buying real estate in Campeche (especially in Novo Campeche) is one of the highest on the island and continues to rise on the wave of high demand.
- Ocean conditions: If you are looking for calm, lake-like water where you can easily float on an inflatable mattress or SUP board, Campeche will disappoint you. You will have to go to Lagoa da Conceição or northern beaches for that.
- Seasonal traffic: In January and February (the peak of Brazilian summer), the influx of tourists fills the main streets with cars, and queues appear in supermarkets and restaurants.
Summary for the portal: Campeche is the choice of active, mobile, and modern expats who want to live by a real, powerful ocean, appreciate ecology and a healthy lifestyle, but still want to be able to reach the airport terminal in 15 minutes.