Praia do Matadeiro, Beach in south Florianopolis, Brazil
Praia do Matadeiro is a beach on the southern edge of Santa Catarina Island, near Florianópolis, tucked between rocky hillsides. The sand stretches along a fairly short but open shoreline, with calm water and little development around it.
The beach takes its name from 1785, when it served as a processing site for whales caught during Brazil's whaling operations. That industry has long since ended, but the name stayed.
Local fishing families still use this beach as a working landing point for their boats and gear. You can watch fishermen going about their daily routines along the shoreline.
Getting there requires crossing the Quinca Antônio River on foot, so wear shoes you do not mind getting wet. There are very few places to buy food or drinks nearby, so it helps to bring your own supplies.
Between July and November, whales can sometimes be spotted from Ponta das Campanhas, a rocky point that once served as a lookout post for the whaling industry. The same spot used to track whales for hunting now offers a chance to simply watch them pass by.
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