Make It a Longer Trip
Extend Your Trip
Rio de Janeiro
Flight time from Florianópolis: ~1.5 hrs, direct
In Rio de Janeiro, don't miss the city's classics — Christ the Redeemer, Sugarloaf Mountain, and the beaches of Copacabana and Ipanema. For those looking for a more tranquil stay while still experiencing the best of the region, Paraty and Búzios are wonderful — quieter coastal towns with colonial charm and island-hopping by boat, each about a 2.5 to 4-hour drive from Rio de Janeiro. Paraty is a beautifully preserved, car-free Portuguese colonial town, with cobblestone streets that flood at high tide and boat tours through more than 60 islands in its bay. Búzios, once a sleepy fishing village, became a jet-set destination after Brigitte Bardot vacationed there in the 1960s — today it's known for beach-hopping (there are more than 20), lively evenings along Rua das Pedras, and boutique shopping.
Where to Stay
Fasano Rio de Janeiro
Casa Turquesa, Paraty
Vila d'Este, Búzios
Amazon
Flight time from Florianópolis: ~6 hrs, with connection to Manaus
If a boat-based, water-level jungle adventure sounds like your kind of trip, March is a beautiful and uncrowded time to go: the Amazon is in its wet, or "high-water," season, when rivers swell and flood the forest, opening up channels you can only explore by canoe or kayak, gliding beneath the canopy at eye level with sloths, monkeys, and macaws. It's also one of the best times to spot pink river dolphins and giant otters, as they move into the newly flooded creeks. Hiking trails are mostly underwater this time of year, though — if you'd rather explore on foot, the dry season from June to October is a better fit.
Where to Stay
Alagoas
Flight time from Florianópolis: ~4 hrs, with connection
In Alagoas, also in Brazil's Northeast, São Miguel dos Milagres — the "Brazilian Caribbean" — is especially well timed, as its dry season runs through mid-March, meaning calm, turquoise natural pools. It sits along the Costa dos Corais, a quieter stretch of coastline dotted with coconut groves and small fishing villages, where jangada boats ferry you out to the reef pools to swim among the fish. It's a slower, more secluded alternative to the region's bigger resort towns. Rent a bike or buggy to explore the coastal road linking the villages, stopping at beach kiosks along the way for fresh coconut water and grilled shrimp. It's about a 4-hour flight from Floripa with a connection.
Where to Stay
Pantanal
Flight time from Florianópolis: ~6 hrs, with connection to Cuiabá
For the adventurous, the Pantanal — the world's largest tropical wetland — is worth the detour. March falls in the wet season, when rivers overflow and the plains flood into a lush, mirror-like landscape. It's not peak season for concentrated jaguar sightings (that's better between June and October, when animals cluster around shrinking waterholes), but it's prime time for birdwatching, with migratory species arriving in force and water lilies in bloom, while boat safaris still turn up caimans, capybaras, and the occasional jaguar along rivers like the Cuiabá. Expect lodges reached by boat or small plane, muddy trails, and a quieter, greener side of the wetlands with far fewer visitors.
Where to Stay
Bahia
Flight time from Florianópolis: ~4 hrs, with connection
In Bahia, in Brazil's Northeast, Trancoso and Salvador are gorgeous and sunny — about a 4-hour flight from Floripa with a connection. Salvador's historic Pelourinho is full of colorful colonial architecture, live music, and Afro-Brazilian culture, while Trancoso is known for its laid-back charm around the Quadrado and its stunning beaches. The Quadrado is a grassy square lined with colorful fishermen's houses and anchored by a 16th-century church, coming alive each evening with bossa nova, artisan stalls, and candlelit restaurants. A short walk away, Praia dos Nativos and Praia dos Coqueiros are two of Trancoso's most popular beaches, with calm, warm water and beach clubs right on the sand.
Where to Stay
Paraná
Flight time from Florianópolis: ~1 hr, direct to Curitiba
Paraná is home to Iguaçu Falls, one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World — about a 3-hour flight from Floripa with a connection. Expect a thundering wall of nearly 300 waterfalls stretching almost two miles along the Brazil–Argentina border, with walkways that bring you close enough to feel the spray, and the falls still running powerfully from the summer rains this time of year.
If you only have a short time, you can stay in Curitiba instead. Don't miss the Ópera de Arame, Parque Tanguá, and Bosque do Alemão. From there, take the famous train ride, considered one of the 10 most beautiful train rides in the world, it's approximately 4 hours through the Atlantic Forest, to Morretes, a small colonial town founded in the 1700s at the foot of the Serra do Mar. Its cobblestone streets are lined with pastel-colored colonial houses and craft shops, all set along the Nhundiaquara River — worth a stroll, or even a float down its clear waters. Once there, be sure to try barreado, Morretes' iconic dish — beef slow-cooked for hours in a sealed clay pot, served with rice, banana, and manioc flour.
Where to Stay in Curitiba
Uruguay
Flight time from Florianópolis: ~2 hrs
And just across the border, Punta del Este in Uruguay is a glamorous beach town about a 2-hour flight away, right in its own lovely shoulder season — warm, sunny, and quieter than peak summer. Its beaches, harbor, and the giant hand sculpture rising from the sand are the city's icons, and its restaurant and nightlife scene is often compared to Miami or Ibiza. About 40 minutes up the coast, the quieter village of José Ignacio makes an easy day trip, with its lighthouse, white-sand beaches, and low-key restaurants right on the sand.
Where to Stay
Argentina
Flight time from Florianópolis: ~2.5 hrs, direct to Buenos Aires
On the other side of the continent, Buenos Aires is Argentina's grand, European-flavored capital — about a 2.5-hour direct flight from Floripa. Wander the cobblestone streets and tango bars of San Telmo, take in the Belle Époque architecture of Recoleta, and end the day with a proper Argentine steak and a glass of Malbec. It's also an easy jumping-off point for the Argentine side of Iguazú Falls, if you'd like to see the falls from both countries.
Where to Stay
Faena Hotel Buenos Aires
Palacio Duhau – Park Hyatt Buenos Aires
Palladio Hotel Buenos Aires
Save for Another Time
A few of Brazil's other bucket-list trips just don't line up with March, so consider this a note for another visit rather than a full itinerary. Bonito's rivers are legendary for their clarity, but March rain sends sediment into the water — wait until April through October, when the current runs clear enough to see straight to the riverbed. Fernando de Noronha is at its stillest and sunniest from August to January; March, unfortunately, is one of its rainiest months. The lagoons of Lençóis Maranhenses are still filling in March — come back May through September, once they're brimming and the worst of the rain has passed. And Brazil's great highland parks, the Chapadas of Diamantina and dos Veadeiros, along with Barra do Garças, are best explored on foot between May and September, when the trails are dry and the waterfalls, while smaller, are safe to reach. All extraordinary. Just not this month.
