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Itajaí
About Itajaí
After five visits to Rio de Janeiro it’s time to branch out. And this port at the mouth of the Itajaí River, certainly is a different prospect.
Itajaí has always been a strategic stop. On Brazil`s colonization, this region was a crossing way to Rio da Prata, a Spanish area of interest. In the beginning of XIX century, the need of protection the area encourages de settlement of the region.
People from Itajaí are known for the fishing, good reception and the extremely beauty and quality of life. Itajai is the second best city to live in Santa Catarina. The city provides a strong multicultural identity. Part of the charm of the region is the quirky, slightly surreal manner in which parts of Europe – especially Germany – seem to have been duplicated in a tropical form. You can be immersed in the beauty of South America, sampling the weather and way of life. The majority of the population is reportedly of German, Portuguese and Italian ancestry, the result of mass immigration from Europe early in the nineteenth century. The principal festival of Itajaí, called Marejada, is a Portuguese celebration of fishing and seafood, happening always in October.
The Port of Itajaí is the responsible of the Itajaí Valley development. As a door to the hole world, it helped the urbanization of the cities around because of the privileged geography position and for being the best way to boosting the regional economy. Today it is the main port of Santa Catarina and the second largest in Brazil in terms of the movement of containers.
The main produce of the city is paper and textiles, along with lumber, starch, vegetable oil and tobacco, and it is also the largest exporter of chicken in Brazil. Thanks to the incredible beauty of the area, tourism is quickly becoming a major industry.
Indeed, the lure of this city and the wider state is its understated profile yet stunning appearance, landing the region a variety of national tourism awards. Itajaí has stunning beaches, abundant rural areas of natural beauty, perfect for swimming, surfing or just a walk by the seashore. And, as you might expect for any city in Brazil, there is no shortage of lively bars and clubs to entertain the influx.
Did you know: every September Itajaí hosts one of the biggest festivals of traditional music in Brazil.
Things to do in Itajaí
For the quietly or electrical, Itajaí provides since the family tour until the adventure rides.
Beaches
Among the most popular beaches are the Praia de Cabeçudas and Amores, separated from one another by rocks and hills. Praia de Cabecudas features a tranquil and blissful environment coupled with several yachting competitions. Otherwise, in Praia de Amores guests can enjoy nature feel and a 480 foot platform for a bit of free flight.
If you want to surf Praia Brava is the best place. It packs a lot of people in high season, with clean waters, restaurants, bars and nightclubs, surrounded by lush forest. Some people who need health should go to the Praia do Morcego, a place recommended for digestive and respiratory treatment.
10 kilometres to the south is the popular beach resort Balneário Camboriú, famous for its unique cable car which links the two beaches of Balneário Camboriú and Laranjeiras.
Molhes da Barra
The pier Barra da Praia do Atalaia is one of the most popular scenic points of the city, providing the perfect place to watch the traffic on the Rio Itajaí-Acu. It's also a great spot for a bit of of fishing.
Morro da Cruz
It`s an amazing view of the city. You can go there for paragliding flight or just watch the Rio Itajaí meting the South Atlantic Ocean on the sunset or sunrise.
Itajaí Valley
In the valleys of the Rio Itajaí there are 46 towns and villages which still retain a rich European heritage thanks to the early immigrants. The German settlers who came first were followed by Italians, Czechs, Russians, Austrians, Poles and Ukrainians, all contributing to the European mosaic of this region. There are a lot of beaches to sunbath and some waterfalls to discover.
Marejada
The Marejada is the principal festival of Itajaí, a Portuguese celebration of fishing and seafood held in October. It is two weeks of great food, a lot of wine and beer and dancing parties to enjoy.
Restaurants and Night
The town has a variety of coffee houses, fine and traditional restaurants and eclectic bars that you will make your meals and nights occupied. If you want a great gastronomical experience, take a walk at The Avenue Side River. For a lively late night music and dancing, check out the Warung Beach Club, elected three times one of the best places to dance in the world.
Secondary Content
Local Info
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By Car
Driving to Itajai is pretty easy via the highway BR 101 from Florianópolis, BR 116 & 376 from São Paulo and Paraná. Distance from other cities: Florianopolis: 80 km - Blumenau: 80 km - Curitiba: 220 km - Porto Alegre: 550 km - São Paulo: 660 km
By Bus
There are plenty of options to get into the city by bus.
By Train
There are no trains available to Itajai.
By Plane
The nearest airport is Ministro Victor Konder in Navegantes city (NVT) 20 km across the river from Itajai. This aiport only has flights to and from Congonhas airport (CGH) located in São Paulo city. The flight takes around one hour. Two flight providers are TAM www.tam.com.br and GOL www.voegol.com.br. You can travel by bus or by taxi to Itajai, either via the ferry crossing from Navegantes or by the bridge route further upriver.
Another option for travellers is Florianopolis Intermational Airport (FLN) which is located about 90 km south of Itajai. This airport has more route options such as Rio de Janeiro and Porto Alegre.
