For the neighbourhood in São Paulo, see São Paulo/Southeast.

Penha is a city of 33,000 people (2020) in Santa Catarina. The city has the title of "National Seafood Capital", being nationally known for hosting the famous Beto Carrero World theme park.

Understand

Igreja de São João Batista

The city of Penha is a great setting for moments of leisure, fun and rest. Located on the north coast of Santa Catarina, it has 19 beautiful beaches – the largest number in the state – and the largest multi-theme park in Latin America, Beto Carrero World.

Another highlight is the typical cuisine based on seafood. The city is one of the main seafood producers in the country and its restaurants offer tasty and different dishes.

The Azorean culture is present everywhere, through the parties, dance, traditions and simple customs of its people.

When it comes to infrastructure, the city is ready to receive visitors from the most diverse places in the country and abroad. Lodging, gastronomy, leisure, shopping, support services are some of the options it offers.

Get in

By plane

Navegantes International Airport is the closest, about 10 km from the center of Penha and which operates the main airlines. Florianópolis is 114 km along the BR 101 in a northerly direction.

By car

Access via BR 101, following the coast. There are two entrances, the southern one gives direct access to the Beto Carreiro World park, arriving later in the city. The entrance to the north takes the driver directly to the city center, passing through the portal of the Secretariat of Tourism.

By bus

Penha does not have a bus terminal. To get to the city by bus, first go to neighboring Piçarras, which has lines from Curitiba and Florianópolis, among other cities. In Piçarras, the ring line of the company Rainha makes the journey to Penha daily. From Florianópolis, there are two companies with lines to Balneário Piçarras, Catarinense and Reunidas, with daily departures. Catarinense also has a line coming from Curitiba.

Get around

There are many taxis. The local buses do not have a central terminal.

See

• 1 Igreja de São João Batista, Av. São João, Praia da Armação. With colonial architecture, it was built in 1759 and houses the image of its patron saint, São João Batista. This image was made in Portugal, in the Baroque style and is in the Church since its inauguration. The church also houses the image of Nossa Senhora da Piedade. 
• Balneário Piçarras is a coastal town just north of Penha.

Beaches

Penha stands out for its 19 beaches with impressive natural beauty - the largest number on the coast of Santa Catarina, spread over 31 km of coastline.

• Praia Alegre, on the border with the municipality of Balneário Piçarras, has calm waters, suitable for bathing and water sports. Kiosks, snack bars and ice cream parlors, in addition to leafy and centennial trees make up its edge.
• An excellent choice for sunbathing and sea bathing, Praia da Saudade is an unforgettable spot. 1 Bacia da Vovó and Praia da Lola are two stretches that stand out for the beauty of their cliffs and natural pools surrounded by rocks. They are suitable places for pitch fishing.
• Surf lovers will find in Praia do Quilombo and Praia Grande the perfect settings to “float” in the well-formed waves.
• For boat rides, speedboats and yachts, or for sport fishing, Praia da Armação is a must – the longest beach in the city. It concentrates high standard residences distributed in its almost 6 km. Next, separated by rocks, is Praia da Fortaleza and Praia do Manguinho, impeccable havens of rare beauty. They are good alternatives for crab fishing.
• Praia da Cancela has a unique beauty and is compared by many to a natural pool. It has rocks in the sand of the beach and in the sea and, through the stones, it gives way to Praia do Trapiche, popular name of Praia de Armação do Itapocorói, where the largest theme park in Latin America is located, Beto Carrero World and place that gave rise to beginning of the colonization of the region with whale fishing. Tree-lined along its entire length (800 m), it provides comfort for parents and safety for children.
• Small, with preserved nature and great beauty, Praia da Paciência is one of the most exuberant beaches in the region. From there, it is possible to access Ponta da Vigia – which guarantees a privileged view of the coastline. Praia do Poá has clean waters and is a totally wild setting, providing greater integration with nature.
• For those who enjoy ecotourism, Penha has one of the best beaches of its kind in the whole country. This is Praia Vermelha, with open sea and rocks, with strong waves and untouched nature. Through ecological trails, it is possible to access other lush beaches such as Praia do São Roque, Praia do Monge, Praia do Caminho and Praia do Lucas, as well as waterfalls overlooking the sea.
• The extreme south of the city of Penha is formed by Prainha de São Miguel. There is a strong Azorean culture, preserved in the fishing village.

Do

Beto Carrero World

• 1 Beto Carrero World, R. Inacio Francisco de Souza, 1597 Armação Beach, ☏ +47 3261-2222. The largest theme park in Latin America, is installed in 14 million m² of one of the most beautiful regions of the Brazilian coast, in the resort of Penha, north of Santa Catarina. With more than 100 attractions for all ages, the leisure center offers a complete infrastructure of services, from restaurants, snack bars, ice cream parlors, baby changing facilities, luggage storage, souvenir shops, parking and lots of security. The park has shows, rides of different sizes and styles, train and cable car rides, themed areas and a zoo. In the high season months (Jan, Feb, Jul, Nov, Dec) the park is open daily, between 10:00 and 19:00. In other months, it is open from Thursday to Sunday, also from 10:00 and 19:00. Ticket offices open at 09:00; End of park activities at 18:00. One-day pass: adult 5-59 R$119, senior 60+ R$60. (updated Feb 2023)

Eat

In Penha you can find typical Azorean cuisine and influences from Italian and German cuisine, in addition to traditional seafood. In the fishermen's colonies it is still very common to serve seafood with manioc mush, grilled dogfish on the grill, stewed Cambeva dogfish, cockles cooked in corn straw to remove the “sarro” (strength), and the traditional cassava flour accompanying any dish. Recipes based on mariculture are being disseminated in various parts of the country through contests of the genre and the Seafood Festival, an event that takes place every year between the months of January and February and brings together thousands of people from all over the country. Homemade jams can be found in the interior of the municipality, based on typical fruits and seasonings of Germanic cuisine.

Sleep

Penha has an infrastructure capable of meeting the needs of visitors with well-structured hotels and inns.

Get in touch with the accommodation center in Penha: ☏ +47 3345-5780

Go next

• Itajaí

Routes through Penha

Balneário Camboriú ← Itajaí ←

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