Florianópolis is where a great many Argentines spend their summer holidays: the capital of Santa Catarina state sits mostly on an island in southern Brazil, ringed by beaches. From Buenos Aires you can fly, take a long-distance bus or drive, and the right choice depends on the size of your party, the time you have and your patience for two days on the road.
Flying
Florianópolis has an international airport. In the summer season there are usually direct flights from Buenos Aires; during the rest of the year a connection in another Brazilian city is more common. January and February flights fill early, so book ahead. Check which Buenos Aires airport you leave from, because the ride to Ezeiza is very different from the ride to Aeroparque. On arrival you will need a way to get around, as the beaches are spread all over the island.
Long-distance bus
International buses run from Retiro terminal towards southern Brazil, with more departures in summer. It is a very long ride with a night on board and a stop for border formalities. Ask the operator whether the service is direct and on which dates it runs. Tickets are per person, so the bus works out better for one or two travellers than for a family.
Driving
This is the classic choice of Argentine families. The most used route goes up Ruta Nacional 14 to Paso de los Libres, crosses the bridge to Uruguaiana, continues across Rio Grande do Sul state to Porto Alegre and then heads north on BR-101, the coastal highway. Other crossings exist further north, in Corrientes and Misiones provinces.
Hardly anyone drives it in one go; an overnight stop is normal. In January and February the borders and BR-101 get very busy. In your own car you need the vehicle’s papers and insurance valid in Brazil. In a hire car you need the rental company’s permission to leave Argentina.
The border
At the crossing you pass Argentine exit control and then Brazilian entry control. Queues vary by day and are longer in high season. Every passenger, children included, carries their own valid travel document. Which document is accepted depends on nationality and must be checked with the official migration authority of each country. Children travelling without both parents usually need an authorisation, so check the rule that applies to you.
And a private transfer
To be plain: for a couple with two suitcases, the plane wins. A road trip with a driver makes sense for a family or group that fills a vehicle, carries a lot of luggage or a pet, and does not want to drive that far in a foreign country. The trip is planned with stops and, as a rule, one night on the way. Availability of the route and the exact conditions are confirmed when you book, and we never promise a crossing time. More routes are listed under transfers from Argentina to Brazil.