Step into one of Brazil's oldest continuously inhabited cities — founded in 1658 — with a private local historian guiding you through cobblestone lanes, Baroque churches, and pastel-façaded colonial mansions untouched by mass tourism. A living open-air museum of extraordinary rarity.
What to expect
Begin at the 17th-century Igreja Matriz Nossa Senhora da Graça, one of the finest colonial churches in Santa Catarina, then wind through the Bairro Histórico where Portuguese merchant houses line streets unchanged for centuries. Your guide illuminates the city's role as a gateway for Azorean and German settlers, and points out the subtle Dutch and Jesuit architectural fingerprints. End at the Morro da Boa Vista belvedere, where a sweeping panorama of bay, sea, and jungle rewards the short climb.
Good to know
The historic center is within 10 minutes walk of the cruise pier. Wear comfortable shoes on the cobbles. Tours are 2.5–3 hours; ideal to book the morning slot to be back aboard with ease.
Sail there
Luxury cruises that call at Sao Francisco do Sul — book through us, the fare is identical and your concierge stays on your side.
More to do in Sao Francisco do Sul
- Babitonga Bay Private Boat Tour: Islands, Dolphins & Mangroves
- Museu Nacional do Mar: Private Expert-Led Maritime Deep Dive
- Dolphin & Whale Watching Eco-Expedition: Babitonga Bay
- Enseada Beach & Forte Beach: Private Coastal Half-Day Escape
- Sambaqui Archaeological Site & Colonial Joinville Day Journey