Pair a visit to a 5,000-year-old indigenous shell mound — a sambaqui burial site of extraordinary archaeological significance — with an afternoon in Joinville, the 'City of Orchids,' renowned for its Teutonic colonial architecture and world-class dance festival heritage.
What to expect
Begin at the Sambaqui archaeological site on the island's interior, where pre-Columbian shell middens rise several metres high — your guide decodes the burial customs, diet, and cosmology of the peoples who shaped the bay for millennia. Drive across to the mainland to Joinville, where the Museu de Arte de Joinville and the spectacular orchid gardens of the Bosque Nativo await. Lunch is at a traditional German-Brazilian restaurant, with schnitzel and craft beer reflecting the immigrant heritage. A final stroll through Joinville's tree-lined Rua das Palmeiras — one of Brazil's most beautiful avenues — closes the day before the return to port.
Good to know
Joinville is approx. 45 min from the pier. This is a full-day excursion (6–7 hours); confirm well against your all-aboard. Pre-book the private vehicle to guarantee timely return. Best on days with early all-aboard (6 pm or later).
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
- Centro Histórico Private Walking Tour: Brazil's Third-Oldest City
- 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