Excellent article on Florianopolis in the San Diego Union Tribune:
Floripa has a high standard of living (very first world), yet it maintains a low-key island charm. Florianopolis is one of the wealthiest cities per capita in Brazil with a strong public sector employment base and a thriving business district. Although it only takes about 2 1/2 hours to drive from the northern to the southern tip of the island, it is quite diverse.
To Westerners, Florianopolis is relatively unknown, an undiscovered island paradise ideal for families, honeymooners, coastal adventurers, surfers, sun-worshipping beachgoers or party lovers. The Brazilian press has consistently voted Floripa as having the best quality of life in Brazil over the past decade.
About 95 percent of the tourists who visit there are from South America (primarily Brazilians but also Argentinians, Chileans, Uruguayans), with only a small fraction coming from Europe and North America. The demographics of visitors may help explain the authenticity of the local culture, unquestionably part of the charm of Floripa. But this little island has begun to get some international attention.
