What it feels like
Pontal Norte is the northern end of Praia Central, where the city’s towers stop and the forested headland begins. Locals also call this area Barra Norte; it is the same place. It is not an official neighbourhood: the name covers the stretch of Avenida Atlântica and Avenida Brasil north of Centro, plus the streets of Pioneiros behind it.
It is the same beach and the same seafront avenue as Centro, but it feels more residential. Traffic is lighter and the sand is usually less crowded, even in high season. The Big Wheel, the boardwalk round the hill and the views back over the bay also make it one of the most visited corners of BC.
Where it is and how it connects
The area runs from the northern edge of Centro up to the headland. Centro’s shops are a walk or short ride south along the beach. The numbered cross streets on this side of Avenida Central have odd numbers (see How street numbers work in our Centro guide).
At the north end of Avenida Atlântica, the Estrada da Rainha, a road of about 1 km, climbs over the hill past the Big Wheel to Praia dos Amores and Praia Brava.
This is the best-connected part of BC for the north. The northern exit to the BR-101 is close, which makes the drive to Navegantes airport (NVT, about 35 km from the city by road, usually around 40 minutes) a little easier than from Barra Sul. Florianópolis airport (FLN) is about 87 to 94 km south, roughly 1 hour 15 to 1 hour 20 minutes.
The Big Wheel
The FG Big Wheel (now often called Roda FG) stands on the hillside at Estrada da Rainha 1009. It is 65 metres in diameter and its top is about 82 metres above sea level. It has 36 air-conditioned cabins for up to six people each (operator figures).
It is a landmark and a tourist attraction, so the area around it is busy on summer evenings and weekends.
The beach and the coast
The north tip of Praia Central is the calmest part of the bay. Like the rest of Praia Central, the beach was widened in 2021, to around 70 metres.
Water quality at this end has tended to be better than in the middle of the beach. In the IMA-SC report of 15 September 2026, the test points at Pontal Norte (Avenida Atlântica 225), Rua 1001 and Rua 51 were rated fit for bathing, while the point between Rua 1300 and 1400 was rated unfit. Results change often; check balneabilidade.ima.sc.gov.br before swimming.
The Deck do Pontal Norte is a wooden boardwalk of about 800 metres that skirts the foot of the hill. It leads to the small, quiet Praia do Buraco, also called Praia do Canto, and is a favourite morning walk for locals.
The Molhe da Barra Norte, a breakwater of about 300 metres, runs out into the sea here.
Above, the Morro do Careca has a short trail with a view of the whole coast, and paragliders launch from its grassy top.
Day-to-day life
Pioneiros, just behind the beach, is a normal working neighbourhood with schools, public buildings, clinics and everyday shops, and Avenida Brasil starts here. Larger supermarkets are along Avenida do Estado, including Angeloni at Avenida do Estado 2440 (Nações).
The private Hospital Unimed Litoral is on Avenida do Estado 1550, and the public Hospital Municipal Ruth Cardoso is on Rua Angelina in the Bairro dos Municípios. Both are a short drive.
Bilingual schools in the city include Maple Bear (Bairro dos Estados) and Colégio CECS.
Food and nightlife
There are restaurants and kiosks along the seafront and around the Big Wheel, and everyday places on Avenida Brasil. One we have photographed is Casa Itália, an Italian restaurant. For a bigger choice and for nightlife you head south into Centro, or over the hill to Amores and Brava.
Housing
There is a mix of older towers and a new generation of high-end seafront projects. The towers at the foot of the hill have some of the most open views over the bay and the forest. Behind the beach, Pioneiros has lower, older buildings. Only a few buildings stand on the headland itself.
For reference, a high-end agency, Pharos, reported a median asking price of R$ 24,863 per m² for the listings in its portfolio in this area (which it calls Barra Norte) in October 2026, compared with R$ 22,470 for Centro and R$ 41,322 for Barra Sul. The FipeZap city-wide average was R$ 15,369 per m² in September 2026. These numbers measure different things, but they show where the area sits: between Centro and Barra Sul.
The seasons
Summer (December to February) is busy everywhere on Praia Central, but this end is usually calmer than Centro. The Big Wheel and the deck draw visitors all year, with cars and tour buses around sunset in summer.
At New Year more than a million people watched the fireworks on Praia Central in 2025/26 (city estimate). Expect road closures and crowds that night.
In winter it is quiet, and the deck and trail are at their best on clear, cool days.
Safety
We have not found neighbourhood-level crime statistics we trust. The state public security office (SSP-SC) publishes city-level data. The deck and trail are busy in daylight; as anywhere, avoid isolated paths after dark.
Living here
Pontal Norte suits people who want a seafront apartment on Praia Central, but a calmer setting than Centro, with forest and trails on the doorstep.
It is also a good base if you want both the city and the northern beaches, or if you fly in and out of Navegantes often.
The downsides: fewer restaurants on the doorstep than Centro, and visitor traffic around the Big Wheel and the Estrada da Rainha on summer evenings.
Pros and cons
Pros: Seafront on Praia Central, calmer than Centro; forest, trails and the boardwalk on the doorstep; closest part of BC to the northern beaches and NVT; generally better water test results at this end.
Cons: Fewer restaurants on the doorstep; tourist traffic around the Big Wheel; mixed building ages; busy on New Year’s Eve.
Buying from abroad: the basics
Foreigners can buy urban property in Brazil in their own name. You will need a CPF, the Brazilian tax number, which you can request through a Brazilian consulate before you travel.
Before signing anything, have an independent local lawyer check the property’s registration (the matrícula at the Cartório de Registro de Imóveis), any debts on it, and, for off-plan purchases, the developer’s registration of the project (the incorporação).
On purchase you pay a transfer tax (ITBI) to the municipality, here Balneário Camboriú, plus notary and registry fees. After that there is an annual property tax (IPTU) and, in a condo, a monthly condo fee. Ask for the current figures for the specific property, as they vary.
Money sent from abroad should go through a bank or authorised exchange channel, and be documented, so it can be sent back later.