What it feels like
This really is not BC any more. Our own rough estimate is 20 to 30 minutes by highway.
Itapema and Porto Belo are separate towns south of Balneário Camboriú, reached through the Morro do Boi tunnel on the BR-101. They have grown fast, and many foreigners look at them alongside BC.
A number of large gated communities have been built here. Some have a golf course, an equestrian centre or even a private airfield.
Where it is and how it connects
Itapema is about 18 km south of BC; its main beach, Meia Praia, is about 15 km away. Porto Belo is about 26 km from BC, roughly 27 minutes without traffic.
All of it hangs on the BR-101. The Morro do Boi tunnel between BC and Itapema is a known bottleneck: in summer and on holiday weekends there are long queues and stop-and-go traffic.
Florianópolis airport (FLN) is closer from here than from BC, roughly an hour depending on traffic. Navegantes airport (NVT) is further north, around 45 minutes to an hour.
Itapema
Itapema is a town of tall towers along Meia Praia, a long beach that is often compared with BC’s Praia Central. It has become one of the most expensive property markets in Brazil: the FipeZap index put its average asking price at R$ 15,340 per m² in September 2026, third in the country and just R$ 29 below Balneário Camboriú.
Daily life is self-contained: supermarkets, pharmacies, gyms, restaurants and clinics are all in town. The beach is usually calmer than the open beaches south of BC.
Porto Belo
Porto Belo is smaller and calmer. Its bay is sheltered, with calm water and boats, and the island of Porto Belo (Ilha de João da Cunha) lies just offshore and is a popular day trip in summer.
Many of the new gated communities in this area are on the hills and plains around Porto Belo and Itapema.
The homes
These are brand-new developments, with family homes as well as condo buildings.
Their modern design holds its own against communities in Europe or the US.
In the gated communities you usually buy a plot and build, or buy a finished house. Check the community’s rules (building codes, fees, rental restrictions) as carefully as the house itself. For apartments, Itapema’s seafront towers are the closest thing to BC.
Day-to-day life
Both towns have their own supermarkets, pharmacies and clinics. For the largest hospitals and the widest choice of specialists, many residents still go to BC or Itajaí, and Florianópolis is within reach.
Bilingual schools such as Maple Bear and Colégio CECS are in BC; check what is available locally for your children’s ages before deciding.
The beaches
Meia Praia in Itapema is long and generally calm. Porto Belo has sheltered bay beaches and, further out on the peninsula, smaller and wilder ones. Water quality is tested by the state agency IMA-SC; check results by beach at balneabilidade.ima.sc.gov.br.
The seasons
Summer (December to February) brings heavy traffic, especially on the BR-101 and through the Morro do Boi tunnel. The rest of the year both towns are calm and largely residential.
Safety
We have not found neighbourhood-level crime statistics we trust. Gated communities have their own security, which is a big part of their appeal for families.
Living here
Itapema and Porto Belo suit families who want a house, space and easy resort living.
Itapema also suits people who want a BC-style seafront apartment in a slightly smaller town.
The main downside is dependence on the BR-101: if you need to be in BC often, test the drive at rush hour and in January before you buy.
Pros and cons
Pros: Houses with space in gated communities; Calmer, newer towns; Closer to Florianópolis airport; Golf, equestrian and resort-style options.
Cons: Not BC: you depend on the BR-101; Morro do Boi tunnel queues in summer; Fewer specialist services; Itapema prices now match BC.
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 Itapema or Porto Belo, 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.