FAQs

Question

What's the nearest airport to the venue?

Answer

The two closest airpots to the venue are Florianópolis International Airport – Hercílio Luz (FLN) and Navegantes International Airport (NVT). Both options will require a connection through Sao Paolo International Airport (GRU).

Question

After we land, how do we get to the venue/hotel?

Answer

From either airport option, it is about a 1.5 hour drive to the venue (53 mi/86km). Ubers are available, and will cost approximately $30 / R$ 155. You can also reserve a private transport shuttle via the company "Bombinhas Passeios", they have shuttles services in addition to providing tours in the area. English at the company is limited, so we'd suggest texting Carlos via WhatsApp and using Google Translator for sending/receiving messages in Portuguese. Carlos: +55 47 9652-6698 Website: https://bombinhaspasseios.com.br Other options: Breno Martins - Transporte Turistico e Particular: +55 (47) 99636-3105 Nilson - Van Bigua: +55 (47) 99914-4278 You can also rent a car to take you from the airport to your hotel/the venue. Ubers are available in Porto Belo/near the resort, but may be limited (~20-30min wait). So, if you are looking to explore the area away from the resort/hotel, a rental car may be a decent option.

Question

What are the accommodation options?

Answer

Since Refugio do Estaleiro is a small resort, we have reserved the suites here for family and bridal party only. We have recommended on the travel page some other hotel options nearby, ranging across different price ranges. Marina and Mitchell have visited all of these options personally, so please reach out to us if you have any questions.

Question

Will we have shuttles going from hotels to the venue?

Answer

Yes! We will offer shuttles to and from the hotel options listed on the Travel page. Shuttles will leave 2x per day and pick guests up from the resort to return back to hotels 2x per day. If you plan to travel to/from the resort outside of the scheduled shuttle times, you can schedule a private shuttle with "Bombinhas Passeios" or call an Uber. Uber is available, but calling one from the resort can be limited, especially late at night.

Question

What should you do during the daytime?

Answer

We will be planning daytime events and tours to celebrate together! We are planning to offer a tour or event per day, for which our guests can subscribe in advance. The resort (Refugio do Estaleiro) is also open to all of our guests for relaxing during the daytime, free of charge! There are pools, hot tubs, a spa, beach tennis, and ocean swimming from the pier (no beach). We would love for everyone to plan to be at the resort and spend the days with us!

Question

We want to spend some time enjoying the area on our own, what are the coolest towns around?

Answer

The state of Santa Catarina (SC) is an absolutely beautiful beach riviera! The wedding is being held in Porto Belo, but there are several beautiful cities to enjoy along the coastline. Starting from the North side, Balneario Camboriu has been nicknamed the "Dubai of Brazil". Skyscrapers line the beach, and the city is laden with beautiful restaurants, rooftops, and nightclubs. Booking a hotel or AirBnB in Balneario for a couple of days before the wedding would be a great experience. The "Things to Do" page has some rooftop and restaurant recommendations for Balneario. Moving south, the next largest city is called Itapema. Itapema is only slightly less developed than Balneario and would be a beautiful, calmer city to spend a few days. Further south from Itapema, and you reach Porto Belo, the town of the resort. Porto Belo is a quiet, smaller town as compared to the two more developed cities above. We've included a few restaurant recommendations in Porto Belo if you'd like an evening to yourselves. Finally, Bombinhas is a very quiet, relaxed beachtown. Very chill vibes, and a nice, peaceful getaway for a daytrip along the beautiful coastline.

Question

Do you have any make up artist or hairstylist that will be available for your guests?

Answer

We will have a make up artist and hairstylist team everyday at the venue for the bride and her family, but appointments can be schedule throughout the day before the event starts.

Question

We would like to extend our trip before or after the wedding. What do you recommend for our itinerary?

Answer

Besides Santa Catarina, the coastline Riviera in which the wedding will be held, Brazil's largest cities are Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. Sao Paulo is the art and food capital of Brazil in the center of the country, a bustling, busy urban city of ~22 million people. Located 6 hours from the nearest beach, Sao Paulo has wonderful shopping (we recommend Oscar Freire Street), great food/restaurants, nightlife, and parks. The city is relatively safe, depending on which neighborhood you're in, but we recommend staying alert, especially from pick-pocketers. We recommend ordering Uber Blacks for added safety and comfort. Rio de Janeiro is the Brazilian symbol of beaches, parties, and nightlife. Rio also showcases beautiful parks and museums (we recommend Museu do Amanha). Brazil's largest attraction is Iguazu (or Iguaçu) Falls. The Falls rival, or beat, Niagara Falls. The easiest way to get there is a 2 hour flight from Sao Paulo. Highly recommended tourist attraction for anyone looking to experience Brazil's natural beauty.

Question

Do Americans need a visa to visit Brazil?

Answer

Beginning April 10, 2025, Americans will need a visa to visit/return from Brazil. Our wedding ends March 30, 2025, so guests looking to extend their visit should look to apply for a visa. For more information about visa requirements, please visit https://brazil.vfsevisa.com/