Pântano do Sul is one of the south-island places where Florianópolis still feels like a fishing settlement before it feels like a beach resort. Boats sit on the sand, seafood restaurants face the water, and the hills around the bay keep the mood more contained than on the surf beaches.
It is a long hop from the centre, so treat it as a southern-island outing rather than a quick swim. The payoff is atmosphere: lunch by the beach, a look at everyday island life, and access to nearby trails and quieter coves.