The riverside port stretches several kilometres along the south bank of the Itajaí-Açu. Container terminals, fishing boats, and the trawlers of the high-seas fleet share the dock. A public promenade (the Beira-Rio) runs alongside, with cafés, kiosks, and a small public market where the fishing boats land their catch each morning.
The early morning fish market, the lights of the container terminal at night, and the occasional cruise ship calling at the city pier are reasons enough to wander the waterfront for an hour.