Dune Sleds and Monkey Snacks - Adventures with Evan Meyers in Florianópolis

By Evan Meyers, Plugg Technologies Director of Client Solutions

I originally came to São Paulo, Brazil for work. A few weeks of meetings, presentations, and a couple of team dinners were on the schedule. What I did not expect was to be flying down a sand dune on a flimsy plastic board or hand feeding monkeys bananas on a rooftop just days later.

After all the in person work in São Paulo, I had a week left to take remote meetings. So I followed the advice of my Brazilian coworkers and headed to a place they all recommended: Florianópolis.

When I first landed in Floripa, as the locals call it, I had no idea what to expect. The place feels like it should not exist. In one spot, you have beaches that rival the Caribbean, colonial buildings in a busy city center, and lush green hills that look like something out of a movie. It is a lot to take in, and the views are absolutely stunning.

One afternoon between calls, my Airbnb host mentioned dune sledding at Praia da Joaquina. I had no idea what that was, but he insisted I try it. Less than an hour later, I was climbing a massive sand dune with a plastic board that had only footstraps to hold me in place on the way down.

I am not sure who came up with dune sledding, but they deserve an award. Gliding down a sand mountain in tropical weather, staring out at the ocean, gave me the same adrenaline rush I get from skiing. But instead of freezing temperatures, I was in the sun with a warm breeze and an ocean view. Once I got the hang of it, it became one of the most fun things I have ever done.

The next day, my Airbnb host shared another tip. I was staying in what felt like a treehouse tucked into the jungle, and he told me a family of monkeys often stopped by. He said if I grabbed some bananas from the store, they might come up to the rooftop for a snack. He was right. These monkeys were bold and smart. Within thirty minutes of sipping coffee on the rooftop, the first one showed up. Then a second, smaller one. They looked like teenagers. A few minutes later, the whole crew arrived—mom, dad, and all the babies. I ended up feeding them by hand, and before long I was going through thirty to forty bananas a day. Totally worth it. And I got some great videos in return.

Brazil has a way of surprising you like that. One moment you are sitting in meetings in the middle of São Paulo, and the next you are brushing sand out of your hair or locking eyes with a wild monkey that clearly knows what it is doing. The energy pulls you in fast.

And honestly, the people are what make it unforgettable. Some of the kindest, most hardworking people I have ever met. There is a passion for life here that shows up in the way they work, the way they collaborate, and the way they approach new challenges. It is one of the reasons I believe Brazil is becoming one of the fastest growing tech hubs in the world.

I came to Floripa expecting a few quiet days of remote work. I left with a phone full of monkey selfies, a story I never saw coming, sand in all of my luggage, and a deep respect for the people.

I would rank Floripa as my favorite place in Latin America, with Mexico City coming in second. More on that trip soon.