I spent three days and two nights at The Banana Tree this month and it was heavenly.

Here are my top 10 reasons to visit Sambaqui and stay at The Banana Tree:
1. It's a quiet location, right on the bay side of the island and in an area that is completely, utterly peaceful.
2. The Banana Tree is a well maintained, modern, spacious and spotlessly clean private home that functions as a year-round guest house. The wonderful hosts are gracious, warm, helpful and easy going. Beverly and Henry arranged for a "driver" to meet me at the airport - and Phil (the "driver") provided me with a great overview of the island and information as we traveled the 20 minutes from the airport to The Banana Tree. Beverly and Henry provided me with useful information about the island and encouraged me to explore both sides (as did Phil) because the island is very safe and easy to get around on either on buses or in a rental car. Beverly is a gourmand so that the meals she provided (at no added cost to me) were fabulous.
3. The location of The Banana Tree is amazing -- you will be able to walk from one small fishing town (Sambaqui) to another (Santo Antonio)-- on a paved walkway that is the main road.
4. You are safe, left to wander and explore and enjoy the undisturbed nature and magnificence of the island.
5. Buses are a few feet from the door of The Banana Tree and will cost $1.20 each way. You can travel anywhere on the island using the buses.
6. You can visit the "Centro" of Florianopolis- where there's a fresh fish market, a fruit and vegetable market and a handcraft fair. You can eat at a "kilo buffet" in "Centro" where there's all sorts of fresh food to try. You can find mixed fruit drinks every where you travel -- I had mango and passion fruit and it was amazing.
7. You can practice your Portuguese because you will not encounter much English on the island and you will be forced to commicate using sign language, hand language and smiles.
8. You can relax, listen to the sound of the water lapping at the beach, watch birds fly through the banana trees, eat fresh fruit, visit fish restaurants along the main road where they serve fish that's just been caught, watch the oyster farmers row out to watch their oyster farms every day....standing up as they row.
9. You will find it extremely peaceful and untouched -- I think it's very different from the beaches on the other side of the island which is where the majority of the tourists head during the high season and because of this, the area surrounding The Banana Tree has no real "touristy" feel -- what you find is that it's real Brazil.
10. You will want to go back with your family and friends and enjoy real Brazilian lifestyle.