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Installed on the boardwalk of Meia Praia, the 60-meter It Wheel will be integrated into the Oporto pier, will have 30 air-conditioned cabins, a 3D screen, a food area, parking for more than 200 cars, and an expected inauguration at the end of the first semester of 2026, boosting tourism all year round with safety.
Known for having the second most expensive square meter in Brazil, Itapema, in Santa Catarina, is preparing to gain a 60-meter Ferris wheel on the boardwalk of Meia Praia. The It Wheel project, with an investment of R$ 50 million and an estimated 500,000 visitors per year, is expected to open at the end of the first semester of 2026, consolidating a new permanent postcard on the Santa Catarina coast.
The project is signed by Juma Rides, a Chinese company and world leader in Ferris wheels, responsible for the famous structure in Dubai, and began to take shape in September 2025, when the construction work was initiated. The intention is to spread tourist traffic throughout the year, reducing dependence on the high season and repositioning Itapema as a high-end entertainment hub in southern Brazil.
City With a Millionaire Square Meter Bets on Permanent Tourism
The chosen setting for the It Wheel is not by chance. Itapema is already among the cities with the second most expensive square meter in Brazil, a direct reflection of strong real estate, economic, and population growth.
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In this context, the arrival of the 60-meter Ferris wheel is seen as a strategic piece to add value to the boardwalk and urban entertainment tourism.
According to Eduardo Bugallo, the co-owner of It Wheel, the motivation to invest in the city is precisely the accelerated pace of development and the demand for large-scale tourist equipment.
He emphasizes that the It Wheel will be the most modern model produced by the manufacturer, featuring a wealth of integrated electronic systems, including Bluetooth sound in the cabins so that visitors can listen to their own music during the ride.
The combination of a high purchasing power audience, growing infrastructure, and a major attraction creates the conditions for the 60-meter Ferris wheel to become a reference not just in Itapema, but throughout the Santa Catarina coast.
The expectation is that the new equipment will help keep hotels, restaurants, and services thriving even outside the traditional summer months.
Structure of the It Wheel Integrated into the Oporto Pier
According to the project, the entire undertaking will be built on an area of 1,200 square meters, distributed over two floors.
The 60-meter Ferris wheel will be directly integrated into the Oporto pier, which already offers dining and shopping options, creating a leisure, consumption, and entertainment complex facing the waters of Meia Praia.
The project also includes parking for over 200 vehicles, which facilitates access for tourists and residents, especially during peak periods.
The structure of the It Wheel will utilize more than 230 tons of steel, reinforcing the idea of a robust piece of equipment, with a significant visual impact, designed to operate year-round in a coastal environment with sea spray and ocean winds.
With this integration into the pier, the 60-meter Ferris wheel will not operate in isolation but as an anchor of a leisure circuit.
The bet is that visitors will be able to extend their stay at the location, combining the ride in the cabins with meals, shopping, and experiences at other points in the complex.
Air-Conditioned Cabins, Technology, and Panoramic View of the Coast
To accommodate as many visitors as possible comfortably, the 60-meter Ferris wheel will feature 30 air-conditioned glass cabins, each with a capacity for six people.
The ride will last approximately 18 minutes, offering panoramic views of the coasts of Itapema and Porto Belo, particularly appealing during sunset and nighttime when the special lighting is highlighted.
Inside the cabins, the project includes cupholders, Wi-Fi, ambient sound, differentiated lighting, safety locks, monitoring cameras, and 17-inch screens.
Furthermore, the Bluetooth sound system will allow groups or families to choose their own soundtracks during the ride. The idea is to make the experience instagrammable and memorable, increasing spontaneous exposure of the attraction on social media.
This technological package places the It Wheel in line with the world’s leading Ferris wheels, bringing Itapema closer to international entertainment destinations.
The presence of the 60-meter Ferris wheel reinforces the city’s positioning as a showcase for modern and high-standard tourism.
Themed Experiences and Attractions Beyond the Ride
One of the project’s differentiators is the six specially customized cabins. One will be a romantic theme, aimed at couples, focusing on celebrations such as marriage proposals and special dates.
Another cabin will have a family and birthday theme, while four units will be dedicated to sponsors, with leatherette seats and premium brand experiences.
Right at the entrance, the public will be welcomed by a 27-square-meter 3D screen, designed to create immediate visual impact and serve both for institutional content and commercial activations.
On the ground floor, the space will feature ticket offices, a bar, snack machines, a souvenir shop, and a cyber park with virtual reality simulators, broadening the entertainment offerings beyond the wheel itself.
On the second floor, the entrance to the 60-meter Ferris wheel will be concentrated, with a covered queue and automatic photo booths.
The proposal is for visitors to be able to capture the experience with personalized photos, making the ride complete from arrival to departure, with multiple points of interaction and consumption.
Jobs, Return on Investment, and New Postcard of Itapema
Economically, the group of investors projects recovering the investment of R$ 50 million in about a decade.
The operation of the It Wheel should have 74 direct employees and generate over 500 indirect jobs through service provider companies. More than a thousand professionals are involved in the construction, which began in September 2025, reinforcing the impact of civil construction in the region.
For the Secretary of Government and Infrastructure of Itapema, Marcelo Correia, the attraction is seen as an innovative breakthrough in the city’s tourism strategy.
According to him, the 60-meter Ferris wheel expands the portfolio of permanent equipment capable of maintaining the flow of visitors throughout the year and reducing dependence on the high season.
The city hall also highlights the concern for the harmonious integration of the structure into the urban environment, aiming to ensure comfort for visitors and strengthen the visual identity of the boardwalk as the new postcard of Itapema.
And you, would you ride the 60-meter Ferris wheel in Itapema right at the inauguration or would you wait to see how the new postcard will transform the city?
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