Fortaleza

Fortaleza, the capital of Ceara, a state in Brazil, is a major fishing port in the northeast of Brazil. An average temperature of 77F makes it an ideal place to vacation and escape from the winter’s cold. Beautiful beaches, wonderful landscapes, idyllic fishing villages and the turquoise waters await every traveler to Fortaleza. Fortaleza has a vibrant nightlife with plenty of forro music and dance, the highlight of local culture. The off-season carnival, Fortal, held in July attracts a large number of tourists.

The historic Fortress of Nossa Senhora da Assunçao marked the origin of the city from where it got its name, Fortaleza, the Portuguese word for fortress. The fort stands proudly in the center of the city, along with the Cathedral, which is the third largest in Brazil. Fortaleza turned into a major tourist destination towards the end of the 20th century.

Fortaleza’s Pinto Martins International Airport caters to an increasing number of tourists from all over the world. There are regular domestic as well as international flights from Europe and United States that service Fortaleza. Pinto Martins Airport is a 15 minute drive from the city.

This modern cultural center is popular with the locals on weekends. Museums, art galleries, theaters, a planetarium, auditorium and café are housed in the complex that showcases much of Brazil’s art and culture. It is open from Tuesday to Friday 8:30 am to 9:30 pm and on weekends from 2:30 pm to 9:30 pm.

The main reason that tourists flock to Fortaleza is the climate. A tropical wet and dry climate with high relative humidity is mellowed by the pleasant ocean winds, making the region most comfortable to visit throughout the year. Fortaleza is blessed with a great deal of sunshine for almost 300 days in the year and average temperature of 77F.

Once a prison facility, Centro de Turismo now houses the Museu De Minerais, the state tourism center and a number of handicraft stores. The center is a great place to shop for handicrafts, embroidery and many souvenirs of Ceara. The center is open from Monday to Saturday 8 am to 6 pm, Sundays from 8 am to 1 pm.

Teatro Jose de Alencar celebrates 100 years with plays and concerts to enjoy. Also visit the beautiful gardens, a Burle Marx project.

Locals enjoy Crab meat at Praia do Futuro on Thursdays night, for some visit Barraca do Chico do Caranguejo. Fortaleza offers a variety of native Brazilian cuisine as well as French, Asian, Italian and Portuguese. For delicious and fresh seafood try it at Vojnilo, Faustino or Marquinhos Delicias Cearenses. Colher de Pau is the place to enjoy the local cuisine and Fagulha offers Brazilian BBQ. Fortaleza has amazing snack shacks as Centro das Tapioqueiras or 50 Sabores to list a few.

Fortaleza has an exceptional nightlife with a number of nightclubs and entertainment venues that transforms the city at night. Don’t miss "Crazy Monday" or "Segunda-feira mais agitada do mundo"at Bar Pirata, live forro music and a packed dance floor is what you can expect. On Tuesdays, Arre Égua is the place to go. At Degusti, listen to some surf music on Wednesdays. Thursdays is when the native crowd enjoys Crab meat at Praia do Futuro, the place to see and to be seen. Mucuripe Club is the place to be on Fridays to dance axe, techno or pop rock music till dawn. Saturdays and Sundays, around Centro Cultural Dragao do Mar, pick one of the several bars located there and enjoy from live samba to rock music.

For local souvenirs, artcraft, art and clothing go to Centro de Turismo, Feira Noturna, Mercado Central or Ceart Dragao do Mar where you can find great deals. For a bigger shopping center, try the Barrashopping or the fancy shopps around Praça Portugal in the heart of Aldeota.

The off-season carnival, Fortal, held in July attracts a large number of locals and tourists from all over the world.

Iracema beach is reminiscent of a fishing village but at the same time is home to some of the best bars and restaurants. Small, rustic rafts used by Ceará's fishermen dot the area, complementing the scenery.

You cannot miss a visit to this beach since it is the meeting ground for sunbathers during the day, which turns into a party zone at night with live music and dance. The beach is lined with beachside restaurants called "Barracas de Praia" where locals enjoy baked Snapper, Crab meat or a cold beer.

While in Fortaleza, don't miss a chance to visit some of the popular beaches as Crocobeach, Vira Verao, Cabumba, Vila Gales and Itapaika. They offer an excellent infrastructure for tourists including some English speaking staff members. A row of taxis are available to take you back to your hotel when you're done with the heat.

One of the largest water parks in the region, the Beach Park Acqua Center in Praia de Porto das Dunas is a great place to take the family. The tourist hotspot consists of an Aqua Park, Beach Park Suites Resort and the beach area. Beach Park has themed areas, a wave pool and the highest water slide in the world, the Insano.

In Mucuripe Beach, Othon Palace Fortaleza and Golden Tulip Iate Plaza offer an amazing beachfront view with confortable rooms. For luxury accomodations, Gran Marquise is the best option in town. Praia de Meireles has a great variety of hotels such as Seara Praia, Comfort Hotel Fortaleza, Quality Fortaleza and Mercure Apartments Meireles. Luzeiros offers luxury beachfront view rooms. Located at Praia de Iracema, Blue Tree Premium and Costa do Mar have quiet and great lodging.

Holiday Inn, Golden Fortaleza Flat, Golden Beach, Bristol Jangada Fortaleza, Adaba Mistral Hotel, Praia Centro and Vela e Mar are a great option to lodge with good deals and confort.