Fortaleza Tourist Attractions and Sightseeing

(Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil)

Most people holiday in Fortaleza due to its sumptuous sandy beaches, and many of the city's main tourist attractions relate to its coastline. Surfing, kitesurfing and windsurfing are all popular in Fortaleza, as are schooner cruises and fun buggy tours along the beachfront.

Located next to Aquiraz, approximately 20 km / 12 miles to the south-east of the city is the Beach Park Fortaleza, where families come in their droves to cool down on hot days, zooming down the countless water slides and similar attractions. At the end of the day, many tourists head to either the Praia de Iracema or to the old dock known as the Ponte Metalica (Ponte dos Ingleses), to enjoy a memorable sunset.

Bus and Buggy Tours

Various tour operators are present in Fortaleza, offering guided tours and day trips along the coastline, heading in both easterly and westerly directions. Many travel agencies are dotted around the city and will be happy to arrange tours on your behalf, with most decent hotels also providing this service. In late afternoon / early evening, tour minivans gather along the Avenida Beira Mar, close to the Meireles tourist outlet, touting for business for the following day, and are usually happy to collect passengers from hotels. Popular destinations include the Beach Park, Canoa Quebrada, Cumbuco, Lagoinha, Morro Branco and Mundau. For something a little more exciting, consider taking a beach buggy tour along the Ceará coastline. Buggy tours are extremely popular and travel as far as Jericoacoara, and on occasion, to the Lencois Maranhenses Natonal Park and the city of Natal.
Open hours: daily
Admission: charge

Schooner Cruises

A small selection of catamarans and motorized schooners provide two-hour cruises, departing next the prominent Iracema statue on a daily basis, between the hours of 10:00 to 16:00. If you fancy a quick afternoon dip along the way, be sure to bring your swimming costume, while if you are hoping to catch a good sunset, then try to leave as late as possible. Those prepared to make a day of it may like to take a schooner to Cumbuco, which departs at 09:00 and arrives at lunchtime, with a bus being arranged for the journey back to your hotel.
Open hours: daily - 09:00 to 17:00, not always operational during the low season
Admission: charge

Surfing, Kitesurfing and Windsurfing

Numerous water sports are popular around Fortaleza, with both locals and tourists favouring kitesurfing and windsurfing, particularly at the Praia do Futuro, where the winds can be strong and equipment hire and tuition is available, when required. The waves on the Praia do Futuro are often also suitable for surfing and when the conditions are right, crowds head into the waves with their surfboards. If you are a beginner surfer looking for lessons, then you will find surf schools located in the Meireles area. Of note, the city regularly plays host for some major surfing, windsurfing and kitesurfing competitions, due to its reliable waves and winds, which are at their best between June and February.
Open hours: daily
Admission: free, charge for equipment hire and lessons

Parque Ecologico do Rio Cocó (Ecological Park of the Coco River)

Address: Avenida Rogaciano Leite / Avenida Governador Raul Barbosa, Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil, BR
Located close to the Iguatemi mall, the Parque Ecologico do Rio Cocó is part of Fortaleza's biggest green space and together with both the Parque Adhail Barreto and the Tancredo Neves, forms an important conservation area covering roughly 2,755 acres / 1,115 hectares in total. Named after the River Coco, which meanders through the grounds and forms a mangrove area, the park was officially founded in 1977. Although there are no lawns as such, there are a number of scenic trails, running alongside the river and through the woodland, where native Brazilian flora and fauna flourishes.
Open hours: daily
Admission: free

Beach Park Fortaleza

Address: Rua Porto das Dunas 2734, Porto das Dunas, Aquiraz, Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil, BR
Tel: +55 085 4012 3000
Each year more than one million people visit this popular water park, enjoying its exciting water slides, swimming pools, wave pools, water playgrounds with fountains and extensive leisure facilities. The Beach Park Fortaleza attraction stands no more than a matter of metres from the beachfront of the Praia Porto das Dunas and began its life in 1985, when it had just three water slides and a beach restaurant, and over the years has grown to become Latin America's biggest water park with its own hotel resort complex.
Open hours: daily - 11:00 to 17:00 (seasonal variations)
Admission: charge, discounts for children under 12 years old, young children are free

Football / Soccer

Address: Estádio Plácido Aderaldo Castelo, Avenida Alberto Craveiro / Avenida Deputado Paulino Rocha, Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil, BR
Soccer is a sport taken very seriously in Brazil and the city is no exception to this. The Fortaleza Esporte Clube (EC) is the city's sports club and comes with its own football team, who play at their home ground stadium, the Estádio Plácido Aderaldo Castelo. Also known as the Gigante da Boa Vista, this immense soccer stadium was inaugurated in 1973 and is now capable of seating more than 65,000 spectators, after being recently enlarged for the 2014 FIFA World Cup. One of the stadium's biggest events took place in 1980, when Pope John Paul II led the religious celebrations of Congress.
Open hours: hours vary according to event
Admission: charge