Attractions Nearby Fortaleza, Day Trips and Excursions

(Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil)

Brazil has some truly beautiful coastlines and some of the very best coastal attractions to be found in Ceará, within easy reach of Fortaleza. In fact there are almost 600 km / 373 miles of beachfront spread along the coast of Ceará, ranging from secluded coves backed by palm trees, to enormous strips of sand, urban beaches and rocky stretches.

Many tour operators in Fortaleza provide a mixture of day trips and longer getaways, heading to popular outlying beaches and nearby attractions. However, do bear in mind that these excursions can be a little expensive and it may be cheaper to plan your own route and negotiate a favourable rate for a taxi.

General Information

To the south-east of Fortaleza, the coastline is known as the Costa Sol Nascente (Sunrise Coast) and contains numerous glorious beaches, many of which are edged by huge sand dunes. From Fortaleza, the first 100 km / 62 miles or so is fairly built up, with good facilities and attractions around the busiest resorts.

Rather isolated by the dunes is the village of Canoa Quebrada, which has become one of Ceará's leading beach destinations, with plenty of guest houses, restaurants and nightlife opportunities. Further attractions around Canoa Quebrada include beach buggy rides, seasonal kitesurfing, horseback riding and sailing on traditional Brazilian watercraft known as 'jangadas'.

Stretching along the south-eastern coast of Ceará and near to Fortaleza are many further attractions, including peaceful villages, deserted beaches and busy resorts. Close to Canoa Quebrada, Majorlandia can become crowded at the weekends, while nearby is the fishing village of Quixaba, where its prawns have become almost legendary. Also worth looking out for is Lago do Mata - where snorkelling is recommended, as well as Fontainha, Ponta Grossa, Redondas, Retirinho and Retiro Grande.

Beaches to the north-west of Fortaleza include those around the affluent town of Paracuru, which has become something of a weekend retreat for Brazilians. Also of note are the beach attractions of Fleixeiras, Guajiru, Lagoinha, Mundau and Icarai de Amontada, the latter of which is famed for its excellent windsurfing. Close by, Cumbuco is a good bet for kitesurfers and buggy tours, while closer to Fortaleza is the thriving university city of Cascavel.

The attractions of Ceará are certainly not limited to its coastline and if you wish to head inland, then Serra de Baturité makes for the perfect day trip, where the land is broken up by a range of hills. Particularly charming here are the villages of Guaramiranga and Pacoti.