Getting Around, Fortaleza Travel, Transport and Car Rental
(Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil)
For many visitors to Fortaleza, transport is seldom an issue, since most rarely venture more than a few blocks from the beachfront, simply choosing to travel to hotels, shops, bars and restaurants by foot. The main streets in Fortaleza (the Avenida Almirante Barroso, the Avenida Beira Mar and the Avenida Historiador Raimundo Girao) lead to the most popular beaches, such as the Praia de Iracema and the Praia do Meireles, as well as connecting the fish market.
Bus transport is readily available in Fortaleza where required, while taxis can be arranged for both short and longer journeys, suiting most travel needs. Tourists set on exploring all that Ceará has to offer are advised to consider hiring a car for the duration of their stay.
Pinto Martins International Airport (FOR) / Arriving by Air
Address: Avenida Senador Carlos Jereissati 3000, Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil, BR
Tel: +55 085 3477 1200
Opened in 1998, Pinto Martins International Airport stands just 6 km / 4 miles to the south of downtown Fortaleza and lies within the Serrinha neighbourhood. This airport handles more than four million passengers each year and serves around 50,000 flights, making it rank just outside of Brazil's top ten busiest airports. Daily flights travel between
Miami (TAM Airlines),
Milan and
Rome (Air Italy) and
Lisbon (TAP Portugal), as well as a plethora of Brazilian destinations, such as
Belem,
Brasilia,
Curitiba,
Natal,
Recife,
Rio de Janeiro,
Salvador da Bahia and
Sao Paulo. Urban bus transport (Aeroporto / Benfica) is on hand and connects the city centre and its main bus station. There are also fixed-priced 'Airport Taxis' and regular metered taxis, which provide a convenient way to reach the beach resorts of Futuro, Iracema and Meireles.
Car Rental
A number of car rental agencies are located at the airport, allowing passengers to arrange hire cars as they arrive, while some prefer to book in advance or rent a vehicle for just a day or two from an outlet in the city. Many holiday makers simply choose to travel around by bus or taxi, although having your own set of wheels does make excursions to outlying beaches simple. If you are feeling adventurous, then you may like to consider renting a beach buggy for an afternoon.
Buses and Coaches
Tel: +55 085 3230 1111
The city's main bus station connects all of the most popular beaches and resorts, as well as neighbouring towns and many major cities around
Brazil, with the longest journeys often requiring changes. Long-distance bus transport regularly travels to and from destinations such as Belem (28 hours), Canoa Quebrada (three hours), Jericoacoara (seven hours), Juazeiro do Norte (11 hours), Natal (eight hours), Parnaiba (nine hours), Recife (12 hours), Rio de Janeiro (50 hours), Salvador (22 hours), Sao Luis (20 hours), Teresina (ten hours) and Ubajara (six hours).
Circular city buses stop to collect and drop passengers at convenient places around the city. These include bus stops on the Avenida Abolicao, the Avenida Alberto Nepomuceno, the Avenida Almirante Barrosa, the Avenida Beira Mar (Praia do Meireles), the Avenida Dom Manuel, the Praca de Ferreira, the Rua Castro e Silva and the Rua Joao Moreira.
Taxis
If you are searching for taxi transport in Fortaleza, then you can be confident that you won't have far to look, since the city is home to around 4,000 metered taxi cabs. Available taxis can be hailed from the street, although ranks usually gather close to places of interest. Fares are calculated by combining a fixed start price with a per kilometre rate, although for long distances, such as to Canoa Quebrada or Cumbuco, a more favoured rate can often be negotiated.
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