Carnival and Beach Party at Fortaleza

The Brazilian city of Fortaleza lies on the northeast coast here, facing the Atlantic Ocean. It is the fifth largest city of Brazil and the Capital of Ceara.

Best time to visit

Tourists fly in to Fortaleza mostly in summers that last from December to February and the months from June to August.

How to reach

The Pinto Martins Airport of Fortaleza has some few charter flights coming in form European cities as well as flights from domestic ones. The charters take about 8 hours to reach here from most of the European cities. Commercial flights do not have direct service to Fortaleza.

This city has a good railway system and buses too are an option to get around the city.

Fortaleza Attraction / Fortaleza Activities

Following are few things to do and few sights to see, when in Fortaleza.

• You must visit the city of Fortaleza during the Carnival, held over four days in the month of February.  February in fact is a peak tourist time of Fortaleza.
• Walk around on foot and look at the city’s colonial buildings.  Spend some time understanding the culture of the city. Some of the landmark building here are the Fortress of Nossa Senhora da Assuncao – dating back to 1649 and the Cathedral Metropolitana built between 1937 and 1963. Take a guided tour of the city.
• Some of the colonial buildings in the Historic Center today serve as museums such as the State Tourism Center, the Museum of Folk Art and Culture, the art gallery of Jose de Alancar theatre and the Palacio do Luz dating back to the 18th century.  The Dragon Center of Art and Culture is another place you should visit for a tryst with the Brazilian culture.

• Relax at the beaches of Fortaleza City. Some of the fine beaches here are the Lagoinha Beach, the Cumbuco Beach, the Canoa Quebrada Beach and others, where you can enjoy sunbathing, swimming, scuba-diving or sailing. The Beach Park – a water based theme park is also good with its museum and an aqua park. There is also a souvenir shop here.

• Go fishing with the local fisherman and experience authentic fishing.
• Go for short day trips. Surf at the beach of the Village of Pecem. Snorkel and dive at the beaches of Trairi. Visit the Sunday crafts fair at Cascavel. Camp at the beaches like Beberibe and Prainha.
• For souvenirs such as handicrafts, the Feirinha Beira Mar and the Mercado Central are the places to explore.
• Enjoy a night out. The city has quite a few nightclubs and bars and there are always the beaches to sit through the night and unwind yourself.
• Feast on the cuisine here. Most of the food here is centered on seafood and is spicy.

With beaches to sit by, cultural centers and historical landmarks to explore to help you understand the city better and the Carnival in February, this Brazilian City of Fortaleza is worth having a nice vacation at.