When travelers think about beach-going in Latin America, most people’s minds will immediately go to Northeastern Brazil. This region of our country has a balance of naturally beautiful beaches, with all kinds of terrain to explore, restaurants with live music for enjoying your evening, and even more!
Fortaleza’s stunning beaches are complemented by a lively cultural scene, offering visitors a blend of relaxation and vibrant city life.โ
Although the entire region is a popular destination, there is a list of best places to travel to which includes the city of Fortaleza. If you have reached this article, maybe coming from our city guide, you are probably thinking about the best things to do in Fortaleza Brazil.
If you want more, we also put together a complete Fortaleza Brazil travel guide to this fantastic city! Now, back to it!
Fortaleza, the capital city of the state of Cearรก, is a one-of-a-kind destination because the ocean almost blends into the city. The urban area has an incredible boardwalk that spreads through three wonderful beaches, less than twenty minutes by car is Praia do Futuro, an iconic place that inspired songs.
All around it is a beautiful city worth exploring! From Latin America’s biggest water park to an iconic cultural center plus more historic buildings. I am here to help you navigate this great place! So what are the top ten things to do in Fortaleza, Brazil?
1. Hit up as Many Beaches as You Can:
If you ask anyone, the main things to do in Fortaleza, Brazil, will always be the beautiful beaches. Most capital cities in northeastern states will have a bucket list place to hit up, but you’re in luck because Fortaleza has plenty of them!
One way you can decide which of them to go to is by looking at your group. Some beaches are a great place for families, while others have a more youthful atmosphere with bars and live music.
Praia do Futuro is one of the best places for families, with calm waters and plenty of family-friendly restaurants. Mucuripe Beach is for foodies, far away from more agitated parts of town. This is where you should come for the best seafood in town.
For a balance between infrastructure and good waters, Meireles Beach is a good idea. Go there with plenty of time to spare, since there is a lot to do in the area.
2. Have an Adventure on Beach Park:
Beach Park is waiting for you just off the coast at “Porto das Dunas” Beach, fifteen minutes away from the capital city. This is one of the best things to do in Fortaleza, Brazil, not just because it is the biggest water park in all of Latin America. Beach Park is a whole complex, with beaches, three different resorts along with plenty of lounging areas and restaurants spread in between.
Because Beach Park is so close to town, you don’t have to stay in any of their resorts. It is incredibly easy to organize a day trip to the water park portion of Beach Park.
If you are not staying in the property, my best advice is to purchase tickets in advance! You can get them through Beach Park’s website or with a trustworthy third party. Prices vary from 150 to 260 reais depending on which month you come.
3. Get Lost in the Central Market:
One of my favorite things to do in Fortaleza Brazil, is go to the Central Market. Visiting local markets is actually one of my favorite things to do anywhere new. Fortaleza’s central market is special because it is the biggest market for handmade items in our country.
There are almost six hundred different stalls divided between five floors. Central Market is a great place for you to find cheap handcrafted items, great quality leather goods, and even traditional sweets.
There are two things I’d almost consider cultural attractions here. The first one is Cachaรงa! Local markets are perfect to try this one hundred percent Brazilian alcoholic drink, distilled from sugar cane.
It is used as a base for our Caipirinha but it is also great on its own. And the second of our ‘cultural attractions’ are restaurants full of hearty local dishes! Don’t miss out on your chance to try some delicacies.
4. Go to at Least One Street Fair:
In places like the state of Cearรก, where there is a strong culture of buying and selling handmade items, street fairs are a staple everywhere in town. Going beyond the main street, there are many different ones to visit! And because Fortaleza has visitors around the year, there are street fairs every day of the week, not just on weekends.
But just like Rio de Janeiro has its famous Feira da Glรณria and Feira do Lavradio, which street fairs should be on your list of things to do in Fortaleza, Brazil?
Well, the best time to go to street fairs is the weekend! On Saturdays, Feira das Goiabeiras happens on Senador RObert Kennedy Avenue in Barra do Cearรก. The Feirinha Beira-Mar happens every day on Beira Mar Avenue but Sundays are when it is best. You will find similar items on every street fair and the best part is to browse stalls for a long time.
5. Buy Handmade Souvenirs at Emcetur:
Emcetur, the tourism center of the state, is a place with an incredibly rich cultural heritage, The building was a state prison for a hundred and one years, from 1866 to 1967. After a few years, in 1973, it was reopened as a center for commerce and touristic information.
In 1982, Emcetur was declared a historical heritage for the state of Cearรก. Over a hundred different establishments occupy what used to be prison cells.
Coming here will give you plenty of things to do in Fortaleza Brazil because the other floors are occupied by three different things! We have the Mineralogy Museum, exposing the riches of Cearรก’s soil to visitors.
There is also the Museum of Art and Popular Culture with incredible sculptures by three Brazilian artists. Lastly, we have a gallery with a comprehensive archive of media from northeastern Brazil. Fortaleza has very hot weather so Emcetur is a great place to recover from it for a bit.
6. Grab a Drink at a Traditional Bar:
Before getting into this item on our list of things to do in Fortaleza Brazil, I need to explain something to you. The bar culture in Brazil is very different from countries like the US, I’d say their only similarities are occasional live music.
Going to the bar in the US is almost synonymous with going clubbing. Going to a bar in Brazil is a much more relaxed affair, it is about grabbing a beer and some snack portions while catching up with friends.
When you’re winding down after a long day of exploring, consider hitting up one of Fortaleza’s best places. Giz Cozinha Boรชmia is perfect for people looking for an authentic Brazilian evening, with plenty of live music every day of the week. Moleskine Gastrobar unites a relaxed experience with haute cuisine, their happy hour is super complete with many beer and wine options.
7. Spend a Day Touring the City:
There is no way to talk about things to do in Fortaleza Brazil, without telling you to tour the city of Fortaleza. This iconic city in Latin America is more than a natural beauty and a city tour is the best way to see it all.
This is the kind of thing you do in your first days in town because day tours will help you figure out where to spend more of your time! Whenever you are looking up companies to hire, you will have to consider some things!
I would say the first thing to consider is how much the company seems like a serious business, it helps to book it through an indication from your front desk. Another thing is to consider your itinerary, in some cases, it might be better to book a private tour. That way you get to see it all: Theatro Josรฉ de Alencar, the Catedral Metropolitana, the Fish Market!
8. Head Over to Jericoacoara:
Have you ever seen a picture of those hammocks spread over a perfectly blue ocean? Well, that is one of the most beautiful beaches in Brazil, Jericoacoara.
The name means ‘hole of the turtles’ in Brazil’s native language and it references the fact this is one of the best places for sea turtles to bury their eggs! Of course, it is famous for its scenic beauty but people come here from all over to enjoy a warm and calm ocean just as much.
There are more than a few great options to stay in the area. However, it isn’t exactly the most exciting place to spend time, given there isn’t much to do besides going to the beach. You can choose to stay close to all the best things to do in Fortaleza Brazil, and book a full-day Jericoacoara tour in order to enjoy this piece of paradise.
9. Walk Through Cliffs at Morro Branco Beach:
Remember how earlier in this article I said that most of the best the best things to do in Fortaleza, Brazil, were going to different beaches? You find a lot beyond coconut trees less than an hour by car from downtown Fortaleza!
For some breathtaking cliffs towering over the sand strip, Morro Branco Beach is a mandatory stop. Sand dunes stand amongst different colored cliffs. Don’t be weirded out if you see people taking sand from them, that will be used to make traditional handcrafted items you can buy on most street fairs and markets.
An alternative to this place, because it does get crowded, is going to Canoa Quebrada Beach. This one has smaller cliffs that are still just as beautiful, with a terracotta color that contrasts beautifully with the ocean. If you are interested in doing some water sports, Canoa Quebrada is a little better for them!
10. Take Flight Over Paradise:
Our last item on this list of things to do in Fortaleza Brazil, is maybe something most blogs will never think of recommending to people coming over: taking a panoramic flight over this gorgeous city.
There are many ways to do that! You can try paragliding with an instructor, the fact it is a super unique thing to do is definitely an added bonus. There are also helicopter tours you can go on for a different point of view on northeastern Brazil.
Your biggest priority should be looking for service providers that seem reliable. I say that not just to alert you to scammers but also because I want you to be safe. Look for vehicles and equipment in good condition! Also, don’t forget to get good health insurance coverage for your trip. Accidents can happen anywhere, so it is best to be prepared just In case something does happen.
I hope by now you have added at least a couple of items to your list of things to do in Fortaleza Brazil. It doesn’t matter if you plan on going down a water slide, lounging under palm trees, or following your tour guide around the city center, no one wants to have a sunburn by late afternoon.
My advice is to put some containers of your favorite sunscreen in your checked bag! Just pack them nicely to avoid any accidents on the flight over. Along with that, pack your smaller beach items like bathing suits and sunglasses.
You may be thinking: Lu, what about beach towels or umbrellas? Well, that’s where choosing a good hotel comes in handy. Because Fortaleza is a popular destination full of tourist attractions, there are many great resorts with different stunning beaches.
Higher-end options will have umbrellas and chairs set on the white sand for you to use, with towels you can return later. Now that you know what are the best things to do in Fortaleza, Brazil, check out our Fortaleza travel guide for hotel suggestions and more!
