Brazil's Beautiful Beaches and Beyond

Cruise to Fortaleza, Brazil

Fortaleza is famous as a gateway to northeastern Brazil, but even if it's your only stop in the region, the city will delight and impress you. Many of the best things to do in Fortaleza, Brazil, center around the Atlantic Ocean and the legendary beaches it laps up against. You can get a window into the indigenous mangrove landscapes of Brazil's Ceará state at Parque Estadual do Rio Cocó nature preserve. Or, trace Fortaleza's human history at the Centro Dragão do Mar de Arte e Cultura museum or at architectural marvels like St. Joseph's Cathedral and Theatro José de Alencar. Regional crafts abound at Fortaleza Central Market, while fresh-caught fish, lobster and crab are available in restaurants along the water.

National Language Portuguese

Currency Accepted Real (R$)

Things To Do in Fortaleza

Take a long walk on any of Fortaleza's famous beaches, including Praia de Iracema.

Touch the North Atlantic

Sink your toes into the golden sands of Fortaleza's famous beaches to see Brazil's North Atlantic coastline for yourself. Rent an umbrella at Praia do Futuro or Praia de Iracema and get some sun, or order a refreshing caipirinha cocktail from a passing beach vendor. Then, take a taxi a bit farther south to Praia Sabiaguaba, where the calm, crystalline waters of a lagoon meet sugar-white sand.

Learn about Fortaleza's surprising role in ending slavery at the Centro Dragão museum.

Discover Natural and Human History

Take a break from the beach to immerse yourself in the history and culture of this region. Check out the Parque Estadual do Rio Cocó, which spotlights the plants and animals of the mangrove swamps typical of Fortaleza's surrounding Ceará state. Or, head instead to Centro Dragão do Mar Arte e Cultura. Take your time enjoying all of the exhibits, but make sure to visit the one dedicated to Francisco José do Naciomento — a local merchant whose refusal to participate in the slave trade contributed to its eventual end.

Take a trip back in time when you visit Fortaleza's Theatro José de Alencar and other historical sites.

Explore Heritage Architecture

Marvel at the glittering skyscrapers of modern Fortaleza, but appreciate the city's older buildings as well. Set your GPS for Theatro José de Alencar, whose art nouveau facade and stained-glass panes provide a window into Fortaleza a century ago. Then, take a moment inside St. Joseph's Cathedral. The cathedral was only finished in 1978, but its neo-Gothic architecture makes it seem much older.

Succulent warm-water lobsters are just one example of the fresh-caught seafood you can enjoy in Fortaleza.

LOCAL CUISINE

Stop at any of the restaurants along Fortaleza's beaches for a lunch of lobster, crab or fresh fish caught daily from the waters of the North Atlantic. Then for dinner, visit restaurants within the city center to dine on classics that illuminate broader Brazilian culinary culture. Choose a churrascaria for tender, grilled meats served on demand, or scarf down a sumptuous plate of feijoada bean stew if you happen to be visiting on Sunday, the only day it's usually served.

Shield yourself from Fortaleza's famous sun with a locally made hat bought at Fortaleza Central Market.

SHOPPING

Spend the afternoon wandering around the Fortaleza Central Market. Shop for one-of-a-kind crafts you won't find anywhere else in the city. Visit shops selling handmade bobbin lace, particularly if any of them offer demonstrations of it being woven. Browse other authentic items, including hats, utensils and other items made with bamboo and palm fronds.