CEARÁ

CAPITAL

Capital: fortaleza

Among the most famous places in the capital, there are Praia do Meireles, Praia de Iracema, Praia do Futuro and the Historic Center

Fortaleza has a plurality of tourist options, whether in contact with nature or culture, there are many attractions

Photo: Jade Queiroz

Ceará, a state of the Northeast region, is known for its beautiful beaches, which attract the interest of tourists from all over the world. The local culture is the result of the influence of indigenous and Africans, as well as Europeans. Handicrafts are one of the main cultural expressions in the state and are commonly made with leather, straw, clay, wood or sand.

There is also cordel literature and woodcuts, which tell stories in the form of verses. The cordel was even recognized as a Brazilian Intangible Cultural Heritage. In terms of parties and nightlife, the Reisado, the Caninha Verde Festival, the Festas Juninas and the Festa da Banda Cabaçal are very popular in Ceará.

The gastronomy is rich and makes massive use of fish, all kinds of seafood, dried meat, cheese, cassava manioc and lots of seasoning. When visiting Ceará it is mandatory to taste dishes such as couscous, baião de dois, moqueca, cashew sweets, rapadura and, of course, tapioca. The typical drink Cajuína is also found in great abundance in the state.

Fortaleza has a plurality of tourist options, whether in contact with nature or cultural, there are many attractions. Among the most famous places are Praia de Iracema, Praia do Meireles, Praia do Futuro and the Historic Center.

Theatro José de Alencar is one of the main tourist attractions in Fortaleza and a symbol of Ceará art. It is possible to take a free guided tour for about an hour. It is also worth including in the itinerary the Dragão do Mar Center of Art and Culture, a space that houses the Ceará Culture Museum; Ceará Contemporary Art Museum; a cinema; the Rubens de Azevedo Planetarium and an Amphitheater, where several free performances of the most diverse artistic genres are held.

Praia do Futuro, with its bathing facilities and innumerous tents, has established itself as a mandatory stop for anyone visiting Fortaleza. There is also Praia de Iracema, which is one of the most popular places in the capital. The place has a pier popularly known as Espigão da Praia, where you can watch the sunset.

For those who want to buy handcrafted products, in addition to the city’s street fairs, one of the options is to go to the Ceará Tourism Center, where there are fabrics, lace items, bags, needlework and much more. Do not miss the Feira de Artesanato da Beira Mar, a 30 year old spot located outdoors and which has stalls with several products, from clothing to food.

Other alternatives are to visit the Metropolitan Cathedral of Fortaleza, the Central Market and the Fish Market, located on Mucuripe Beach, where you can find fishermen’s stalls and restaurants. The option is ideal for those who want to taste seafood dishes at inviting prices.

Photo: Jade Queiroz - MTur

Photo: Jade Queiroz - MTur

ROTA DAS FALÉSIAS

The Rota das Falésias (Falésias Route) has almost 200 kilometers of beaches. All the way from Fortaleza, it is possible to pass through Aquiraz, Cascavel, Beberibe, Aracati and Icapuí, arriving close to the border of Rio Grande do Norte.

Aquiraz offers a rich historic center and the famous Beach Park. In Beberibe, the great attraction is the beach of Morro Branco with the tour of the Labyrinth of the Cliffs. The quick walk through the colorful walls of the cliffs can be done without a guide, but it is worth hiring one, listening to the stories of the region and getting to know the colorful sands up close.

Located in the city of Aracati, 185 kilometers from Fortaleza, is Canoa Quebrada, which attracts tourists from all over the world for its beautiful landscapes and the fun nightlife on the famous Broadway Street. The last stop is Icapuí, the land of lobster. Border between Ceará and Rio Grande do Norte, the region is formed by three main beaches: Praia da Ponta Grossa, Praia da Redonda and Praia da Peroba.

JERICOACOARA

The city of Jijoca de Jericoacoara, in Ceará, is known for having one of the most beautiful beaches in the world, Jericoacoara. Surrounded by dunes and coconut trees, it has a blue crystalline water and pleasant temperatures, ideal for lovers of nautical sports. Pedra Furada, with an arch carved by the sea in the rocks, and Duna Pôr do Sol, are the main tourist attractions of the place.

Located inside the Jericoacoara National Park, Jeri is about 300 kilometers from Fortaleza. Praia do Preá, 17 kilometers from the main village, has more favorable winds for the practice of windsurfing and kitesurfing. In addition, the beach also has a good tourist structure. The crystal clear waters of “Lagoa Azul” and “Lagoa Paraíso” makes them the most visited in the city.

CARIRI

Located in the south of Ceará, the region of Cariri is known mainly for its religiosity, its culture and its handicrafts. Cariri is home to Father Cícero’s land: the municipality of Juazeiro do Norte, which is 491 kilometers from Fortaleza and is the second largest city in the state. Those who seek to learn the religiosity of the land of Father Cícero, the “Padim Ciço”, the greatest spiritual leader of the people from “sertão”, can follow the “Caminhos dos Romeiros” and visit Colina do Horto, where his entire trajectory and life story is represented in the museum.

The garden is located three kilometers from the city of Juazeiro do Norte and comprises the statue of Padre Cícero, the Living Museum of Padre Cícero, the Church of Senhor Bom Jesus do Horto and the access trail to the Holy Sepulcro (2,650 meters).

Chapada do Araripe is a vast area of vegetation that houses a national forest, an environmental protection area and a geopark. For those who prefer a scientific and pedagogical itinerary, full of archeology, geology and paleontology, it is possible to travel the paths of the expedition “Unraveling Prehistory” and find records of up to 110 million years, in the Araripe Geopark.

Photo: Jade Queiroz - MTur

Located in the city of Aracati, Canoa Quebrada is known for its beautiful landscapes and the fun nightlife on its own Broadway Street

The city of Jijoca de Jericoacoara, in Ceará, is known for having one of the most beautiful beaches in the world, Jericoacoara

Photo: Jade Queiroz - MTur

Photo: Nadim Maluf - MTur