Fortaleza CEARA NORTHEAST CEARÁ. The Coast & Beaches

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1 CEARA The Coast & Beaches The coast of Ceará is very rich and diverse: cliffs, large beaches, dunes, mangroves, lagoons, all ornate with coconut trees, and carnaúba palm trees. The coast is 573 Km long and divided in two sections: the Sunrise Coast and the Sunset Coast. Together, they count 120 beaches. The highlights of the Ceará coast are semi wild beaches such as: Jericoacoara; Nova Tatajuba and Canoa Quebrada. The first two lie west of the capital and access to them by land is only possible with a four wheel drive vehicle. Canoa Quebrada is to the east of Fortaleza and can be reached from Aracati. In the capital, Fortaleza, the most popular beach is Praia do Futuro. For those who like peace and quietness, a good option is Morro Branco beach, in Berberibe. Fortaleza Time: Brasilia s official time Average Annual Temperature: 24 ºC Climate: Tropical and semi arid Rainfall: January to May Airports: Pinto Martins (10 Km from Down Town) Ceará Fortaleza Fortaleza is the capital of Ceará State. handicraft works, and the people s customs and traditions. It is the shorter route to Brazil from Europe, United States and Africa (only 6 and a half hour flight). That is why Fortaleza is one of the main gateways to tourism in Brazil. Fortaleza is the 5th biggest city in Brazil, with a population of over 2.5 million inhabitants. Few places present as many attractions, both natural and cultural, as the city capital of Ceará. Located at only two degrees below the Equatorial Line, this authentic tropical paradise welcomes thousands of visitors every year, who are fascinated by the wilde beaches, the sea of green bright and warm waters, the historical monuments, the The city possesses one of the largest and best equipped networks of hotels and restaurants in the North-Eastern Region of Brazil. The sea shore, running along the length of the city, has a variety of attractions. Iracema beach is a bohemian enclave, with dozens of all-night bars situated in buildings which still retain the architectural features of the turn of the century. Meireles, Volta da Jurema and Mucuripe beaches are connected to each other by the Beira-Mar Avenue. There 139

2 is also this fishermen village at Mucuripe with their jangadas (a symbol of the city), and Futuro beach, full of stalls where one can dance the Forró, which is one of the most traditional rhythms of the North East Region. One of the city s attractions worth seeing is José de Alencar Theater, constructed in the 19th century. With a rich architecture and internal ironwork, it is a mixture of the neoclassical and art nouveau styles. At the Central Market - Mercado Central one you can buy anything from lace clothing to liqueurs, from beautiful handmade cotton hammocks, to cachaças and cashew nuts. Ceará is one of the main producers of lace, still largely a cottage industry. The cuisine is varied and the lobster is one of its most typical dishes. Nightclubs Pirata Bar Rua dos Tabajaras, Praia de Iracema Every Monday night, enjoy the most animated parties of Fortaleza. The bar plays live Forró typical music and dance from Ceará State. Going shopping Central de Artesanato do Ceará Av. Santos Dumont, Aldeota For all crafts: Laces; pottery; basketry; beautiful hammocks; etc. Feira de Artesanato Av. Beira Mar (in front of Imperial Othon Palace) Nightly crafts market with more than 700 craftsmen. Shopping Iguatemi Av. Washington Soares, 85 Edson Queiroz It is the biggest shopping center in Fortaleza, with modern and sophisticated boutiques. Shows Cajueiro Drinks Br 116, Km 20 - Eusébio It is a highly recommended spot for rodeo and forró shows. Mucuripe Clube Travessa Maranguape, Centro Mucuripe is a unique venue that joins in only one place 6 ambiences with nightclubs. Boite Mustike Av. Beira-Mar, Mucuripe Sophisticated nightclub with two dance floors and bars. Broadway (GLS) Rua Carolina Sucupira, Aldeota Fortaleza s best gay nightclub. Where to go for a drink? Centro Dragão do Mar de Arte e Cultura Rua Dragão do Mar, 81 Praia de Iracema Cultural center with museums, theatres, cinemas, bar, restaurant, amphitheatre and planetarium. Barraca do Chico Carangueijo Av. Zé Diogo, Praia do Futuro This is the place to eat crabs while enjoying live music shows. Eating out Al Mare Av. Beira Mar, 3821 Meireles Delicious seafood restaurant facing Mucuripe beach, with a beautiful view of the sea. Sobre o Mar International and Seafood Rua Tremembés, 2 - Praia de Iracema Nice view over Iracema beach with possibility to spot the dolphins. Colher de Pau Rua Frederico Borges, Varjota Happy hour from 5pm on, nice atmosphere to really enjoy the delicious seafood and regional dishes, especially carne de sol fatiada (sliced dried beef). 140

3 Services & Tours FOR 01 Transfer in/out One way transfer to or from Pinto Martins Airport, including assistance and porterage (2 pieces per person). FOR 02 HD City Tour Fortaleza City Tour (3 hours) Fortaleza, which is nowadays the 5th largest capital as per number of inhabitants, is a town which has retained its peaceful, quiet and hospitable atmosphere, linking past to present time. We will visit the old and the modern Fortaleza, from Beira Mar Avenue, where most of the hotels are concentrated, to Futuro Beach, passing by Iracema statue, Mercado dos Pescadores (Fishermen Market), the dunes, Aldeota, Portugal Square, Iracema and Ideal Beaches, the famous Metal Bridge, the Central Market, the Metropolitan Cathedral and the Center of Tourism and Handcrafts. We will also see the old lighthouse in Mucuripe, Our Lady of Assumption Fortress and the Historical and Antropological Museum. FOR 03 FD Morro Branco and Praia das Fontes Morro Branco and Praia das Fontes (7 hours) Our tour begins in the famous Morro Branco Beach, located 80 km away from Fortaleza, where the visitors will have the opportunity to be guided by local kids to this unique landscape of Brazil. A pleasant tour will allow passengers to see the famous multicolored sand dunes (with a total of 15 different colors that are used to make the famous bottles of sand, the most popular souvenir of Ceará). We will also visit the cliffs that forms a kind of a natural labyrinth where a set of fresh water spurt from the ground and go down the beach, thus providing and invigorating freshwater shower after a salt water dip in the sea. We will also visit Praia das Fontes (Water Spring Beach), with warm crystal-clear water, an ideal place to enjoy the rest of the day. Lunch at Praia das Fontes Park, with a nice infrastructure for aquatic activities including swimming pools and toboggans. 141

4 Services & Tours FOR 04 FD Canoa Quebrada Canoa Quebrada Beach (7 hours) This famous beach of Ceará State is located in the city of Aracati, 170 km away from Fortaleza. Its cliffs are up to 30 meters high, which makes it a perfect natural observation point. Paradisiacal beach that fame attracts and enchants visitors for the possibility of finding time for peace and relaxation and also for making an exciting tour by buggy. Lunch included at a typical restaurant. FOR 05 Cumbuco Beach Cumbuco Beach (7 hours) Cumbuco beach is only 36 km away from Fortaleza. Surrounded by mansions, refined hotels and inns, Cumbuco is nowadays the finest resort to be found in the state. Located in an old fishermen village, its landscape is blessed by immense sand dunes, vast groves of coconut trees and it offers a great variety of entertainment. The passenger can choose either a sand-dune buggy ride, navigating in the typical Jangada, jetskiing in the Parnamirim Lagoon, or joining in the fun of sliding down the sand dunes in the sand-surfing. Lunch included. FOR 06 FD Beach Park Beach Park (7 hours) Located 25 km away from Fortaleza, this resort is currently considered as having the best beach infrastructure complex in Brasil. One of its main attractions is the Aqua Park, boasting a 24 m high slide. Beach Park also offers many other joy rides and adventures such as ultra-light flights or a ride of the dunes in a buggy. 142

5 Hotels Gran Marquise Hotel «««««Location In front of Mucuripe beach, only 12 km far from the city center and 16 km far from the airport. Rooms 185 rooms and 45 suites in a 20 floor building. All rooms offer full fitted bathroom with bathrobe, hairdryer, air conditioning, color and satellite TV, video, in room safe box, telephone and mini bar. Features Mucuripe Restaurant, Sumire restaurant (Japanese food), cafeteria, lounge bar and piano bar. Business center, gym, indoor pool, sauna, Jacuzzi and sun terrace. Meetings & Banquets: largest room to hold 700 persons. Vila Galé «««««Location at the famous Praia do Futuro 10 minutes far from Beira Mar Avenue and 25 minutes away from the airport. Rooms 300 rooms equipped with air conditioning, safe box, mini bar, color/cable TV. Features 2 restaurants, lobby bar, pool bar, piano bar, swimming pool, Jacuzzi, massage, tennis court, games room, business center, beach service, recreation team, fitness room and children playground. Meeting and banquets: largest room to hold 800 persons. Blue Tree Towers ««««Location 200 meters far from Iracema beach. 20 minutes away from the airport. Rooms 250 rooms with balcony, air conditioning, cable TV, safe box, mini bar, telephone, internet access. Features 2 swimming pools, sauna, playground, business center, bar and restaurant Mandacaru. Meeting facilities: largest room to hold 250 persons

6 Hotels Hotel Luzeiros ««««Location Facing the beach at Beira Mar Avenue. Rooms 202 rooms equipped with air conditioning, cable TV, telephone, safe box and mini bar. Features 2 restaurants, lobby bar, swimming pool, pool bar, business center, fitness center. Meeting facilities: largest room with capacity to hold 300 persons. Othon Palace Fortaleza ««««Location On Meireles beach, 15 minutes far from the airport. Rooms 136 rooms with ocean view, equipped with air conditioning, safe box, mini bar, color/ cable TV. Features 2 restaurants, lobby bar, steam sauna, swimming pool, poolside snack bar, fitness room, business center, beach service. Bristol Jangada «««Location 50 meters far from Meireles beach, 15 minutes away from the airport. Rooms 160 rooms equipped with air conditioning, telephone, and safe box, mini bar, color TV. Features Lobby bar, Italian Restaurant, fitness center, swimming pool, massage, sauna, business center. Meeting room: largest room big enough to hold 120 persons