Fortaleza, Brazil: beaches, Jericoacoara and the best season

At a glance

Fortaleza, Brazil in brief

Fortaleza became a vila on 13 April 1726, the date the city hall uses as its anniversary, so 2026 is its 300th year. The 2022 Census counted 2,428,678 people, which makes it the largest city in the Northeast by population. Pinto Martins airport sits about 10 km from the centre.

Most travellers use the city as a base: two days for the beaches and the centre, then trips west to Cumbuco and Jericoacoara and east to Canoa Quebrada.

Beaches in Fortaleza

Embratur describes the city beaches like this:

Next door, in Aquiraz, Porto das Dunas has white sand, big dunes and Beach Park, which Embratur calls one of the largest and most visited water parks in Latin America.

The centre: Dragão do Mar

The Dragão do Mar arts and culture centre, near Praia de Iracema, has cinemas, a planetarium and the city’s Museum of Contemporary Art. In the evening the streets around it fill with bars and live music. Opening hours change, so we check them for your dates.

Weather in Fortaleza by month

Embratur calls Fortaleza the Northeast capital with the least rain. INMET normals for 1961-1990, published by the World Meteorological Organization:

In Jericoacoara, ICMBio puts the rainy season from February to May, with sunny, windy weather the rest of the year. For the whole country, see the best time to visit Brazil.

Jericoacoara from Fortaleza

Getting there

ICMBio gives the route as 294 km on the CE-085 (the Sol Poente highway) to Jijoca de Jericoacoara, then about 20 km on dirt track to the village, which lies inside the national park. In the village, private cars are restricted and stay in an authorised car park at the entrance, according to the Jijoca city hall. The regional Jericoacoara airport is about 30 km away (Embratur).

The city hall charges a Sustainable Tourism Fee (TTS), valid for 10 days of stay and renewable by the day after that. We include it in the plan so nobody waits at the entrance.

What to see

The national park was created in 2002 and covers 8,863 hectares (ICMBio).

• Pedra Furada, a rock arch cut by the sea. In July the sun sets inside the gap (Embratur).
• The freshwater lagoons around the park, reached by buggy: Lagoa Azul and a nearby lagoon known for hammocks set right in the water.
• Vila de Preá, about 30 km south according to Embratur.
• Night sky: the village has no public street lighting, so bring a torch.

Park rules

ICMBio prohibits driving on fixed or moving dunes, lighting campfires in the park, leaving litter and catching or chasing wildlife. We book buggies and drivers who work within these rules.

If you like dunes with rain lagoons, the next region west is Maranhão: see Lençóis Maranhenses.

Cumbuco and Canoa Quebrada

Cumbuco is about 35 km from Fortaleza through Caucaia. Embratur describes a quiet village with buggy rides, freshwater lagoons such as Lagoa do Parnamirim and plenty of resorts. It fits a day trip.

Canoa Quebrada is about 160 km away. It started as a hippie village and is now known for clear water and multicoloured cliffs. With the drive both ways, a night there makes the day easier.

How many days and how to combine it

We suggest 7 to 9 days for Ceará: two days in Fortaleza, a day in Cumbuco, at least three nights in Jericoacoara (the road is long) and a day or a night in Canoa Quebrada. From Rio, Fortaleza combines well with Recife and Olinda or Natal on a two-week Brazil itinerary. We check flights for your dates when we build the plan.

Safety and health

The U.S. State Department keeps Brazil at Level 2, “Exercise increased caution” (issued 31.08.2026). The UK FCDO page was current on 21.10.2026, and Canada advises a high degree of caution (updated 14.10.2026). Emergency numbers: 190 police, 192 ambulance, 193 fire brigade. For vaccines, see health tips for Brazil and talk to your doctor.

Check entry requirements on official websites before you travel.

What to tell us in your request

• Dates and nights in Ceará
• Number of people and ages of any children
• Which places interest you: Fortaleza, Cumbuco, Jericoacoara, Canoa Quebrada
• Flights, if you already have them
• Type of accommodation and budget range
• The language the guide should speak

How we help

We put Ceará into one plan: airport transfers in Fortaleza, the road to Jericoacoara with the village rules in mind, buggies, accommodation and a guide who speaks your language. If you start in Rio, we add a private driver there too. Our fee is already included in the price. Terms and payment are set out in the proposal; you pay nothing before you confirm.