Brazilian people are famous for their positive attitude. Whatever life throws at them, they do their best to keep it in perspective. At the end of the day a coffee or beer with friends is the custom. The country is the third largest beer market in the world, and the Brazilians drink around 140 million hectoliters of beer each year.
Fortaleza is the capital of Ceará, on the Atlantic coast of Northeastern Brazil. It is a popular tourist resort with Brazilians, and increasingly it is attracting people from further afield. Most people come here for Fortaleza’s beaches. There are more than 30 km of them and some of Brazil’s best.
The main beach is lined by a pedestrianized strip, ideal for walking, biking and rollerblading. Lined with palm trees, hotels, and beach bars it is the place to come. The sea here is popular with surfers who take advantage of the swells which hit this north-facing beach.
Fortaleza has an excellent intercity bus network which is inexpensive and covers most of the city. Taxi’s are also affordable. Driving in Brazil is aggressive and fast paced and can take some getting used to. Be extra cautious crossing the road. Drivers will not slow down for you and some will even speed up! There is a bike-share scheme available which is free for the first hour, very useful for short journeys.
The majority of people who visit Fortaleza will stay within 5 block of the sea. As well as the beaches, this area has the popular bars, cafés and restaurants. This area of the city has been well maintained with tourists in mind, and is also the safest part of the city. Deeper into the city, there are slums which are not safe. Walking outside of the tourist areas is an extremely bad idea.
The climate in Fortaleza is tropical. The weather is warm all year, without extremes of heat or cold. The sea breeze, which makes the area so popular with windsurfers and sailors, provides a cooling balm and ensures things don’t get too humid.
