With approximately 16mi (26km) of coastline, Fortaleza is home to dozens of white sand beaches. However, it’s anything but a sleepy surfer town. Catch a show at the Dragão do Mar Center of Art and Culture, hunt for souvenirs at the Mercado Central or visit the neo-gothic Catedral Metropolitana in one of the largest cities in northeastern Brazil.
Fortaleza welcomes tourists each year to enjoy its palm-tree-flanked shoreline, cosmopolitan theaters and lively nightlife. Despite its warm climate and tropical beaches, it doesn’t attract the same attention as Salvador or Recife. Explore the beaches, shop in the market and don’t leave without trying freshly caught shrimp cooked and drizzled with garlic oil. Make the most of your trip to Brazil by checking out these things to do in Fortaleza.
This giant market should be your one-stop souvenir shop – you’ll find every handicraft imaginable in one of the shops lining Mercado Central’s four stories. While the market has been in operation since 1809, it shifted focus from fresh produce when the government banned the sale of food in favor of textiles, woven baskets and other artisan goods in the 1900s. But don’t worry – you can grab a bite to eat here today.
Close to a million visitors pour into this resort each year – and with good reason. It’s the biggest water park in Latin America – home to four hotels and an abundance of flumes, pools and lazy rivers. Drop down the 135ft (41m) Insano, once lauded as the tallest water slide in the world, or unwind in the sauna. It’s a great way to entertain the kids (young and young at heart) for an afternoon.
The open-air Kina do Feijão Verde has been serving regional dishes, unique to northeastern Brazil, since 1999. Order up classics such as carne de sol (salted, sun-dried meat), baião de dois (black-eyed peas and rice) or panelada (cow stomach stew), then wash it down with one of the national beers on offer. Feeling fancy? Sip on one of the regional wines as a digestif, and top it off with a dessert, such as the delícia de abacaxi (pineapple delight).
Fortaleza’s year-round warmer temperatures mean that ice cream is always in order. Our top pick for sorvete (ice cream) is 50 Sabores – although the shop usually has more than a hundred different flavors. There are now more than 10 branches of this frozen dessert store across the city. Check out the Brazilian fruit flavors and the liquor-infused caipirinha, or get a taste of the tapioca ice cream. Warning: the servings are huge, so stick with one scoop.
Kylie Madry contributed additional reporting to this article.
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