Travel advisory · BrazilSome governments advise against travel to parts of Brazil.The warnings cover only these areas: Ceilandia, Favelas, Paranoá, Santa Maria, São Sebastião, Venezuela border area.Advice depends on your passport. Read your own government's advice before you book.Official advice

Areas with warnings

Ceilandia · avoid non-essential travel · Italy, US
Favelas · avoid non-essential travel · Germany, Spain, New Zealand, US
Paranoá · avoid non-essential travel · Italy, US
Santa Maria · avoid non-essential travel · Italy, US
São Sebastião · avoid non-essential travel · Italy, US
Venezuela border area · avoid non-essential travel · Germany, France

Also named by one government: 160 km strip along Brazil's land borders (US), Complexo da Maré (Canada), Complexo da Penha (Canada), 20 km strip along the Bolivian border (excluding Pantanal National Park) (Canada), 20 km strip along the Colombian border (Canada), 20 km strip along the French Guiana border (Canada), 20 km strip along the Guyanese border (Canada), 20 km strip along the Paraguayan border (Canada), 20 km strip along the Peruvian border (Canada), 20 km strip along the Surinamese border (Canada), 50 km strip along the Venezuelan border (Canada), Amazonas River and tributaries, Amazonas State (between Codajás and Belém do Solimões) (UK), Border zones (unspecified) (France), Chapada Diamantina National Park (trilha do 21) (Spain), Planaltina (Italy), Samambaia (Italy)

Government	Advice	Updated	Read the advice
United Kingdom (FCDO)	No advice against the whole country (regional advisories)	–	Read the advice
United States (State Dept)	Exercise increased caution (regional advisories)	Aug 31, 2026	Read the advice
Canada (Global Affairs)	Exercise a high degree of caution (regional advisories)	–	Read the advice
Germany (Auswärtiges Amt)	No advice against the whole country (regional advisories)	Oct 27, 2026	Read the advice
New Zealand (SafeTravel)	Exercise increased caution due to high crime rates (regional advisories)	–	Read the advice
France (Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs)	Vigilance renforcée (pays à risque) (regional advisories)	–	Read the advice

Checked daily from the governments' published advice; last checked Nov 2, 2026. RoamLedger summarises official advice; it is not advice from any government.

red and white ship on sea during daytime

Fortaleza

Fortaleza is a beach city on Brazil's northeast coast, known for its seafront, its seafood and the sand dunes a short drive away.

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Fortaleza is the capital of Ceará, a state on Brazil's Atlantic coast in the Northeast region. Its beaches are the main draw, and most are a short walk or ride from the center. Avenida Beira-Mar runs along the seafront, where people walk, cycle and watch the sunset over the fishing boats. In the old center, the Mercado Central sells crafts, hammocks and food.

Seafood is a big part of a visit. Lobster is the local specialty, and jangadas, the traditional wooden sail rafts, still work the coast. Ceará is also known for forró music, which you can hear in bars and dance halls. The best months are August to November, when the wind is strong and the sky is mostly clear. Plan three to four days: two or three in the city and a day trip to the dunes at Cumbuco for sandboarding and buggy rides. Fortaleza suits beach and food trips more than travelers looking for museums and old streets.

Fortaleza in five

Check your visa rule before you bookMany passports enter Brazil visa-free for tourist stays, but not all do. Check your nationality on the Brazilian embassy or consulate site before you pay for flights.Visas and entry
Set up data before you landLoad an eSIM before you leave so ride apps and maps work from the arrivals hall. Vivo, Claro and TIM are the main networks, and a local SIM needs your passport.Phones and eSIM
Book rides in 99 or UberThe ride apps 99 and Uber are the easiest way to cross town from the beaches. Check the driver's name and plate in the app before you get in.Getting around
Carry reais in small notesCarry reais for beach kiosks and small shops, which may not take cards. Break large notes in a shop before you go to the sand.Money and costs
Swim only between the lifeguard flagsBrazilian beaches mark the watched swimming zone with red and yellow flags, and lifeguards (salva-vidas) work inside them. Ask a lifeguard about the current before you swim past the breakers.

Things to do in Fortaleza

See all attractions in Fortaleza

Sight · FortalezaAvenida Beira Mar

Sight · FortalezaPousada Dragão do MarCheck with the guesthouse about renovations before booking.

Museum · FortalezaMuseu de Arte Contemporânea do Ceará | MAC-CEAdmission is free.

Free trip plannerPlan a trip to FortalezaPut the places you like in Fortaleza on a map, give them days, and let one button order each day. Free, with no account.Plan a trip

Need to know

Currency: Real (BRL)
Entry: Visa-free for many passports; others need a visa before travel
Emergency: 190 police, 192 ambulance, 193 fire
Tipping: Service charge of about 10% often added; extra tip optional
Time: UTC-3, no daylight saving

Weather by month

Rainy days

Best
Good
Mixed
Poor

JanuaryRain23 rainy daysHigh30°Low25°Hot, holiday peak
FebruaryRain24 rainy daysHigh30°Low25°Rainy season
MarchRain28 rainy daysHigh29°Low25°Heavy rain
AprilRain27 rainy daysHigh29°Low25°Rain, humid
MayRain22 rainy daysHigh29°Low25°Rain easing
JuneRain15 rainy daysHigh29°Low24°Breezy, showers
JulyClear11 rainy daysHigh29°Low23°Breezy, dry
AugustClear4 rainy daysHigh30°Low24°Dry, windy
SeptemberClear3 rainy daysHigh30°Low24°Windy, sunny
OctoberClear5 rainy daysHigh30°Low25°Windy, dry
NovemberClear7 rainy daysHigh30°Low26°Dry, hot
DecemberRain14 rainy daysHigh30°Low26°Holiday crowds

Average daily high and low in Fortaleza, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.

Right now in Fortaleza

Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.

Feels like: 33°
Humidity: 66%
Wind: 22 km/h
Chance of rain: 53%

Fortaleza

05:37 PM

Monday, November 2

GMT-3

Today31°27°53%Monday: Drizzle. High 31°, Low 27°. Chance of rain 53%.
Tue31°27°31%Tuesday: Drizzle. High 31°, Low 27°. Chance of rain 31%.
Wed32°27°14%Wednesday: Drizzle. High 32°, Low 27°. Chance of rain 14%.
Thu32°27°6%Thursday: Drizzle. High 32°, Low 27°. Chance of rain 6%.
Fri31°26°22%Friday: Drizzle. High 31°, Low 26°. Chance of rain 22%.
Sat32°26°6%Saturday: Cloudy. High 32°, Low 26°. Chance of rain 6%.
Sun32°27°13%Sunday: Drizzle. High 32°, Low 27°. Chance of rain 13%.

Updated 03:29 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com

Money

Mid-market rate1 USD = 5.437 BRL

Amount

Converted to

BRL · Brazilian Real

Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API

Day trips by train

Cumbucoabout 1 hour by carA dune and kitesurf beach with buggy rides on the sand.
Canoa Quebradaabout 3 hours by car or coachRed cliffs and a village of sand streets, good for a day or an overnight stay.
Jericoacoaraabout 5 to 6 hours by roadA dune village reached over sand tracks, with lagoons and dunes for sunset.

Before you go to Fortaleza

eSIM for FortalezaData for maps, ride apps and PixRead the guide

Insurance for FortalezaCover for beach accidents and delaysRead the guide

Cash and cards in BrazilReais for beach kiosks and small shopsRead the guide

Stays on the beachfrontMeireles and Iracema comparedRead the guide

Rules for Fortaleza, checked

Declare goods above the duty-free allowance on the customs form before you arrive. Check current limits on the Receita Federal site.Source
Visa rules depend on your passport. Check the visa section of the Brazilian consulate or embassy for your country before you book flights.

Plan around Fortaleza

Where to stay in Fortaleza

Beachfront, Iracema and Aldeota compared

Read the guide Getting around Fortaleza

App rides, buses and the airport transfer

Read the guide Money and costs

Cash, cards and Pix for daily spending

Read the guide Visas and entry

Entry rules by passport and what to check

Read the guide All of Brazil

Regions, cities and getting between them

Read the guide

Fortaleza FAQ

Is Fortaleza worth visiting?

Yes, for city beaches, sunset bars, seafood and the dunes nearby. It suits a beach and outdoors trip more than a culture-heavy city break.

Is Fortaleza safe for tourists?

Stay in busy beach areas by day, use app rides at night and keep valuables out of sight. Ask your hotel which streets to avoid.

What is the best beach in Fortaleza?

Meireles and Iracema are the city beaches with bars and kiosks. Praia do Futuro is the eastern beach used for kitesurfing.

Can you visit Canoa Quebrada from Fortaleza?

Yes, by car or coach in about 3 hours each way. A day trip works, but staying overnight lets you see the cliffs at dawn and dusk.

Do you need Portuguese in Fortaleza?

Hotels and tour desks often have English speakers, but most restaurants, taxi drivers and small shops use Portuguese. Learn a few greetings and numbers before you arrive.

When is the rainy season in Fortaleza?

The main rains fall from about February to May. Aim for August to November, when the wind is strong and the sky is mostly clear.