Spotlight on...Fortaleza, Brazil

by Lee Harrison

Hundreds of miles of dazzling, white-sand beaches surround the city of Fortaleza in the northeast of Brazil. Its clear, tropical ocean waters maintain a year-round temperature of 80˚ Fahrenheit. Serving as the glimmering centerpiece for the state of Ceará, this capital city of almost 3 million people is now the No. 1 tourist destination in Brazil. Fortaleza boasts its own beautiful in-city beaches, sizzling nightlife, and great restaurants.

Yet you can still buy a downtown apartment with a sea view for $150,000 and lots (just off the beach) outside the city are for sale for as little as $15,000.

Fortaleza is popular with European travelers, expats, and investors, but completely off the radar screen of North Americans…for now.