Drinks on the Beach…and Other Reasons to Love This City

Thursday, April 3, 2008
Fortaleza, Brazil

Read more about Brazil in International Living Postcards—your daily escape

We recently spent time in Fortaleza, on Brazil’s northeast coast, using the city as our base as we explored nearby beach opportunities. To catch up on our reports to date, see:

* A Cliff-top Condo With Spectacular Ocean Views...for $70,000

* Beachfront Condos for $88,000 in This Peaceful Brazilian Town

* Beachfront Apartments for $77,000

* Brazil: Beachfront Lots for Less Than $18,000

But we haven’t had a chance yet to tell you about Fortaleza City. With more than 2 million people, this city is a hub of activity, and a great amenity if you choose to live in the more peaceful fishing villages outside of the city.

Our hotel on Avenida Beira Mar offered a view of the white-sand beach, with a backdrop of highrise hotels and office blocks. This strip is the perfect place to wile away an evening by admiring the jewelry, clothes, and trinkets at the large outdoor market...watching a competitive game of volleyball at the beachside court...enjoying a bite to eat at one of the many restaurants...or sipping a caipirinha at one of the many beach bars. You find the usual mix of pushy street vendors and performers, but Fortaleza feels remarkably safe, and we never felt uncomfortable during our stay.

For a slightly more relaxed atmosphere, hop in a taxi to Dragão do Mar. (Taxis are plentiful in the city and are metered, making it an affordable and easy way to explore.) This area offers a choice of stylish restaurants with outdoor seating and live music. My favorite was Buoni Amici’s Pizza, an elegant converted warehouse with friendly staff and the best pizza in the city. The nearby Centro Dragão do Mar de Arte e Cultura is home to a planetarium, cinema, auditorium, and museums.

Brazilians and tourists alike flock to Praia do Futuro every Thursday for crab night. Locals were quick to recommend Praia do Futuro as the best beach in the city, and everyone recommended a different restaurant for crab night. In the end, we chose Coco Beach, a busy restaurant with live music and forró (a popular northeastern Brazilian dance). The seafood was excellent, but I think it’s the party-like atmosphere that keeps people coming back every week. Life in Fortaleza seems to be centered on live music, dancing, and fantastic food.

If you are keen to explore the great real estate deals surrounding Fortaleza City, you should also explore the city, too. Charming fishing villages with stretches of white-sand beach certainly have their appeal, but combine this with a nearby first-class city with all the amenities you will ever need and you have a truly unbeatable combination.

Eimear O’Driscoll and Laura Sheridan
For International Living

P.S. Next week, Pathfinder’s Ronan McMahon and IL’s Editorial Director Len Galvin begin their first-hand investigation of the best beachfront deals that surround Fortaleza. Thanks to the latest technology, you can “sit in” as they drive along the beach to view projects…meet the locals who matter…and get the inside story. The first-ever Brazil Beachfront Webinar takes place April 30. And as a reader of these Postcards, you are invited to attend…for free! Simply fill out this registration form, and we’ll e-mail you details about how to log in on April 30.