Hotels and Pousadas Guide

Fortaleza:

We particularly recommend hotels in Praia de Iracema, Meireles or Beira Mar. Please don’t reserve hotels in Praia do Futuro, because it is far from the center of the city and dangerous.

We selected few places in Fortaleza but we believe you can find others on websites like expedia or hotwire, because they usually have different prices in hotels.

Hotel La Maison : This is a pousada/ hotel in a great location in Fortaleza. It has easy acces to the beach and bars.

Apt DBL R$90 with breakfast

http://www.hotellamaison.com.br/

Pousada Mundo Latino: This is a small “pousada” in a great location in Fortaleza. It has easy access to the beach, bars, restaurants, shopping mall.

Apt DBL R$90 with Breakfast and parking

http://www.mundolatino.com.br/index2.htm

Hostel Back Packersce

R$17 per person/ night in a shared room without breakfast. This hostel is a little bit removed from the main tourist area.

http://www.backpackersce.com.br/

Ibis Hotel Fortaleza – Accor

Usually the Accor chain has good prices and this hotel is in a good location.

Around R$100 DBL

http://www.accorhotels.com/gb/hotel-1142-ibis-fortaleza/index.shtml

Tabuba or Cumbuco:

The wedding will be located at a beach house in Praia da Tabuba ( Tabuba Beach – 30km for Fortaleza) We recommend our friends and families spend at least one night close to the wedding venue. There will be an open bar, so you might not want to drive back to Fortaleza.

Tabuba is really small, occupying about 1.5km of beachfront and mostly residential. The best thing is to stay in a hotel in Cumbuco beach down the road and walk or get a ride to the wedding.

In Cumbuco and Tabuba the high season is from July to November because during this time the winds are favorable for windsurfing and kitesurfing. People come there from everywhere in the world and all of the pousadas and hotels are managed by foreigners. Unfortunately for us, this means that accommodation in Cumbuco is a little more expensive than other places in the area.

Here some suggestions of places to stay in Tabuba

Beleza das Ondas

It is a pousada near the house where the wedding is taking place. (ess than one block)

R$120 - R$150 apt DBL with breakfast

http://www.belezadasondascumbuco.com/

Cumbuco

Pousada Casa Dona Rosa: It is a small, comfortable guesthouse in the village of Cumbuco, owned by a Dutch couple. Around R$135 - R$160 apt DBL with Café

http://www.casadonarosa.com/CasaDonaRosaEnglish.htm

Pousada Maracuja: It is also a small and beautiful pousada, Around R$160 apt DBL with breakfast

http://www.pousadamaracuja.com.br

Sunset Beach Hotel R$110 apt DBL with Breakfast

http://www.villacumbuco.com/sunsetbeachhotelcumbuco.html

Other options:

Hotel Eco Paradase: http://www.paradisecumbuco.com.br/

Hotel Golfinho: http://www.hotelgolfinho.com.br/

Jericoacoara

Transportation:

Bus - Redenção (85-494.4744) does Fortaleza – Jericoacoara – Fortaleza (R$ 40,00 / each way). You go by bus until Jijoca and there get a truck to Jericoacoara.

Time: Leaving of Fortaleza- 10:30h arriving in Jeri 17:00h e

Leaving 18:30h and arriving 00:00h.

More information at the website

http://www.redencaoonline.com.br/pt/turismo.php

P.S: You can buy your return tkt when you are in Jericoacoara.

The bus return to Fortaleza and have three stops, one at the airport, other at the bus terminal (rodoviária) and other at Praia de Iracema

Places to stay:

Jericoacoara is a international place, so most of the hotels and pousadas have English websites. Jericoacoara has a camping and a hostels but I recommend stay in a “pousada” because you can find good prices and it’s safer to leave your stuff in a pousada when you are on the beach or wandering around.

• Simple:

Pousada do tadeu - R$80 DBL with breakfast

http://www.pousadadotadeu.com/

pousadotadeu@hotmail.com

Ponta Mar Jeri - Simple Pousada, good location and with breakfast R$80 DBL

http://www.pontamarjeri.com/

Hostel: Jeri Brasil R$30 por person (no breakfast and you share a room with other people)

http://www.jeribrasil.com.br

• Comfort:

Poudada Espaço nova era (good location, nice pousada)

http://www.novaerapousada.com.br/

Apt Standard R$100 DBL with Breakfast

Apt Luxo with varanda R$140 DBL with Breakfast

Chalé R$160 (DBL with Breakfast)

Pousada Morada do Sol – Apt DBL R$125 with breakfast (I always stayed there and I extremely recommend, Is a small pousada but the roons upstairs has a great view, the breakfast is wonderful)

Pousada Ibiscus – R$ 120 apt DBL with Breakfast (with ar condicionar, tv, hot shower) pousadaibiscus@hotmail.com

Pousada Maxitalia

http://www.jericoacoaramaxitalia.com/

STD R$150 DBL With Breakfast / Luxo R$ 180 laterais (com varanda) / Super Luxo R$200

• Fency

Pousada Casa de Areia (beautiful hotel with only three apt in front of the beach)

http://www.casadeareia.com/

reservas@casadeareia.com

Apt Standard R$237 DBL

Apt Luxo R$310 DBL

Apt Super luxo R$372 DBL

La Villa Jeri

http://www.lavilla-jeri.com/

Mosquito Blue Hotel

http://www.mosquitoblue.com.br/

What to do in Jeri:

Jericoacoara is one of my favourites place in the world. I just love this place and I’ve been there at least 7 times. So have some things that you should do when you are there.

I extremely recommend the tours (Lagoa do Paraiso and Lagoa Azul) It’s R$50 per person and the buggy leaves on the morning and returns in the afternoon. Bring your camera and some money to have lunch there and few “cervejinhas”

If you have time and money do the “Tatajuba Tour”. Is R$62,50 per person is also all day tour and the buggy brings you to the a beautiful village close to jericoacoara and you can see the sea horses and an underground city.

In the afternoon look for the place “Torta de Banana da Tia Angelita” (Banana Pie of Tia Angelita). It is located in the Rua Principal and Tia Angelita starting selling this delicious pie on the beach and now she has her own spot. Her recipe is world famous and you will love it.

In Tia Angelita’s you can also try the Tapioca.

Wake up early in the morning and go walking to the Pedra Furada. It is almost 40 min walking but worth the time. Pedra furada is a symbol of Jericoacoara . Take your time walking out (don’t forget to bring some water), but remember that starting late morning, the tide will be coming in, and it is not safe to walk back on the beach.

Every night in Jericoacoara have something going on, so if you want some party stop at Rua do Forró (Forró street), or Sky Bar, Planeta Jeri Bar or Mama Africa.

In Jericoacoara has a famous place “padaria da meia noite” Midnight bakery that just open 2:30am until 7:00. So when do you leave the party stop there and get some fresh and delicious bread.

Canoa Quebrada:

Canoa is other beach that I recommend to visit. In the years 70’s it was a place for hippies community and you can still feel the hippie atmosphere there. It is on the other side of Fortaleza, around 3 hours and it is really lively and a great place to visit. You can go directly from Jeri to Canoa, because the bus from Jeri stops at the bus terminal (rodoviaria). So you can go to Jeri, return to Fortaleza, and buy your ticket to Canoa Quebrada directly at the bus terminal.

The company is Viação São Benedito and is R$17/one way.

You can find good options of hotels here:

http://www.portalcanoaquebrada.com.br/canoa_quebrada_pousadas.htm

Fortaleza

Fortaleza City: Fortaleza, Ceará is the number one destination of Brazilian tourists but still relatively unknown to Americans. The beaches of Brazil, and especially Ceara are perhaps the most pristine in the world. Fortaleza is three and a half degrees below the Equator; therefore the water is always warm. The water temperature remains at a constant eighty degrees. The dunes of the Northeast are a sight to behold. They rise four, five, six hundred feet above sea level. The sand is white and as fine as the sand in an hourglass. We suggest you visit the following places:

• Centro Cultural Dragão do Mar (click here)
• Mercado Central (click here)
• Museu do Ceara (click here)
• Feirinha da Beira Mar
• Praia de Iracema
• Beach Park (click here)

NY Times article on Fortaleza(click here)

Climate: Daytime temperatures are usually around the ninety-two degree mark (32C) while the evenings cool to about seventy-six degrees (24C). There is always a nice sea breeze and evenings are very comfortable. In Fortaleza, the mornings have some low-lying clouds that form over the ocean, but by nine in the morning the clouds have burnt off and the sun has begun to dominate the sky. From then on until early morning, it’s clear skies and ocean breezes.

Travelling to Brazil and around

Flights: Since there are very few direct flights to Fortaleza, we recommend that you stop in Rio before or after the wedding. Delta air line has a flight directly to Atlanta to Fortaleza.

Visa: If you are an American citizen, you will need a visa to travel to Brazil!

Hotels in Rio: when looking for hotels in Rio try to stay in the neighbourhoods of Ipanema and Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas (Av. Vieira Souto and surroundings). Budget suggestion see below. NY Times article on Rio (click here).

Hotels in Fortaleza: When you arrive in Fortaleza, we recommend you spend a few days on Praia de Iracema or Beira Mar. (we will send hotel suggestions in a little while).

Tips: The other places we recommend visiting are Jericoacoara and Canoa Quebrada. They are both phenomenal beaches easily accessible from Fortaleza, Jericoacoara being about 5-6 hours east by bus and truck (R$80 roundtrip) and Canoa Quebrada is about 3 hours to the west. (a note about Jericoacoara: this is one of the best beaches in the world, but there are no roads going there, and you need to transfer from the bus to a truck that drives across the dunes). NY times article about Jericoacoara (click here)

Food

The food is wonderful. Breakfast is usually continental with fresh juices and tropical fruit. The coffee in Brazil is strong and delicious. Due to Fortaleza's proximity to the Atlantic Ocean, there is an abundance of seafood available to try.

What to eat, The most famous dishes are:

Peixe Assado (Sea Salt roasted Pargo fish) - accompanied by salad, rice and farofa.

Lobster - Fortaleza is famous among Brazilians for its locally caught lobster.

Peixada Cearense – It was invented by the fishermen in Fortaleza which was served during stormy weathers on shore to recover strength. Fresh fish (Pmarela, Pargo, Cavala, Robalo and Beijupira) is salted and marinated in lemon juice and garlic, and then added with coconut milk to a stew of cabbage, carrot, onions, potatoes, tomatoes and eggs. Most commonly served with Pirao (Mixture of fish sauce with Yucca flour ). Delicious.

Tapioca – Dough made from Mandioca, (a root from the rainforest) placed in a stone oven to fry. In general Tapioca is stuffed with cheese and fresh coconut milk, but there are other versions with chocolate, goiaba (Brazilian sweet fruit), or doce de leite (caramel cream).

Safety

Traffic: Brazilians are among the worst drivers in the world. Do not assume that drivers will follow traffic regulations. Be particularly careful of motorcyclists, who will use the maneuverability of their vehicles to further disregard laws and common sense. Even pedestrians don't pay a great deal of attention to the rules of the road. All of this is a long way of saying that when you are traveling or out on the street in Brazil you need to be very careful.

-At signals, make absolutely sure the cars have stopped at the red light. Especially watch out for motorcyclists running the lights.
-On sidewalks, watch out for cars crossing in front of you to exit or enter parking garages. Sometimes there are audio alarms when a garage door opens; sometimes not. The driver will always assume he or she has the right of way, even when nearly running down several people on the sidewalk.
-Don't challenge cars or assume they'll stop for you. If a driver makes eye contact and gives you a thumbs up, then you're okay.
-As a pedestrian, you don't have the right of way. Many Brazilians are foolhardy jaywalkers; don't follow their lead.
-I would advise against renting a car in Rio or Sao Paulo if you aren't Brazilian. Fortaleza is not as bad.

Your Belongings

There is a substantial danger of getting mugged or having your pocket picked in any big Brazilian city. A little common sense and awareness of your surroundings goes a long way.
-Carry a wallet with enough cash, but not too much. If, God forbid, you should get mugged, give that to the robber, with enough money to keep them happy. Don't resist. Remember that your life is worth more than the wallet.
-On the street, carry your credit cards separately, perhaps in a separate wallet hidden in your clothing. A zipped pocket is helpful. Splitting what money you have between different pockets i also not a bad idea.

-If you have to use an ATM, don't use one on the street, and don't go alone.
-Leave your passport and valuables in the hotel safe.
-Don't wear jewelry or watches (or only a cheap watch you can afford to lose).
-Ditch the purse or fanny pack if possible. If not, only carry what you can afford to lose.
-Watch for thieves on motorcycles (if you're in a car) or on bikes (if you're walking).
-Keep your cell phone or camera in your pocket. Don't use them on the street when you're alone.
-Don't stand on the sidewalk studying your city map. Look at it inside a restaurant or store.
-If you are alone and see a group of moleques (street kids) heading your way, go elsewhere, preferably towards a group of adults.

Transportation: Bus drivers drive like bats out of hell, and buses have their share of crime against passengers. However, bus service is cheap and convenient for getting around. Taxi service has improved greatly in recent years, and the drivers now are usually honest.