Fortaleza is blessed with many spectacular beaches, and Cumbuco Beach ranks among the best. A popular spot for kitesurfing, sandboarding and buggy tours, Cumbuco (both the beach and neighboring fishing village) is distinguished by its rolling dunes and long expanses of white sand lined with coconut trees.
Cachoeira, a small colonial town on Brazil’s Paraguacu River, is a significant remnant of Portuguese colonialism. With its thriving African culture, spectacular UNESCO-listed architecture, impressive churches, colorful markets, and natural landmarks, the town entices visitors on popular day trips from nearby Salvador.
Via Costeira, also known as Senador Dinarte Mariz Avenue, is a significant beachfront walkway and paved road that extends from Ponta Negra beach in Natal. It's one of the city's most important avenues, with two lanes in each direction and no traffic lights. It winds along the coastline and is popular with visitors for its beach views.
Palm-fringed sand and surf-worthy waves await sunseekers at Futuro Beach (Praia do Futuro), one of Fortaleza’s most popular family beaches. Stretching 5 miles (8 kilometers) along Fortaleza’s east coast, Futuro Beach offers ideal conditions for swimming and surfing, and is lined with lively beach bars (barracas).
Pipa Beach (Praia da Pipa) is not one single beach, but four, collectively stretching for more than 6 miles (10 kilometers). Backed by coconut palm plantations, sand dunes, cliffs, and Atlantic forest, these stretches of sand are considered some of the most spectacular in Brazil. The warm waters are home to dolphins and sea turtles.
Like many northeastern Brazilian cities, Fortaleza is famous for its handicrafts, particularly its embroidered white lace textiles. One of the best places in the city to pick up locally made souvenirs is Mercado Central. The 3-floor market houses dozens of shops selling woven hammocks, clay sculptures, and other hand-crafted items.
Brazil’s tranquil Jacumã Beach (Praia de Jacumã) is surrounded by reefs that break up the waves, creating a peaceful environment and a cove that's ideal for swimming. The white sand beach is lined with tall, shady palm trees. Located in the small fishing village of Jacumã, it is a relatively secluded beach with few tourists or beachgoers.
This large pool of fresh water is a spot to refresh from the sun, wind, sand, and adventure of Brazil's Natal beaches. Though nearly 16 feet (5 meters) deep at its center, it's shallow at the edges, making it a popular spot for swimmers. Its clear waters also make it a favorite spot to kayak, paddleboard, and fish.
At the northern tip of Tinharé Island, idyllic Morro de São Paulo is reachable only by boat or plane. Flanked by sandy shores and coconut palms, the car-free island town is a thriving resort, with jungle hikes, festive nightlife, and some of Bahia’s most gorgeous beaches.
The Pirangi Tree is a record holder—at 500 yards (457 meters) in circumference, it’s the largest cashew tree in the world. To put that into perspective, it’s the same size as 70 cashew trees. The Pirangi Tree has been its own forest for many years, and visitors can collect cashews from it as they wander underneath its ancient branches.
Fortaleza Beach Park is a hugely popular entertainment and leisure complex on the northeastern coast of Brazil. Every year, more than 700,000 people visit the tropical playground’s resort, hotels, restaurants, shops, sailing raft museum, water park—one of the largest in South America—and beach.
With its castle-inspired buildings among swathes of Atlantic forest reserve, the Ricardo Brennand Institute is a museum like no other. The brainchild of Brazilian collector Ricardo Brennand, the complex comprises a history museum, armory, art gallery, library, and sculpture garden featuring art and artifacts from Europe, Asia, and South America.
The star-shaped Fort of the Magi predates the founding of Natal by nearly two years. The Portuguese began building the fort on January 6, 1598, the same day they celebrated Epiphany, hence the name and shape of the structure. Its strategic location was ideal for international defense.
The third largest cathedral in Brazil took 40 years to build—construction began on the Gothic-Roman structure in 1939 and continued until late 1979. Designed by French architect George Mounier and said to be inspired by Germany’s Cologne Cathedral, the Metropolitan Cathedral remains one of Fortaleza’s most distinctive landmarks.
Natal is known for its spectacular beaches and Barra do Canhaú is no exception. Its clear waters and white sands are backed by palm trees and mangroves, as saltwater meets freshwater at the mouth of the Curimatau River. Canhaú, the small fishing village near the beach of the same name, has retained many of its original charms.
Known for its shifting sands and freshwater lagoons, the beach village of Genipabu attracts travelers who come for adventure on the rolling dunes. The winds shifting across the sand means that the landscape of Genipabu is always changing. The sands pile up into dunes that rise and fall, creating ridges and mounds across the shores and eventually plunging into the sea.
Ponta Negra, one of Natal’s most popular and accessible beaches, stretches for 1.8 miles (3 kilometers) along the shore. The lively south end of the beach is lined with restaurants, bars, hotels, and pousadas (or inns), while the northern end features a pedestrian-only boardwalk and a few resorts, lending it a more low-key vibe.
If the string of shallow coral reefs that grace Natal’s sandy coastline could be called a necklace, then Maracajaú Reef is its biggest, most beautiful jewel. This reef formation full of coral, iridescent fish, and other marine life covers over 3.5 acres (1.4 hectares and is about 4 miles (7 kilometers offshore from Maracajaú Beach.
Of Brazil’s many beaches, Cacimbinhas (Praia das Cacimbinhas) is a quieter one—accessible by walking down a long staircase—and a popular spot for windsports such as kitesurfing and paragliding. On the northeastern coast, near Natal, the beach is framed by tall cliffs, which overlook a sprawling shoreline, turquoise waters, and sand dunes.
Mangue Seco is a stunning coastal village on the Atlantic Ocean near Salvador, Brazil. Known for its untouched natural beauty, this hidden gem offers visitors a serene escape from the city. Pristine sand dunes, turquoise waters, and towering palm trees enhance the destination’s allure.
The Natal Metropolitan Cathedral (Catedral Metropolitana de Natal) boasts a modern trapezoidal shape and unusual use of windows and light. It's the antithesis to traditional cathedral design and an architectural landmark in Natal’s historic center. Three interlocking crosses sit outside its entrance, welcoming worshippers and visitors.
The Brazilian state of Ceara is famous for its long coastline and numerous beaches. In the city of Fortaleza, Meireles Beach is one of the busiest stretches of the coast, packed with the highest concentration of hotels, barracas (beer stalls, and seaside restaurants serving up traditional Brazilian food and drink.
The José de Alencar Theater is a true hidden gem in the heart of Brazil. The art nouveau landmark is from the age of music halls and has early 20th century aesthetics. It was named after José de Alencar, a playwright and artist from Fortaleza. Inside, find the city’s concert hall; outside explore the theater garden and outdoor stage.
With its vast, deserted beaches, towering sand dunes, and pellucid waters, Brazil’s Costa Branca, or White Coast, is one of the country’s most enchanting regions, and its best-kept secret is Galinhos, a fishing village frozen in time and hidden from the tourist crowds along a natural sandbar.
Lush, verdant forests, stunning ocean views, and some 25 miles (40 km of white sand beaches await on tropical Itaparica Island. The island offers a more rural escape, where tiny villages, scenic waterfronts, and old school churches take the place of colorful beach umbrellas, pushy vendors, and tourist-filled stretches of sand.
With its white sands, palm-studded dunes, and coral reef, Maracajau Beach makes a picturesque alternative to nearby Natal. Sip caipirinhas at a beach bar or snorkel amid schools of tropical fish in what’s dubbed the Brazilian Caribbean.
With waterslides, jungle ziplines, and palm-fringed swimming pools, the Arraial d'Ajuda Eco Park is one of Brazil’s most popular water parks. Just moments from Bahia’s white-sand beaches, the adventure park has both water and land activities suitable for the whole family.
Half-moon-shaped Lagoinha Beach was once a favorite hiding place for French pirates. These days, Lagoinha is home to a small fishing community, and has a reputation as one of the most beautiful beaches in the state. Its good looks are enhanced by its tranquility, as well as its appeal for kitesurfing and more, and it’s far enough away from Fortaleza to escape the crowds.
One of Recife’s most unique cultural attractions is found in an unexpected location. Housed in an 1850s former prison along the Capibaribe riverfront, the House of Culture (Casa da Cultura de Pernambuco) is a lively art and handicrafts market, where local artisans, musicians, and street food vendors gather to sell their goods and celebrate Recife’s rich cultural heritage.
From teaching about enslavement to honoring the influence of African culture on modern-day Brazil, Salvador’s Afro-Brazilian Museum (Museu Afro-Brasileiro) provides insight into the country’s African roots. Filled with colorful artworks and historic artifacts, its eclectic collections come from all around Africa as well as Brazil.
