Fortaleza Highlights (3 hours)

This comprehensive over view will encompass the commercial and residential districts as well as the beach and resort areas.

Leave the port head toward the Mucuripe Lighthouse, here is where the popular eastern beaches begin. Your route will take you through the residential section and on to the center of town. Along the way, your guide will point out the Memorial to President Castelo Branco. This modernistic mausoleum is the last resting-place of the state’s best-known son, the military president of Brazil from 1964 to 1966.

You continue on to the the Praça de Alencar, the city’s largest square in the heart of the commercial district. Here you will visit the Teatro José de Alencar, located in the center of Praça de Alencar, the theater is named for the great 19th century novelist and poet, a native of the city.

After crossing the central downtown commercial district, there will be brief stop to see the new Gothic-style Se Cathedral, made of concrete with beautiful stained glass windows.
Departing the church, pass by the Assunção Fortress, originally built by the Dutch and still in use today as a military installation.

One of the best places for local handicrafts is the Emcetur Tourist Center located in the old prison complex. Here, hundreds of stalls display a wide selection of embroidered textiles, woodcarvings, basket ware, clay figurines and lace, a craft for which Fortaleza is well known. The complex also includes stands selling soft drinks and a money exchange. Time is allowed for browsing, with your guide standing by if you have any questions.

Following your visit, re-board your coach and head back to town and to the pier, traveling along the seafront, passing by Iracema Beach, the most popular beach with its five star hotels.