Ceará: The ideal destination for ecotourism and extreme sports

Ceará is a destination that attracts tourists from all over the world, offering a variety of extreme and adventure sports such as ecotourism, kitesurfing, hang gliding and paragliding.

The coastline of Ceará

When you think of Ceará, the first thing that comes to mind is its 573 kilometres of coastline, with warm green waters and 300 days of sunshine a year.

Ceará’s beaches are an invitation to relax and contemplate its natural beauty, attracting visitors all year round.

Charms of the Sertão

But Ceará’s charms extend beyond its beaches. Ceará’s Sertão, famous for its monoliths, semi-arid climate and handicrafts, also attracts the attention of Brazilians and foreigners alike, offering unique experiences.

Tourists in search of adventure

Water sports and paragliding enthusiasts can also visit iconic sites such as Canoa Quebrada, Camocim, Fortaleza and Quixadá.

During the wind season, which lasts from August to December, extreme sports enthusiasts come from all over the world in search of the adrenaline rush of activities such as kitesurfing, windsurfing, hang gliding and paragliding.

Wind Season

At this time of year, winds reach average speeds of 30 knots, around 55 km/h, allowing athletes to push their limits in long-distance flights and perform impressive water and air manoeuvres.

November and December are particularly eagerly awaited months, as they bring the big names of the sports that excel in the waters and skies of Ceará.

Ecotourism and extreme sports in Ceará

Fortaleza

The capital of Ceará is a paradise for the adventurous.

Praia do Futuro em Fortaleza no Ceará

The currents and winds that blow off the coast make Ceará one of the best places in the world for windsurfing and kitesurfing.

In November, Fortaleza hosts the renowned Superkite Brasil, where local athletes perform aerial manoeuvres at the Guarderia Brasil on Praia do Futuro.

Diving off the coast of Ceará

The coast of Ceará also offers ideal spots for scuba diving. Pedra da Risca do Meio, 10 miles from Mucuripe, is a site rich in schools of fish and rays, at a depth of 28 metres.

With regular departures and equipment hire, diving is professionally guided.

Adventures in Quixadá and Camocim

In Quixadá, located in the central hinterland 158 kilometres from the capital, athletes from all over the world gather for the XCeará – Free Flight World Cup, in search of personal bests and records in the cross country (long-distance) discipline.

The waters of Camocim, on the west coast 365 kilometres from Fortaleza, boil with the exciting Wind Slalom competitions that attract the world’s best athletes, such as Gabriel Browne and Wilhelm Schurmann.

Canoa Quebrada and the International Wind Festival

In Canoa Quebrada, 180 kilometres from the capital, the International Wind Festival takes place, with kitesurfing, windsurfing and paragliding competitions, as well as a magical raft race that combines tradition and radicalism in a stunning setting of cliffs.

Ideal conditions for sports

Ideal wind and water temperature conditions guarantee windsurfing, surfing and kitesurfing, with national and international championships held in the region.

Schools to learn these sports can be found in Aquiraz, Beberibe and Canoa Quebrada.

The dunes, real lookouts with privileged views, also offer the opportunity for sandboarding. For thrill-seekers, there are major off-road competitions.

What to see in Cariri and the Sierras

In Cariri, people don’t just raise their hands to the sky, they also applaud nature.

The Araripe National Forest ( FLONA), known as the “Oasis of the Sertão”, is part of a large Environmental Protection Area (APA) and offers visitors ecological trails, spas and therapeutic baths in natural pools, accompanied by specialist guides.

Aratanha and Baturité Mountains

The Aratanha and BaturitéMountains, with their mild climate and lush vegetation, varying between 17º C and 22º C, offer the opportunity to observe rare birds and animals.

Rivers, waterfalls and cascades provide the setting for cycling, hiking, horse riding, fishing and extreme sports. For adrenaline junkies, there are activities such as abseiling, canoeing and freeflight.

Jericoacoara: An unmissable destination

The beaches of the west coast, such as Cumbuco, Taíba, Paracuru, Flecheiras, Icaraí de Amontada, Preá and Jericoacoara, are ideal for surfing, windsurfing and kitesurfing, attracting competitors from the north, north-east, Brazil and the world championships.

Average waves throughout the year allow surfing, while sandboarding is becoming increasingly popular in the dunes of Jeri and Paracuru.

Free flight and ecotourism in Ibiapaba

In Tianguá, at Sítio do Bosco, 3 km from the centre, there is a natural grass launch site with plenty of space to set up equipment.

Praia de Jericoacoara - Ceará

The free flight ramp has a camping area and cafeteria, and free flight championships bring together pilots from the north and northeast.

The viewpoint offers breathtaking views of the road that cuts through the mountains, the waterfall and the sertão.

Ubajara National Park – Ecotourism

One of Ceará’s most enchanting destinations, Ubajara is located 847 metres above sea level and covers 6,288 hectares, with temperatures varying between 18ºC and 25ºC. The park is famous for its natural beauty, including pools, waterfalls and trails set in spectacular scenery.

Attractions in the Ubajara Cave

Walking along the trails and swimming in the waterfalls offer direct contact with nature. One of the main attractions is the Ubajara Cave. At the entrance to the park, tourists can choose to reach the cave by taking a peaceful ride in the cable car or by walking along trails of varying difficulty, duly signposted by Ibama.

Descending by cable car is a unique experience, offering an impressive view of the landscape from a height of 450 metres.

The Ubajara Cave, with its rooms and rock formations, is of unique beauty. Stalactites and Stalagmites present themselves in a natural spectacle shaped by water and time.

Covering 1,120 square metres, only 420 metres of the cave are open to visitors. The lighting makes the walk safer and allows better appreciation of the natural formations, such as the Rose Room, the Curtain Room and the Portrait Room and Room, each with its own peculiarities that live up to their names.

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