Published on January 16, 2013 · Updated on November 1, 2026

Home » Ceará Travel Guide » Ceará mountains: cool mountain towns and what to do

The Ceará mountains are the best retreat for escaping the heat of the coast. In the mountain towns, average temperatures stay between 17 ºC and 22 ºC, with fresh air, trails, waterfalls and plenty of contact with nature. So, for anyone who wants to enjoy tourism beyond the beach circuit, these inland mountains are among the most surprising destinations in the Brazilian Northeast.

Map of the Ceará mountains

Far from the coast, the Ceará mountains are mountainous formations that, in some places, rise above one thousand metres. In general, the highest areas lie between 800 and 1,000 metres.

In the valleys, for example, there are plantations of fruit and coffee. In addition, the ranges hold many springs, waterfalls and mineral water sources. The map below, then, shows where each of them is located.

Climate and vegetation of the ranges

Because of their altitude, the ranges get more rain than the sertão (the dry backcountry). As a result, the humid slopes are home to the state’s main forest areas, with trees up to 30 metres tall.

This is especially true of the Ibiapaba and Araripe plateaus, where you will find the Parque Nacional de Ubajara and the Floresta Nacional do Araripe. On these plateaus, altitude generally ranges from 700 to 900 metres. There is also forest in the Meruoca range, in the north of the state, as well as in the Maranguape and Baturité ranges.

Ceará mountains where it gets cold

First of all, the coldest towns are in the Maciço de Baturité, such as Guaramiranga and Pacoti, and in the Serra da Ibiapaba, such as Ubajara, Tianguá and São Benedito. Guaramiranga, in fact, is considered the coldest town in Ceará. Between June and August, for example, the nights call for a jacket.

Highest points in Ceará

For a long time, Pico Alto, in Guaramiranga, at just over 1,110 metres, was considered the highest point in Ceará. However, IBGE measurements showed that Pico da Serra Branca is about 18 metres higher.

This peak lies in the Serra das Matas, in the Sertão dos Crateús, about 293 km from Fortaleza, between Monsenhor Tabosa and Catunda. According to the IBGE, it is 1,130 metres high; the Catunda city hall, on the other hand, puts it at 1,154 metres. In addition, at the summit there is a large boulder topped by a cross.

Ceará ranges that will officially become mountains

In 2026, the IBGE announced that several ranges in Ceará will be classified as mountains under the new SBCR (Sistema Brasileiro de Classificação de Relevos, the Brazilian Landform Classification System). Until then, these areas were treated as plateaus. The list includes, for example, the Maciço de Baturité, the Maciço do Pereiro, the Serra da Meruoca, the Serra das Matas and the Serra de Uruburetama.

According to the IBGE, Bahia has the largest mountain area in the Northeast. Even so, Ceará is expected to lead the region in proportion to its territory. The Ibiapaba and the Araripe, on the other hand, remain plateaus because of their flat tops. Finally, the official classification is still being published, so the list may change.

Main Ceará mountains

Serra da Aratanha

Also called the Serra de Pacatuba, the Serra da Aratanha lies in the Fortaleza Metropolitan Region, about 30 km from the capital. Thus, it stretches across Maranguape, Pacatuba, Guaiúba and Maracanaú. Together with the Serra de Maranguape, in fact, it is considered an extension of the Maciço de Baturité.

Maciço de Baturité

The Maciço de Baturité, also called the Serra de Baturité or Serra de Guaramiranga, lies in north-central Ceará. Altogether, the region comprises 13 municipalities: Acarape, Aracoiaba, Aratuba, Barreira, Baturité, Capistrano, Guaramiranga, Itapiúna, Mulungu, Ocara, Pacoti, Palmácia and Redenção.

In addition, it is home to the state’s first environmental protection area, the APA da Serra de Baturité, created in 1990 and covering 32,690 hectares.

Serra da Ibiapaba

The Serra da Ibiapaba, also called the Serra Grande or Chapada da Ibiapaba, lies in the northwest of the state, on the border with Piauí. Altogether, the region has nine municipalities, including Ubajara, Tianguá, São Benedito and Viçosa do Ceará. The latter, in fact, grew out of a 17th-century Jesuit mission, and its historic centre is listed by Iphan.

Serra da Meruoca

The Serra da Meruoca lies in the north of Ceará, about 20 km from Sobral. Up on top, in turn, is the municipality of Meruoca, with 15,157 inhabitants (IBGE, 2022 Census). There, for example, clear streams rise and form waterfalls among the granite rocks. That is why it is the most popular range for people staying in Sobral.

Mountain towns of Ceará

In short, the main mountain towns in Ceará for tourism are Guaramiranga, Pacoti, Baturité, Mulungu, Aratuba, Palmácia, Redenção, Maranguape and Ubajara. Below are the approximate distances from Fortaleza:

Mountain destination	Distance from Fortaleza	Approximate altitude
Maranguape (Serra de Maranguape)	30 km	—
Baturité (Maciço de Baturité)	About 100 km	—
Pacoti (Maciço de Baturité)	About 100 km	—
Guaramiranga (Maciço de Baturité)	About 110 km	865 m
Sobral and Serra da Meruoca	About 235 km	—
Ubajara (Serra da Ibiapaba)	About 320 km	847 m

Maranguape

Just 30 km from Fortaleza, Maranguape is the mountain town closest to the capital. It is also the birthplace of the comedian Chico Anysio.

Besides that, the town is the birthplace of Ypióca cachaça and home to the Museu da Cachaça. What’s more, the trails in the range offer beautiful views of the region.

Sobral, at the foot of the Serra da Meruoca

About 235 km from Fortaleza, in the north of the state, Sobral is the gateway to the Serra da Meruoca.

With about 203 thousand inhabitants (IBGE, 2022 Census), Sobral is also one of the largest cities in the interior of Ceará. Its historic centre, in fact, is listed by Iphan, with churches, museums and theatres. In December, for example, the city celebrates the feast of Nossa Senhora da Conceição, its patron saint.

Ubajara, high up in the Serra da Ibiapaba

About 320 km from Fortaleza, Ubajara sits high up in the Serra da Ibiapaba, at 847 metres above sea level.

The main attraction, without a doubt, is the Parque Nacional de Ubajara, created in 1959. It is home to the Gruta de Ubajara, a limestone cave with about 1,120 metres mapped; of these, however, only about 450 metres are open to visitors. In addition, a cable car links the top of the range to the cave; before you go, check that it is running.

There are also forest trails that descend from the range to the mouth of the cave. Others, in turn, lead to waterfalls and viewpoints.

Guaramiranga, in the Maciço de Baturité

About 110 km from Fortaleza, Guaramiranga is known as the “Suíça do Ceará” (“Switzerland of Ceará”) because of its mild climate. In addition, it offers adventure activities such as rappelling, trails and hikes.

The cultural calendar is also packed. The highlight, without a doubt, is the Festival Jazz & Blues, held during Carnival.

Baturité, the “serra verdadeira”

About 100 km from Fortaleza, Baturité gives its name to the massif. According to the IBGE, it became a village in 1764 and a town in 1858. The name, in fact, has Indigenous origins and, according to several scholars, means “serra verdadeira” (“true mountain”).

Today, the main attraction is the Mosteiro dos Jesuítas, opened in 1927 as an apostolic school and now open to visitors. It is also worth seeing the Museu Ferroviário, in the old 1882 railway station, and the Mirante do Cruzeiro.

Pacoti: waterfalls and high-altitude coffee

Next door to Guaramiranga, Pacoti has waterfalls such as the Cachoeira do Perigo, as well as viewpoints overlooking the valleys. Moreover, it is one of the historic high-altitude coffee areas of the Maciço de Baturité, a tradition dating back to the 19th century. Therefore, coffee is now part of rural and food tourism itineraries.

Tips for visiting the Ceará mountains

• Choose one region per trip: Guaramiranga and Ubajara, for example, are more than 300 km apart.
• Weekend trip: the Maciço de Baturité is the closest option to Fortaleza.
• Longer itinerary: the Ibiapaba and the Meruoca, on the other hand, combine well with Sobral and the west coast.
• Guides: for rappelling and long trails, especially in protected areas, hire a local guide.
• Luggage: bring a jacket, particularly between June and August.

Frequently asked questions about the Ceará mountains

What are the main Ceará mountains?

The Maciço de Baturité, the Serra da Ibiapaba, the Serra da Meruoca, the Serra da Aratanha and the Chapada do Araripe.

In addition, there are less visited ranges, such as the Serra das Matas and the Serra de Uruburetama.

Which of the Ceará mountains is the coldest?

In general, those of the Maciço de Baturité, especially around Guaramiranga and Pacoti.

In the Serra da Ibiapaba, Ubajara and Tianguá also have cold nights.

Which range is near Sobral?

It is the Serra da Meruoca, about 20 km from the city.

So you can go up the range on a day trip.

What is the highest point in Ceará?

It is the Pico da Serra Branca, in the Serra das Matas, at 1,130 m, according to the IBGE.

Previously, however, Pico Alto, in Guaramiranga, was considered the highest.

When is the best time to visit the Ceará mountains?

In general, from June to August, the coldest months of the year.

During the rainy season, on the other hand, between January and May, the forest is greener.

Learn more

• Maciço de Baturité: a natural paradise in Ceará
• What to do in Guaramiranga
• Parque Nacional de Ubajara: travel guide
• Serra da Ibiapaba: adventure and ecotourism
• Ceará: must-see travel destinations