Home » Ceará Travel Guide » Quixadá, Ceará: Monoliths, the Cedro Dam and the Sertão

Quixadá: A Treasure of the Ceará Hinterland

Quixadá is a municipality in Ceará, situated 175 km from Fortaleza.

It forms part of the Ceará Sertão Mesoregion and the Quixeramobim Sertão Microregion, and is the largest city in the central Sertão, with a population of approximately 89,000 inhabitants.

Education and Universities

Known as the university town of the central hinterland, Quixadá is home to a number of higher education institutions, both public and private, notably the campuses of the Federal University of Ceará and the State University of Ceará.

Video about Quixadá’s tourist attractions

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Guia de turismo de Quixadá no Ceará03:17

Roteiro de 2 dias em Quixadá no Ceará

The Monoliths of Quixadá

One of Quixadá’s most striking features is its rock formations, the monoliths, which stand out for their varied shapes, breaking up the monotony of the hinterland landscape.

The monoliths have some fascinating characteristics:

1. Unique structure: large blocks of rock that rise above the surrounding terrain, taking on distinctive shapes.
2. Geological formation: these are the result of erosion, sedimentation and other geological forces acting over thousands or millions of years, creating a variety of landforms.
3. Various sizes: these can range from small rocky outcrops to enormous structures rising to several tens of metres.
4. Colours and textures: the diversity of minerals results in a range of colours and textures, depending on the types of rock that make up each monolith, such as granite, basalt or sandstone.
5. Cultural and historical significance: many monoliths are culturally significant, serving as landmarks, places of worship or sources of inspiration for myths and legends.
6. Tourist attractions: Monoliths often become tourist attractions, drawing visitors who wish to admire their natural beauty and enjoy activities such as rock climbing and photography. Many rock formations in Quixadá are popular for rock climbing, offering challenges for adventure sports enthusiasts.
7. Unique ecosystems: these sites may be home to distinct ecosystems, with flora and fauna adapted to the specific conditions of the exposed rock and the local climate.

Quixadá’s most famous monolith, shaped like a hen, is known as Galinha Choca and has become the town’s iconic landmark, visible from almost anywhere.

Literature and Culture

Quixadá is also recognised as the birthplace of writers such as Jáder de Carvalho and Rachel de Queiroz. Although Rachel was born in Fortaleza, she maintained strong ties with Quixadá, frequently visiting her ‘Fazenda Não Me Deixes’ estate, which she had inherited from her father, Daniel de Queiroz.

Things to do in Quixadá

1. Cedro Weir

Regarded as the first major dam in Brazil, the Cedro Dam was one of the country’s first major projects to combat drought. Its construction was ordered by Dom Pedro II in response to the severe drought of 1877–1879, but the project itself was drawn up by engineers: the British engineer Jules Revy submitted the first design in 1882, which was later revised by Ulrico Mursa, with construction not being completed until 1906, under the supervision of the engineer Bernardo Piquet Carneiro.

With a capacity to hold around 125 million m³ of water, the dam’s architectural complex was listed by IPHAN in 1977 and is now a candidate for UNESCO World Heritage status. Visitors can walk along the dam wall and catch a glimpse of the curious ‘Pedra da Galinha Choca’ rock formation. As well as sparking the imagination, the surrounding monoliths offer adventure activities, allowing visitors to spend a whole day climbing and abseiling.

2. Shrine of Our Lady, Immaculate Queen of the Sertão

Situated 12 km from the centre of Quixadá, at an altitude of around 550 m on Morro do Urucu, this Catholic church is reached via a Way of the Cross featuring life-size sculptures that guide visitors along the route.

Inside the shrine there are panels depicting the Virgin Mary, who is venerated in twenty-seven Latin American countries.

The site has a pleasant climate and features a cave, a restaurant (with views of the monoliths, lagoons and local vegetation), a hotel, an auditorium and a bookshop. Near the sanctuary there are hiking trails and take-off points for paragliding.

The climb up the mountain features religious stations, with 1.80-metre-tall statues depicting the Passion and Resurrection of Christ.

The shrine has become a place of pilgrimage for the faithful from Ceará and other states, attracting devotees particularly in May, July and December, as well as in February, when festivities are held in honour of the Virgin Mary.

3. Serra do Estevão

Situated 12 km from Quixadá, this mountain range is a lush, green haven at an altitude of 400 metres.

Be sure to visit the Chapel of Nossa Senhora da Conceição, built in 1903 in the Baroque style, and the Monastery of Santa Cruz, also dating from 1903, in the colonial style.

4. The Hen’s Rock

It is the city’s most famous monolith and, according to legend, is said to be the ‘mother’ of all the other stones, which are believed to have changed location over time.

5. Pedra do Cruzeiro

Situated in the town centre, near the Pedra Falante (or Faladeira), known for echoing the voices spoken at its foot.

6. Nature Trails and Ecotourism

Among the region’s best-known nature trails are the Boqueirão Trail (Reduto Farm), the Cabeça do Gigante Trail (Santa Fé Farm), the Barriguda Trail (Magé Farm) and the Andorinhas Trail (Junco Farm).

Although it remains largely unexplored, Quixadá offers great potential for tourism, particularly for ecotourism.

The area’s natural beauty attracts visitors looking for outdoor activities such as trekking, off-road driving, mountaineering and abseiling. Furthermore, the town is an ideal destination for adventure tourism, offering opportunities for free flight (paragliding and hang-gliding) and nature watching.

How to get to Quixadá

Leaving Fortaleza, the most common route is via the BR-116 to Quixadá, a journey of around 175 km that usually takes between 2 hours 30 minutes and 3 hours by car. There are also regular interstate and intercity bus services connecting the capital to the Sertão Central.

Frequently Asked Questions about Quixadá

Who designed the Cedro Dam?
The construction was commissioned by Dom Pedro II in response to the drought of 1877–1879, but the design was drawn up by engineers — first Jules Revy, then revised by Ulrico Mursa, with the works completed in 1906 under Bernardo Piquet Carneiro.

How long does it take to get from Fortaleza to Quixadá?
Around 2 hours 30 minutes to 3 hours by car along the BR-116, a journey of approximately 175 km.

What are the Quixadá monoliths?
They are isolated rock formations, the result of millions of years of erosion, which stand out against the landscape of the sertão. The most famous is the Pedra da Galinha Choca, the town’s postcard image.

Is it possible to go rock climbing and abseiling in Quixadá?
Yes. Many of the region’s rock formations, including areas near the Cedro Reservoir, are used for rock climbing, abseiling and other adventure activities, usually with local guides or tour operators.

What was Rachel de Queiroz’s connection with Quixadá?
Although she was born in Fortaleza, the writer maintained strong ties with Quixadá, frequently visiting the ‘Não Me Deixes’ estate, which she had inherited from her father.

When does the pilgrimage to the Rainha do Sertão Sanctuary take place?
The sanctuary receives the largest number of pilgrims in May, July and December, as well as in February, when festivities are held in honour of the Virgin Mary.

See also

• Cariri in Ceará: A Destination for Ecotourism and Cultural Tourism
• Icó, Ceará: History, Architecture and Tourist Attractions
• Serra da Ibiapaba: A Complete Guide to Attractions and Tips
• Juazeiro do Norte and its Religious Roots
• Ceará: The Best of Ecotourism and Extreme Sports in Brazil
• Ceará: Must-see tourist destinations in Brazil

Written by Willy Sievert

Editor of Bahia.ws since its founding in 2009. Based in Salvador, he travels frequently across the Northeast and all of Brazil to keep the guides up to date. Learn more about Willy Sievert →

Published on 26/10/2015 · Updated on 27/08/2026

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