Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Canoa Quebrada q
Ceará. * 65,300. @ from
Fortaleza. n Secretaría de Turismo,
(088) 3446 2451.
www. canoaviagem.com.br
In just over three decades,
Canoa Quebrada has trans-
formed from a sleepy fishing
village to a popular hippy
hangout in the 1970s, and
now a mainstream beach
resort. According to a legend,
the name Canoa Quebrada,
meaning “Broken Canoe,”
originated with a Portuguese
skipper who wrecked his ship
close to shore and donated
the useless craft to local
fishermen. Never having seen
such a craft before, locals
named it a broken canoe.
The beaches of Canoa
Quebrada, featuring red cliffs,
fine sand, and offshore reefs,
attract many visitors today.
The village itself is a bustling
place, known for its cafés and
restaurants, and for the bars
and clubs lining the main
cobblestone street. It is also
famous for its lacework. Even
at the busiest times, however,
it is not difficult to get away
from the crowds and find a
spot on one of the more
deserted beaches or high
sand dunes surrounding
Canoa Quebrada. Buggy tours
are a popular way to get out
of town. The tour to Ponta
Grossa, 18 miles (30 km)
southeast, travels along miles
of empty beaches framed by
high red sandstone cliffs.
Other activities include kite-
surfing, riding, and sailing on
a jangada (sailboat).
Beach along the fishing village of Jericoacoara
Jericoacoara e
Ceará. * 2,000. @ from Fortaleza.
www. jericoacoara.com
About 6 miles (10 km)
northwest is the small town
of Aracati . It is one of the few
historic towns in this part of
Northeast Brazil. An important
center for the 18th-century
cattle industry, Aracati has
several buildings dating back
to this time. Most noteworthy
is the Mercado Central
(Central Market), dating back
to the 1700s, still used as the
town's daily open-air market
on Rua Pompeu.
The isolated village of
Jericoacoara is a beach
lover's paradise. Although
no longer the sleepy fishing
community it once was, it
preserves much of its original
charm. The village consists of
five streets made of sand, and
houses and apartments are
simple, even rustic. In 2002,
the entire region was declared
a national park, putting a com-
plete halt to the construction
of new buildings.
Fortaleza w
See pp242-3.
Red sandstone cliffs in and around the beaches of Canoa Quebrada
For hotels and restaurants in this region see pp379-81 and pp405-406
 
Search WWH ::




Custom Search