The Northeast - The Rough Guide to Brazil - page 300

ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE FORTALEZA

By plane Aeroporto Internacional Pinto Martins is just
6km south of Centro at Av Carlos Jereissati 3000 ( T 85 3392
1200). A fixed - rate taxi costs R$45 to Meireles, Iracema and
Centro (R$32 to the rodoviária; R$100 to Porto das Dunas).
Pay first at the Coopaero ( T 85 3392 1500, W www
.coopero.com.br) desk in the terminal (higher rates apply
Mon-Fri 8pm-6am, after 1pm Sat and all day Sun). You
can also take a by-the-meter “Taxi Comum” that are
nominally a little cheaper, but only if tra c is light. Buses
with the route card Aeroporto/Benfica/Rodoviária (#404;
R$2.20) run regularly to Praça José de Alencar in the centre
via the rodoviária (daily 5.10am-10pm).
Destinations Belém (5 daily; 1hr 50min-3hr 40min);

Recife (10 daily; 1hr 15min-1hr 35min); Rio (12-24 daily;
5hr 40min-8hr 15min); Salvador (7-9 daily; 1hr 40min-
4hr 20min).
By bus The Rodoviária Engenheiro João Thomé
( T 85 3230 1111) is 3km from Centro at Av Borges de Melo
1630, in the southern suburb of Fátima, but getting into
town is relatively easy by bus (R$2.20). A taxi costs around
R$25-30 from the rodoviária to most places in the city.
Destinations Belém (3 daily; 24-26hr); Jijoca de
Jericoacoara (16 daily; 5-6hr); Natal (7 daily; 8hr);
Parnaíba (5 daily; 8hr); Recife (6 daily; 12-13hr); Salvador
(2 daily; 22hr); São Luís (3 daily; 18hr 30min); Teresina
(7 daily; 11-12hr).

INFORMATION
Tourist information Fortaleza boasts a multitude of
tourist information outlets including kiosks in the airport
(daily 6am-11pm; T 85 3392 1667), rodoviária (daily
8am-6pm; T 85 3230 1111) and Centro do Turismo, Rua
Senador Pompeu 350 (Mon-Fri 8am-7pm, Sat 8am-3pm,
Sun 8am-noon; T 85 3101 5508), as well as o ces in the

Mercado Central (Mon-Fri 8am-5pm, Sat 8am-noon;
T 85 3105 1475), on Praça do Ferreira (Mon-Fri
9am-5pm, Sat 9am-noon; T 85 3105 1444) and on Av
Beira Mar near the Anfiteatro Flávio Ponte (Mon-Sat
9am-9pm, Sun 9am-8pm; T 85 3105 2670).

4

GETTING AROUND
By bus Fortaleza has plenty of local buses (R$2.20). Useful
routes that take you to the main beaches and back to the
city centre are marked “Grande Circular I” and “Caça e Pesca/
Centro/Beira Mar” or #49. The local bus station in Centro is
known as Praça da Estação, a large square by the old
railway station.
By taxi Taxi meters start at R$4 - it's around R$15

between Meireles and Centro. Cooperativa Rádio Táxi de
Fortaleza ( T 85 3254 5744) are 24hr.
Car rental All the major companies have desks at the
airport, including Avis (6am-midnight; T 85 3392 1369),
Hertz (24hr; T 85 3477 5055), Localiza (24hr; T 85 3308
8350), Movida (24hr; T 85 3392 1373) and Unidas (24hr;
T 85 3392 1400).

TOURS
Ernahitur Av Senador Vigilio Tavora 205, 2/F, Room A
T 85 3533 5333, W ernanitur.com.br. Arranges packages
to Jericoacoara (R$55) and day-trips to Canoa Quebrada
(R$55) and Lagoinha (R$45), in addition to all the other
major beaches.
Girafatur Rua Tenente Benévolo 13, at Rua Vila Bachá,
Meireles T 85 3219 3255, W girafatur.com.br. Tends to
specialize in transport and packages to Jericoacoara
beaches; punters for the bus are often recruited on the

seafront between Iracema and Meireles beaches.
Lisatur Av Monsenhor Tabosa 1067, Praia de Iracema
T 85 3219 5400, W www.lisatur.com.br. Has good day-
trips to the beaches and other attractions.
Sim 7 Turismo T 85 8750 2500, W sim7turismo.com
.br. Offers multi-beach packages (6 beaches in 4 days from
R$228) as well as the usual day-trips. They also run daily
minibuses (7-8am) to Jericoacoara (with hotel pick-up and
drop-off ) for R$120 return.

ACCOMMODATION
The budget hotels, as ever, tend to be downtown, which hums busily during the day but empties at night - it's best to stay
elsewhere. Close by is Praia de Iracema, with a decent enough range of accommodation, while Praia Meireles further south
is home to more upmarket hotels. All the options listed below offer free wi-fi unless otherwise stated.

closes at 10pm sharp, and you have to pay for toilet paper).
Rooms are comfortabl e, but be ready to bat tle against the
worn-out fans. Dorms R$20 ; doubles R$50
Hostel Terra da Luz Rua Rodrigues Júnior 278 T 85
3082 2260, W hostelterradaluz.com. This hostel has a
cosy atmosphere and scribbled guests' notes coat the

CENTRO
Backpackers Ceará Av Dom Manoel 89 T 85 3091
8997, W backpackersce.com.br. Somewhat camouflaged
until you notice the bold wall painting, this place buzzes
with travellers, though it can feel a little impenetrable,
with its barbed wire, CCTV and coded locks (the kitchen