The 8 Most Beautiful Beaches in Ceara

It’s incredible how Ceará’s beaches are known around the world. And that’s why tourism in Ceará is so strong in the Northeast of Brazil. These stunning beaches can be visited practically all year round. The heat is constant, the waters are warm, and the people have an easy and welcoming smile.

There are many beaches along the 573 km of the coast of Ceará. And so, as not to be limited to Jericoacoara or Canoa Quebrada, the favorites, in this article, we will tell you the most beautiful beaches in Ceará for you to create your itinerary.

1. Cumbuco Beach

Cumbuco Beach is made up of dunes, calm sea, and greenish lagoons. Due to its calmer nature, it is ideal for taking raft trips, which is one of the most popular activities in this former fishing village. For this reason, it has become one of the most visited beaches in Ceará. 

Thanks to its proximity to the capital, just 37km away, many tourists include it on their itinerary for the beaches of Ceará. In fact, discover the best tourist attractions in Fortaleza for a complete itinerary.

The place is also popular for kitesurfing, which makes the composition of its landscapes even more attractive. Just imagine: clear waters, with colorful rafts on the sea and dozens of open kites flying over the skies of Cumbuco Beach.

• Distance from Fortaleza: 37km
• Day trip from Fortaleza: on average, travel agencies charge R$35*
• Car: Take CE-090.

2. Lagoinha Beach

Do you know the pau-de-arara, a traditional vehicle from the northeastern backlands? It is so famous that it ended up becoming a tourist transport on Lagoinha Beach. You can take this tour and marvel at how the hinterland meets the coast. Two biomes are responsible for the beautiful landscapes of the place.

The beach can be enjoyed from a viewpoint where you can admire the natural coves, coconut trees, and the green sea. Schooner trips are also part of the package to the more traditional beaches of Ceará.

• Distance from Fortaleza: 110km
• Day trip from Fortaleza: on average, travel agencies charge R$50*
• Car: Take CE-085 and then CE-162, or start at BR-222 and then CE-085.

3. Flecheiras Beach

If you ask a person from Ceará what the most beautiful beach in Ceará is, Flecheiras will be on the tip of their tongue. During my days in the state, I was able to hear several times about the beauty of Flecheiras Beach.

And aren’t they right? If you visit at the right time, that is, at low tide, you will be enchanted by the natural pools that form between the reefs.

• Distance from Fortaleza: 143km
• Day trip from Fortaleza: on average, travel agencies charge R$60*
• Car: Take CE-085 and then CE-163, or take BR-222 and CE-163.

4. Jericoacoara

This beach needs no introduction, and, in fact, we already have a post about the Rota das Emoçoes, which is part of Jericoacoara Beach and belongs to the municipality of Jijoca de Jericoacoara. Sunset Dune, Lagoa do Paraiso, Lagoa Azul, Pedra Furada, and the Tree of Laziness are just some of the postcards of the place.

Thanks to its own regional airport, experiencing the unique vibe of Jeri has become much more convenient. And since it is located 300km from Fortaleza, it’s not ideal for a day trip.

Jeri is surrounded by a 200km stretch of coastline, along with dunes, mangroves, and lagoons. To reach Jeri by road, you’ll need a vehicle with good traction. Despite the influx of tourists flocking to the beach, it has managed to retain its natural beauty, largely due to its status as a National Park since 2002.

• Distance from Fortaleza: 300km
• Day trip from Fortaleza: on average, travel agencies charge R$160*
• Car: Take the CE-085, then, via local, Preá. It is not advisable to do it on your own as the local road is not paved.

5. Parque das Dunas Beach

Parque das Dunas Beach is located 22 km from Fortaleza, in the city of Aquiraz. This beach, known for its blue waters and rough seas, is closely associated with Beach Park, a popular leisure complex featuring numerous water slides and facilities that attract over a million visitors annually.

Anyone who doesn’t just want to see the park can take advantage of the infrastructure created around the complex, which is free. It has countless stores, food trucks, and bars with live music, surrounded by coconut trees and a wide strip of sand.

Generally, this beach is included on the day of the trip to Beach Park. Take the opportunity to enjoy the place hours before the park opens at 11 am. Take advantage of Praia Parque das Dunas earlier, as you won’t have time or energy left after playing at Beach Park.

• Distance from Fortaleza: 22km
• Day trip from Fortaleza: on average, travel agencies charge R$35*
• Car: Take Br-116 to CE-025

6. Morro Branco Beach

Situated in the municipality of Beberibe, 83 km from Fortaleza, this beach is a highlight along the Rota das Cores or Falésias. It’s renowned for its strong tradition of silicogravure, also known as sand engraving, where traditional drawings are crafted in the sand.

While this art form isn’t native to Brazil, it was the people of Ceará, particularly on Majorlândia beach in the city of Aracati, who pioneered the idea of preserving these creations in small glass bottles. This innovation has become one of the defining symbols of Morro Branco Beach, making it one of the most beautiful beaches in Ceara.

Once at Morro Branco Beach, be sure to take a buggy ride to see more than 12 natural colors of the region up close, as well as freshwater sources, caves, and dunes. Also noteworthy is Lagoa do Uruaú, the largest on the coast of Ceará, and also the labyrinth of colored sands.

• Distance from Fortaleza: 83km
• Day trip from Fortaleza: on average, travel agencies charge R$45*
• Car: Take CE-040

7. Águas Belas Beach

Diversity is a key feature of the Ceara coast. Alongside the vibrant dunes and cliffs, the eastern coastline boasts remarkable landscapes, particularly where the river meets the sea. This enchanting phenomenon is evident at Praia de Águas Belas.

If you appreciate rustic charm, crystal-clear waters, and lush greenery, this is the perfect destination. Just 55km from the capital, Águas Belas beach stands out as one of the finest in Ceará, known for its infectious joy.

Indeed, joy is the city’s catchphrase, and it permeates the atmosphere, leaving an indelible mark on all who visit. Whether it’s the cheerful greetings from waiters, bus drivers, or other service providers, the spirit of joy is omnipresent

• Distance from Fortaleza: 55km
• Day trip from Fortaleza: on average, travel agencies charge R$40*
• Car: Take CE-040

8. Canoa Quebrada Beach

170km from Fortaleza is Canoa Quebrada, another of the most beautiful beaches in Ceara. The beach in the city of Aracati is, without a doubt, the second most popular among tourists (first comes Jeri). All this is thanks to its colorful hills and the traditional star and half-moon symbol carved into one of the slopes (look at me, there).

The destination is surrounded by interesting information. Starting with the name. It is said that in the 17th century, the place was inhabited by Indians, and when Captain Francisco Soares da Cunha arrived at the beach, his boat broke down. Unable to be repaired, the vessel remained on the sand and ended up becoming a landmark: the place where the broken canoe was located.

The story behind the symbol carved into the hillside has two versions: the popular one (always more interesting) and the historical one. Of course, Quero Viajar Mais would bring both.

The traditional story goes that the symbol was made by a sculptor to give as gifts to tourists who visited the beach. The second is that a Muslim was in these lands and ended up getting carried away by the pleasures of the world and, after repenting, asked someone to carve the symbol of his religion as a form of forgiveness.

Whatever the real story, it is a fact that this slope is the most photographed. But there is much more to do in the region. The beach has a hippie spirit, a main street known as Brodway, and offers buggy rides, zip lining, kitesurfing, windsurfing, and other attractions.

And just like Morro Branco Beach, it is also part of the Rota das Falésia, a route that has 230km of beaches and includes some from the neighboring state of Rio Grande do Norte.

• Distance from Fortaleza: 170km
• Day trip from Fortaleza: on average, travel agencies charge R$55*
• Car: Take the CE-040, and after the Jaguaribe River, you will take the BR-304. Then, signs will indicate the local road to Canoa Quebrada.

Best beaches in Ceará

Is it possible that there are other, more beautiful beaches in Ceará? These are just eight chosen by Nature Attractions to represent the beauties of the state. There are also Praia das Fontes, Itarema, Taíba, Guajiru, Camocim, Bitupitá, Icapuí, etc. After all, the city has more than 500km of coastline!