# Ceará

Ceará is a state in Northeast Brazil. Traditionally one of the poorest in the country, certain regions have developed almost beyond recognition over the last 20 years, mostly from tourism and light manufacturing. The population is closing in on 9 million, of which almost a third lives in the capital, Fortaleza.
The coast is quite different from the inland. While the state features a range of nice beaches, including a few of countrywide fame, the only developed destination further in is Guaramiranga.

## Cities

* -3.900833-38.3908331 Aquiraz
* -4.561944-37.772 Aracati
* -2.900833-40.8427783 Camocim , the most well preserved fishing village in the region.
* -4.358889-39.3119444 Canindé
* -4.528333-37.6927785 Canoa Quebrada Excellent nightlife and more sandstone cliffs - 2.5 hours east of Fortaleza)
* -3.732778-38.6558336 Caucaia
* -5.177778-40.6777787 Crateús
* -3.633333-38.7166678 Cumbuco is known as one of the best places in the world for kitesurfing.
* -3.7275-38.52759 Fortaleza
* -4.262778-38.93277810 Guaramiranga
* -2.793889-40.51277811 Jijoca de Jericoacoara Rated among Brazil's top beaches.
* -7.212778-39.31512 Juazeiro do Norte , -deep inland.
* -3.181309-39.38208113 Mundau , still not fully developed, nice beaches and dunes.
* -3.41-39.03083314 Paracuru , another small cearense beach village slowly growing into a tourist destination.
* -4.225833-38.73083315 Redenção
* -4.94-37.97583316 Russas — center of an agricultural region.
* -3.685556-40.34416717 Sobral
* -2.855556-40.69222218 Tatajuba
* -3.731944-40.99194419 Tianguá
* -3.854444-40.92111120 Ubajara

## Other destinations

* Prea — wide open beach (12 km), the most reliable kitesurfing playground on earth between mid-July to mid-January.
* Ubajara National Park — caves and waterfalls in the interior of Ceara 5.5 hours west of Fortaleza

## Get around

* Good bus connection along the main highway, with Fortaleza as the obvious hub. Scarcer to smaller town, especially at night.
* The only air travel worth considering within the state is to between the capital and Juazeiro do Norte.

## See
### Itineraries

* Travel by beach buggy along the coast from Fortaleza to Natal, stopping in Canoa Quebrada and a couple of other spots. Typically 4 days, can be arranged with many travel agencies in both ends.
* West from Fortaleza there are many nice beaches before hitting the most famed, Jericoacoara. Or you could stop by Sobral to get a feel of the inland. Camocim is the Brazilian fishing village, almost on the border of Piauí.

## Do

* Due to its constant breezes and otherwise stable climate, Ceará has slowly conquered the fame of Kite Surfing Paradise. Most of the coast is suitable, but the prime destinations are Cumbuco, followed by Flecheiras.

## Eat

* While the standard Brazilian lunch is always accompanied by rice and beans, the latter in a gravy of sorts, the cearenses prefer Baião de Dois. This is also made from rice and beans, only cut the gravy and add melted cheese instead.
* Go away from the coast, and panelada will appear on the menu. This is a sort of stew mostly made of tripe.
* Crab is at its most popular in this state, particularly on the beaches around Fortaleza. Most commonly served by itself, with a tray and a wooden hammer to get access to the goodies. Some would consider this more of a pastime than a meal.
* Feijao Verde is white(!) beans in a sauce of cheese and cream, and whatever else the cook chose to throw in.
* Peixe a Delicia is fish, fried bananas and cheese in a creamy sauce.

## Drink

* Even though the coconut can be found along most of the Brazilian coastline, Ceará is the state that has arguably the most of it, and sometimes priced as low as 50 centavos cold and ready to drink.