Northeast Brazil has become the new favourite for Brazilians to celebrate carnival 2021. The region has knocked Rio de Janeiro from its pole position and takes four of the top five places to spend the festival. As well as traditional hotspots such as Salvador and Maceio, Fortaleza and Recife also make up the favourite four.
Preferences for carnival 2021
According to a survey by Decolar, Brazilians have turned their attention to Northeast Brazil for carnival next year. This part of the country occupies seven of the top ten favourite places to spend carnival 2021.
Salvador takes first place with Maceio in second. Recife and Fortaleza follow in fourth and fifth. Salvador is traditionally one of the top destinations for carnival in Brazil – the city attracts 1.8 million to the festivities in its street. In 2021, it has displaced Rio de Janeiro as the most preferred carnival capital.
No carnival in Rio de Janeiro
One of the reasons for the rise in the popularity of Northeast Brazil for carnival is the cancellation of the parade in Rio. The procession that takes place in the Sambódromo is probably the world’s most famous carnival event. In 2021, however, covid-19 restrictions means it cannot take place.
As a result, Brazilians are looking for alternative destinations to celebrate their most vibrant party of the year. One of the busiest holiday seasons in the annual calendar, carnival festivities attract thousands of tourists and generate millions in revenue for host destinations.
Ceará a firm favourite
Fortaleza regularly features as a top destination for carnival – in 2020, the event attracted over 143,000 visitors to the capital of Ceará. Hotel occupancy reached 91.4%.
However, not all tourists want festivities during the week-long carnival. Beach holidays are also highly sought-after and resorts on the Ceará coast register high occupancy every February.
This forthcoming season is likely to see similar results. Ceará has proved to be a very popular destination since Brazil came out of lockdown. Accommodation options during long weekends in September and November reached almost full capacity in places like Flecheiras and Jericoacoara.
Alternative carnival celebrations
Bookings for accommodation in Ceará have been brisk for Christmas and the New Year, the summer in Brazil. Self-catering establishments have seen sharp rises in demand – rates for those in Flecheiras, for example, have doubled on the back of the big rise in reservations.
Quiet beaches with open spaces are the preferred option for many Brazilian families and group post-lockdown. And Ceará offers numerous stunning spots to get away from the crowds and enjoy the fresh air.
Invest in holiday lets in Brazil
The Coral currently offers self-catering suites and villas on the resort with capacity for over 200 guests. Bookings have been busy for the resort and our occupancy figures are very promising for the forthcoming summer period.
Investors have the chance to make the most of the rising interest in Flecheiras by buying at The Coral. Options include investment in turnkey villas, loft apartments and 2-bedroom apartments. All offer excellent potential for return and some include guaranteed rental income for two or three years.
Investment starts at just US$80,250/€67,000 – the perfect opportunity to add buy-to-let in Brazil to your portfolio.
