The state of Ceará offers excellent opportunities for adventure spots, with water sports taking centre stage. Not for nothing is Ceará one of the world’s top locations for kite and windsurfing. As a result, the state’s capital, Fortaleza, has taken this potential one step further and is promoting itself as the capital of adventure sports in Brazil.
Adventure sports and new experiences
The brand Fortaleza Radical emerged in mid-July and aims to position the city as the capital of adventure sports in Brazil. It promotes Fortaleza as a tourist destination for seven types of sports: tandem skydiving, kitesurf, skateboarding, surfing, Hawaiian canoeing, diving and rappel from the Barra do Ceará bridge.
“Few cities in Brazil offer the chance to skydive and watch the sunset on the beach,” said Fortaleza’s Mayor, Elcio Batista. “There’s a significant niche in tourism for people who want an extreme experience and Radical Fortaleza aims to appeal to them.”
Fortaleza with something for everyone
As well as positioning itself as the capital of extreme sport in Brazil, the city offers a wide range of activities. “As well as an adrenalin rush, Fortaleza also offers relaxation, shopping and cultural activities,” said Alexandre Pereira, Head of Tourism in the city.
The city’s new tourism website contains a wealth of suggestions for tourists. They include a guide to restaurants, museum recommendations and pet-friendly tips. There’s even a section aimed at digital nomads, who are increasingly attracted to Ceará as a long-stay destination.
Lengthen visit
The addition of extreme sports to the list of things to do in Fortaleza will ultimately enrich the experience and encourage tourists to stay longer. “All these projects mean the visitor will spend more days in the city,” said Regis Medeiros, President of the Ceará Hotel Association (ABIH-CE).
“The more a destination offers in terms of attractions and leisure options, the greater the potential to appeal to tourists,” he added. “Fortaleza will therefore appeal to a specific audience.”
More foreign visitors to Ceará
The state has already seen an exponential rise in tourism this year, with levels now surpassing those in 2019. The latest figures for foreign tourists confirm the return en masse of visitors to Ceará.
According to the state tourist board, SETUR, Ceará welcomed 106,690 foreigners to its airports between January and May. The figure is 42.5% higher than the same period in 2022. In May alone, around 21,300 international visitors entered the state.
(Sources: Visit Fortaleza, SETUR)
