Canoa Quebrada beach is located 12 kilometres from the municipality of Aracati. Since the 1970s, the beach has been one of the best-known and most popular beaches in Ceará and also one of the main stops on the Cliff Route.
The beach has been the setting for films such as Fábio Barreto’s ‘Bella Dona’ (1997). The village is located on cliffs up to 30 metres above sea level.
With its reddish sands, Canoa Quebrada was born from the small village of Esteves and today tourism is its main source of income.
In addition to the magic that can’t be translated, the beach offers buggy rides, raft trips, mountain biking, sandboarding, nature walks, quad bikes and fishing.
And to buy the traditional handicraft of bottles decorated with coloured sand, it’s worth visiting Majorlândia, 8 km from Canoa Quebrada.
Videos – Tourist information
Canoa Quebrada no Ceará - Reportagem
Canoa Quebrada no Ceará - Drone
Canoa Quebrada - Lindas Praias e Falésias
Canoa Quebrada in Aracati CE
1. Tourist Attractions
The beach is one of Brazil’s most famous tourist destinations. Known for its colourful cliffs, stunning beaches and vibrant atmosphere, Canoa Quebrada offers a variety of attractions and activities to suit all tastes.
- Broadway
- Cliffs
- Hippies
- Buggy rides
- Paragliding
- Bells of Canoa Quebrada
- Surrounding beaches
Among the most popular activities are Kitesurfing, Paragliding and buggy and 4X4 trips around the region. For the more adventurous, there is the quad bike or motorbike tour with a guide.
1. Broadway (Rua Dragão do Mar)
Broadway, Canoa Quebrada’s main street, is where the best bars, restaurants, shops and local culture are concentrated. There are many shops, bars and restaurants, as well as being a meeting point for those visiting the area.
Compared to the original in New York, Canoa’s Broadway (the town’s tourist centre) is not bad in at least one respect: the number of people who dominate the narrow streets in high season.
2. Cliffs
Famous for its huge dunes and reddish cliffs up to 30 metres high.
3. Hippies
It became famous for being the destination of hippies, mostly from European countries, in the 60s and 70s – a time when the place was inhabited only by an indigenous tribe and a few fishermen. Some hippies married the locals, had children and moved to Canoa Quebrada.
You can find many Swiss, French and other European descendants among the locals.
Although it still retains some of the charm and simplicity of the time when it was a quiet hippy hideaway, the village is now a mass tourist destination, with queues of parked buses in the summer.
Any stress is forgotten when you’re in front of the beautiful landscape of reddish cliffs.
4. Buggy rides
One of the most popular activities, buggy rides allow you to explore the region’s cliffs, dunes and beaches in an exciting way. Local guides offer various routes that include tourist attractions and breathtaking landscapes.
5. Kitesurfing and Windsurfing
The wind conditions in Canoa Quebrada are ideal for practising sports such as kitesurfing and windsurfing. There are local schools offering lessons and equipment hire for beginners and experts.
6. Paragliding
For the adventurous, paragliding offers a unique perspective of the cliffs and beaches, providing incredible panoramic views.
7. Bells of Canoa Quebrada
Carved into the cliffs, the bell sculptures are one of Canoa Quebrada’s icons, representing the creativity and artistry of the locals.
8. Surrounding beaches
From Praia do Ceará in the east to Retiro Grande, they all belong to the municipality of Icapuí.
As the distances from Canoa Quebrada beach are long, many people prefer to take buggy rides along the sand to get to know them – especially Ponta Grossa, the most beautiful.
For a day at the beach, the tip is to enjoy the village itself, the village beach, which can be reached on foot.
2. HOW TO GET THERE
Distance from Fortaleza: 156 kilometres
1. Private or hired car
Duration: Approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes.
Recommended Route: Leave Fortaleza on the CE-040, a well signposted road that leads to Aracati, the municipality where Canoa Quebrada is located.
After approximately 150 kilometres on the CE-040, you will arrive in Aracati.
From Aracati, follow the signs to Canoa Quebrada, which is about 15 kilometres away on the CE-371.
2. Bus
Duration: Approximately 3 to 4 hours, depending on traffic and stops.
Company: The main bus company operating on this route is Viação São Benedito.
Where to get off: Buses leave from the Engenheiro João Thomé Bus Terminal in Fortaleza.
Destination: The bus takes you to the Aracati bus station, from where you can take a taxi or local transport to Canoa Quebrada.
3. Private Transfers:
Duration: Approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes.
Services: There are several companies and tourist agencies that offer direct transfer services from Fortaleza to Canoa Quebrada.
