Ceara
Travel Guide

About the State of Ceara, Brazil

Ceara is a northeastern Brazilian state with a population of over 9 million people and an area of approximately 148,900 square kilometers. Its capital, Fortaleza, is one of Brazil’s largest cities and serves as a major urban and economic center for the region. During the colonial and imperial periods, Ceará’s economy was based largely on cattle ranching and cotton cultivation, particularly in the sertão, the semi-arid interior. The state is notable for being the first in Brazil to abolish slavery, in 1884. Ceará has a strong tradition of literatura de cordel (booklets of folk poetry), woodcut printmaking, and forró music and dance—all cultural expressions rooted in rural life and often linked to themes of drought, migration, and everyday struggle. Fortaleza is also home to important cultural institutions like the Dragão do Mar Center of Art and Culture and Theatro José de Alencar, which help preserve and promote local traditions.

Geographically, Ceará presents a varied landscape that ranges from dry caatinga vegetation in the interior to a long Atlantic coastline dotted with fishing villages and beach towns. The state is known for its dramatic coastal scenery and consistent winds, which have made it a global destination for kitesurfing and windsurfing. Jericoacoara, one of the most well-known beach towns in Brazil, features vast sand dunes, freshwater lagoons, and a laid-back village atmosphere. Other coastal highlights include Canoa Quebrada, with its red sandstone cliffs and bohemian vibe, and Cumbuco, popular for dune buggy rides and water sports. Inland, the Serra de Baturité offers a rare humid microclimate in an otherwise arid region and includes towns like Guaramiranga, known for coffee production and annual classical music festivals. In the south, the Cariri region around Juazeiro do Norte and Crato serves as both a religious pilgrimage site dedicated to Padre Cícero and a center of archaeological interest, with fossil sites and prehistoric rock art in the nearby Araripe Plateau.

Ceará’s economy has diversified in recent decades, with tourism, agriculture, manufacturing, and renewable energy forming its main sectors. The Pecém Industrial and Port Complex, located northwest of Fortaleza, has become a central hub for steel production and international trade, aided by its deep-water port and special economic zone. The state is a major exporter of fruits such as melons, papayas, and cashew nuts, largely grown in irrigated areas along the coast and river valleys. Ceará is also one of Brazil’s leaders in wind and solar power generation, especially along its breezy and sun-exposed coastline. Fortaleza serves as the state's financial and logistics center and has also emerged as a digital communications hub, with multiple undersea fiber optic cables connecting it to Europe and North America. The state government has invested in education and technology through initiatives such as the Ceará Scientific and Technological Development Foundation (FUNCAP).