Brazil, rich in culture and history, a country full of glorious coastlines, vast tropical rainforests, party fuelled metropolises and serene secluded towns. Stretching roughly 2,700 miles (4,350 km) from north to south and from east to west to form a vast irregular triangle that encompasses a wide range of tropical and subtropical landscapes, including wetlands, savannas, plateaus, and low mountains.
Rio de Janeiro, Salvador and Sao Paulo are some of the country’s most popular cities, but what about beyond these to some of the lesser known areas of Brazil, to the north-eastern part of the country and to Ceara, known for its 600 kilometres of soft sandy coastline, with little palm-fringed bays, tranquil beach resorts, quaint traditional fishing villages and a landscape lined with strikingly beautiful red cliffs.
Flying into Fortaleza International Airport courtesy of TAP Air Portugal, the first stop on our little adventure around Ceara brought us to Zorah Beach, a small boutique hotel located on the beach of Guajiru, surrounded by sand dunes and warm waters, a haven of tranquillity, sophistication and privacy in an ambience circled by natural beauty. Owned by an Indian gentleman, the Asian influence is paramount to the décor, all pieces, sculptures, objects, furniture and fixtures came from Bali, India and the Middle East, some even made to order. The main door of the lobby and the ceiling of the reception table are remnants from mansions known as ‘Haveli’ in India.
Balinese-inspired suites, bungalows, and villas, (22 in total) all with the same earthy tones, ornate hand carved design pieces and large comfy beds. Step outside onto a balcony that’s surrounded by palm trees, and tropical gardens the ideal spot to sit, contemplate and immerse yourself in a bubble, whilst the sound of nature goes on around you.
The Bathrooms feature a large sunken bath, with the luxury of L’Occitane toiletries and a walk-in shower.
The Indian influence translates to the kitchen too, with authentic dishes proving a real treat. The hotel is the only restaurant in Ceará and one of the few in Brazil where it is possible to taste food made in the Indian clay oven, Tandoor.
Offering peace and seclusion, this dreamy hotel hidden in its own oasis is idyllic, grab a hammock, a good book and just laze between the palm trees, if the sun becomes a little too much take shade under the thatched roof of one of the day beds and dip your toes in the sparkling blue pool.
Take a stroll along the beach and visit the small fishing village ofGuajiru, here you’ll find fisherman sitting on the cobbled streets around the main square preparing their catches of the day and for a little romance take a private catamaran cruise across the Mundaú River, sailing past tropical forests and tangled mangroves, look carefully and you’ll see the vibrant orangey, red crabs crawling up the roots. Just in time for sunset, disembark on the sandy dunes and savor the moment over a cool glass of champagne.
Further up the coast with constant winds all year round is a kitesurfers paradise,Rancho do Peixe on Prea Beach. The rustic woodenbungalows builton stilted decks, covered with carnauba straw and surrounded by coconut palms and dunesare designed so you feel completely in touch with nature, a large canopied bed, cushioned window seats, wooden shutters that open ontogorgeous sea views, and bright and bold soft furnishings that add a splash of colour to the dark wood and crisp white sheets. On the front deck a hammock is perfectly positioned for swaying in the wind listening to the sound of the waves in the distance.
Open rustic architecture surrounds the resort, allowing the breeze to sweep through your hair whether you’relounging poolside, sipping cocktails at the beachside bar, orenjoying the creativity of the chefs as they prepare mouthwatering fresh dishes in the restaurant.
Most people come here for the kitesurfing, but that’s not to say you have to be an expert, there’s plenty of lessons available and if you’re still not keen there’s always horse riding along the beach and into the dunes.
Thirty minutes from Prea beach is the enchanting beachside town of Jericoacoara, affectionally known as Jeri, attracting hippies, backpackers and dreamers. It still entices the same crowd today, but now
with a number of superb luxury hotels, it’s the place for in the know travellers to visit too.
There are no streets in Jeri just sandy paths illuminated by moonlight and the twinkling lights of the many boutiques and street vendors. Live music and entertainment is around every corner, be sure to grab yourself a caipirinha (the famous Brazilian cocktail), sit down in one of the wooden bars and soak up the atmosphere.
Luxury and refinement is what you’ll find at Carmel Charme Resort, situated on the beautiful white sands atAquiraz, this is the epitome of sophistication and elegance. Sink your toes into silky sand and wander along the seashore. Stylish interiors, tropical touches and a pool that’s extensive and overlooks the beach and ocean – in one corner of the pool there’s a hot tub, and in the middle a swim up bar, the perfect spot for indulging in even more caipirinha’s (when in Brazil……).
There are just 35 rooms and include suites, duplexes and bungalows. The duplex is two storeys of sleek, stylish, sophistication, a colour palette of browns and neutrals, with the lounge area leading out to a balcony offering beautiful views of the pool and sea vistas. Back inside there’s a full complement of luxurious amenities, including large flat-screen TVs with cable channels, plush king-size bedding, L’Occitane toiletries, mini-bar and Nespresso coffee machine. The bedroom is reached via a tiled staircase and is light and airy, accessorised with rattan accents and light wooden furniture.
Carmel Charme’s view is breath-taking from every angle, from the beach to the pool, the artfully arranged cabanas to the colourful hammocks. Whether it’s the breakfast parlour with its exceptionally good food that includes detox juices and tapioca or the main restaurant that serves Brazilian and international dishes including fresh fish served with pumpkin, the panoramas of the beach scene are the stunning backdrop for both.
Spend a lazy day unwinding in a hammock, before heading to the spa for a bespoke massage or for the more active amongst us enjoy the indoor clay tennis court or the open-air gym.
Ceara is a dream destination, a place where you’ll never tire of the extensive coastline, luxury hotels, tropical landscapes, and diverse cultures, around every corner there’s something new for you to experience or discover, a place that you’ll be planning your return before you’ve even left.
If you do only one thing during your stay it has to be a dune-buggy ride, the ideal way to experience the sands of Barro Preto beach and its surrounding coastline. The rubber wheels of the buggies slice through the beautiful landscape of sand hills and salt lakes, until you get a smoother ride along the beach and a slower pace through local fishing villages packed with families enjoying the sunshine, whizz past beach bars and surfer shacks before arriving in the traditional town of Aquiraz, famous for its lace-making, traditionally still made by hand by the ladies of the town.
Back on the buggy, this time heading to the golden dunes themselves, be sure to hold on as the driver takes you on a roller coaster ride up and down the dunes, a ride full of adrenaline and not for the faint hearted but oh such fun and how else are you going to see the breath-taking views of this stunning landscape? And just when you think there’s no more surprises (you’re in the middle of the dunes with no one around), you turn a corner and you’ve arrived at a stop point, a place where there are makeshift bars surrounded by tropical palm trees and foliage, ideal for some light refreshment, whether it’s fresh coconut juice or beer, you can just sit under the shade of the trees relax and catch your breath, but if relaxing and taking it easy isn’t for you there’s another adrenalin high here, you can slide down from the dunes on a makeshift water slide into the lake below – the choice is yours, either way the views are stunning
Ceara is a dream destination, a place where you’ll never tire of the extensive coastline, luxury hotels, tropical landscapes, and diverse cultures, around every corner there’s something new for you to experience or discover, a place that you’ll be planning your return before you’ve even left.
BOOK IT
TAP Air Portugal has a daily departure to Fortaleza from London City, Heathrow, Gatwick and Manchester via Lisbon. Prices start at £522 one way including all taxes and surcharges.
For further information, visit www.flytap.com or call 0345 601 0932
Discover two destinations for price of one with TAP’s Portugal Stopover Programme, where passengers travelling to TAP’s long-haul destinations can stop off for up to five nights in Lisbon or Porto at no extra cost.
Zorah Beach:
Room rates per night for the suites start from R$ 810 (approx. £160) in low season, R$ 900 (£178) in half season and R$ 980 (£194) in high season.
For more detail, please visit www.zorahbeach.com.br/en
Rancho do Peixe
Room rates per night for a double start from R$510 (£101).
For more details, please visit www.ranchodopeixe.com.br/en
Carmel Charme
Room rates start from £270 per night for a Superior Suite.
For more details, please visit www.carmelhoteis.com.br/carmelcharme/en
