We have seen the announcement in the media and a few blogs: Jericoacoara is going to have an international airport. The governor of the state of Ceará is promising it will be operating in July 2010 (there are general elections in October that year). In actual fact, rather than a full-blown airport, we are just talking about a runway sufficient enough for charter flights coming from Europe.

The local political bosses, the inhabitants of the region and people related to the tourism industry are celebrating. And we can’t help but feel yet another Brazilian paradise enters a road from which it will not come back.

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Destination: Jericoacoara
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BY BUS

The company traveling between Fortaleza and Natal is Viação Nordeste. Its site contains schedules and prices. The trip lasts 5 hours and costs from R$69 (basic bus, with no air con).

Careful. There were several hold-ups during the year 2008. The armed robberies on buses travelling between the two cities took place in the western part of the state of Rio Grande do Norte. We do not advice night travel on that route – all the hold-ups happened at night time.

BY PLANE

Brazilian airlines Gol and Tam have direct flights between Natal and Fortaleza. Schedules and prices available at their websites.

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Destination: Fortaleza
Destination: Natal
Bus transportation in Brazil
the main Brazilian airlines (from D Airfare)

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[Photo by Alfredo D. Ortiz reproduced under a Creative Commons licence]

To make up for the absence on this blog of a specific post devoted to Canoa Quebrada, I am publishing a blog entry with links to sites of interest.

I was quite surprised to find out quite a number of portals devoted to such a small place as Canoa Quebrada. Among the most interesting sites, Canoa Quebrada.net, Canoa-Quebrada.com and Portal Canoa Quebrada (this one with an English version of sorts). With a scary layout, the portals Canoa Viagem and Canoa-Quebrada.net.

On the Portal do Turismo do Ceará (Ceará is the state where Canoa Quebrada is located) there is also information (in English) on the destination.

Regarding accommodation, on our very own Accommodation in Brazil we have an entry with a full listing of hotels and pousadas in Canoa Quebrada.

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Accommodation in Brazil has two new blog posts.

One with a full listing of Hotels and pousadas in Canasvieiras, Florianópolis and another one with another full listing of Hotels and pousadas in Jericoacoara.

Sooner or later, during your trips throughout Brazil (and in the North East in particular), you’ll have to cross a river. And more likely than not, there will be a strapping lad and its makeshift boat ready to take you across to the other side.

The two pictures here were taken near Jericoacoara, on the way to Tatajuba.

In Trancoso, however, the unofficial ferryboat doesn’t require its captain to stand on the boat.

A stroke of luck and air traffic control forces the aircraft taking us to Fortaleza to do a gigantic loop above the city before landing.

Seen from above, Fortaleza is quite striking. The concentration of high-rises is particularly stunning. Any notion of urban planning is, of course, conspicuous by its absence.

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A neat visual trick at the Dragão do Mar Cultural Centre in Fortaleza. The optical illusion becomes apparent as you get closer to the end of the footbridge.

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The sands of Jericoacoara are magical. Windswept, the sands form mesmerizing patterns that extend as far as the eye can see.

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hotels and pousadas in Jericoacoara

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NAME: pousada Vila Kalango

WHERE: Jericoacoara, Ceará

WEBSITE: www.vilakalango.com.br

IN ENGLISH: though there’s been an option for English on the home page for quite a long time, it is not active (why bother, then?)

PRICES ON THE WEBSITE: yes

LOCATION: on one end of Jericoacoara, right next to the sunset dune, with the beach in front.

THE BUILDING: the pousada occupies a garden of 5,000 m2 with palm trees and cashew nut trees.

THE ROOMS: there are several types of rooms: we stayed at an apartamento standard, 30m2, built with materials from the region. The walls are made of clay bricks, the roof uses carnaúba palm leaves, and the floor is made of wood. They have a fan, a king-size bed, a mosquito net, and a hammock on the outside. Charming decor. There are more luxurious accommodations, rooms built on the top of stilt houses (see photo above). No telephone or television on the rooms (a plus, we think).

PRICES IN OCTOBER 2004: R$120 per room per night. Prices have risen quite a lot since we were there.

BREAKFAST: included in the price. Excellent. Including hot dishes (crêpes, tapioca) prepared while you wait, and bread baked on the premises. Breakfast is served on a wonderful dining room, with open views to the dune and the sea.

MEALS: we didn’t have any meals at the restaurant, but from what we saw on the menu, the food looked really enticing.

FRONT DESK: correct.

OTHER FACILITIES: the pousada now has a swimming pool and (paid) Internet access.

CONTACT BY E-MAIL: can’t evaluate this item as we booked the pousada through a travel agent.

OUR JUDGEMENT: at 2004 prices, incredible value for money. Prices have risen a lot since then, and from what other travellers have told us, the pousada is even nicer today. Though not cheap, if you want to give yourselves a treat in Brazil, this could be the place. The beautiful pictures of the pousada on its website do justice to the place.

GOOGLE MAPS [MY MAPS!]: Pousada Vila Kalango

SEE ALSO: hotels and pousadas in Jericoacoara

The water park Beach Park is located on the outskirts of Fortaleza – an excellent alternative for a warm summer day, just make sure you avoid the high season with its endless queues.

From the top of the 41-meter high Insano slide (speed going down: 105 km/h) there is a wonderful view of the coastline south of Fortaleza.

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destination: Fortaleza

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