Cearà

For ages Ceará was forgotten by the Portuguese crown. This lack of interest left this state one century behind the rest of the country in terms of growth. In spite of this, many adventurers explored this no mans land: Spanish, Dutch and French pirates fought over the control of this region against the indigenous tribes, who were cannibals. Due to the lack of big sugar cane plantations, gold, or any other kind of richness, Ceará was considered of little importance during the colonial era. The only main economy was the cattle breading, which created the symbol of the North Eastern cowboy, portrayed with a fragile appearance but was instead a brave and capable man, able to tame the dry soil of the caatinga (typical vegetation of the North east of Brazil).

In contrast with the dry landscape of the inland, the coast is characterised by the emerald green sea and the jangada, a rough and primitive boat used by the men to explore the deep sea, only guided by the light of the sun and the stars. It is a land of welcoming and simple people, with a strong and charming culture that can be appreciated in all its forms: art craft, cordel literature, music and dance. The gastronomy from Ceará is particularly known for its exotic flavour, combining typical ingredients of the sertão with the shellfish of the coast, with lobster being the most famous dish. Known for its beauty and diversity, few places are able to offer such a natural diversity like Ceará does. It counts 576 km of beaches, dunes, lagoons, water springs, falesias (vertical rock sheer on the sea), rivers, sea of emerald green and warm waters and a lovely breeze that refreshes the constant 30° climate. A true paradise. In the summer (from December through March) there are seasonal rainfalls.