Fortaleza grew from a village founded in 1726 into Brazil's fourth-largest city and the economic capital of the Northeast, with a metro GDP of roughly $40 billion. About 25km of urban beach line the city, from Praia de Iracema to Praia do Futuro, and steady trade winds have made this coast one of the world's premier windsurfing and kitesurfing destinations. BR-116, Brazil's longest highway at 4,385km, starts here, and Fortaleza's port sits closer to mainland Europe than any other major Brazilian city.
Nights sit around 25°C and afternoons around 31°C.
Fortaleza barely changes season: afternoons sit around 31°C and nights around 25°C most of the year.
There is a clear wet season from January – June, peaking in April with around 385 mm. The dry months run from August – November.
Wind is a factor: September averages 25 km/h, enough to notice on a terrace or a bike. Air quality is worth watching: October averages an AQI of 56, while April clears to 37.
Daylight is steady all year, around 12.0 hours a day.
For what you're after, the best months in Fortaleza are July – December. Expect fast internet (280 Mbps) and a moderate cost of living (about €950 a month).
Affiliate links: if you book through them I earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you.
