Fortaleza: the Northeast Trade Winds and the Atlantic Dunes

Fortaleza sits on the northeastern Brazilian coast facing north into the Atlantic, with trade winds blowing nearly continuously from the east. Praia do Futuro, 8 kilometers of beach facing northeast, is the main Atlantic-sunrise beach. The Beira-Mar promenade along Meireles Beach, the urban beach district, faces north. Jericoacoara, 300 kilometers west along the coast (accessible by 4x4), offers the most photogenic dune-and-lagoon landscapes in northeastern Brazil: the Duna do Pôr do Sol is a northwest-facing sandhill for sunset photography, and freshwater lagoons at Lagoa Azul create sky-reflection ponds surrounded by palms. At -3.7°S, golden hour lasts only 20 minutes. The dry season (August through January) gives the clearest Atlantic horizons and the most consistent trade winds.