Wide sands
At low tide.
MACÍLIO GOMES — CC BY 3.0 · MACÍLIO GOMES — CC BY 3.0 · MACÍLIO GOMES — CC BY 3.0 · MACÍLIO GOMES — CC BY 3.0
Praia da Baleia, «Whale Beach», lies on the coast of Itapipoca in western Ceará, about 180 kilometres from Fortaleza; its name is said to come from a whale skeleton once found here. The beach runs for four kilometres around an open bay, and at low tide its sand widens to as much as a hundred metres. Dunes and lagoons surround it and give the place a wild feel. The wind is strong and steady and the waves are good, so the beach has become a kitesurfing spot, and sandboarding is popular on the dunes. The village has guesthouses and small restaurants, and the atmosphere is calm and safe, making it a good weekend escape from the crowds. It lies a short way west of Mundaú, so the two beaches combine easily into one trip along the west coast.
At low tide.
A wild setting.
For water sports.
Itapipoca coast, about 180 km from Fortaleza, Ceará
A whale skeleton is said to have been found here long ago.