Fortaleza/Mucuripe : Profile

Location

This is the most important city on the north coast and is also a busy fishing harbour.

For the unsuspecting, the bay is littered with wrecks (those not buoyed show above the water), and the water shallows quickly, so care should be taken on entry. Lights on the buoys can be undetected from over 50m away.

Position 03°42'S, 38°30'W.

Security
Visiting cruisers warn that parts of the city (including areas round the Park Hotel) are not safe, recommending to travel in groups and use a taxi instead of public transport. However, much of Fortaleza is fairly upscale with nice shopping and dining.

Credit card fraud is a problem here, so take extra care if using one.

Clearance

It is possible to anchor at the commercial harbour on arrival to check in. This anchorage however is not safe and there's no where to leave your dinghy when going ashore. The alternative is to berth at the marina and make the necessary office visits by taxi (cost approx. R$ 60).

Authorities should be visited in the following order: Polica Federal, Customs (beside each other) then Port Captain - who has now moved next door to the yacht club. On departure the same order is followed.

Officials are reported to be very slow, and it may take a whole day to check in.

Last updated December 2011

Docking

Most visitors moor at the Marina Park Hotel, to the west. A night entry should be avoided as many boats string lines right across the marina.

Note there is a wreck off the marina entrance whose submerged stern is located between waypoint EAPP and MPARK 1 as given on the marina website. Some of the latest reports from cruisers for Fortaleza give tips on how to best negotiate the entry to the marina.

Facilities at Marina Park have been recently refurbished; pontoons added, painted and repaired. However, in the new section there are piles which can damage the boat when moored stern-to. The old section is safer, but even there care is necessary to keep the stern sufficiently far off the dock to avoid damage in a surge.

The yacht club is a "members only" club, however does welcome visitors in their bar/restaurant.

Last updated January 2012.

Marina Park Hotel
Av. Presidente Castelo Branco, 400, Praia de Iracema, Fortaleza , Ceará , Brasil
Tel:+55 85 4006 9595 /mobile 55 85 9103 4984 , Fax:+55 85 3253-1803 , VHF Channel 74
marina@marinapark.com.br
Opening Hours: From 1000
Position 03°43.1'S, 038°31.6'W. Excellent security (armed guards), part of a 5 star hotel complex with free use of swimming pool and hotel facilities, a range of restaurants, sauna, WiFi (US$10/hour), drinking water (via very long hose) and no electricity. Showers available at swimming pool. Dock stern-to using bow anchor. Close to main shopping centre, courtesy bus to beach. Marina manager (Armando Teixeira) is reported to be very helpful, can assist in getting fuel, finding mechanics etc. Rates negotiable, cash only.

Yacht Clubs

The anchorage off the Yacht Club is reported as unsafe following frequent robberies from yachts anchored there. Cruisers visiting December 2011 report that safety at anchor here is still an issue and currently a huge concrete wall is being built around the low cost housing in a bid to control crime.

Fortaleza Yacht Club
Av. de Abloica 41813, Fortaleza CE, Brazil
Tel:+55 85 263 1744, Fax:+55 85 263 2099
Stricly a members only club.

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Update for Fortaleza - Marina Park Marin (30 Jan 2012)

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