Bem Vindo and Welcome to Canoa Quebrada!

Set in a conservation area, Canoa Quebrada is located in the state of Ceara about 166 km from Fortaleza. If natural beauty is what you like, the beautiful beach here stretches for miles on end without any houses, tents or shacks obstructing the view. Apart from the sun and sand, Canoa Quebrada is rich in history as well, adding to its wide range of things to see and do. At night there is the mix of caribbean and brazilian sounds, as well as the best of the 70 and 80's live rock music. The full moon does the rest, transporting you romantically and powerfully through the night.

Discovering Canoa Quebrada means returning at any age, any time, and sometimes, indefinitely. The friendly locals offer warm hospitality, and the quaint Canoa Quebrada hotels or "pousadas" are often owned and run by local families. On the beach, "barracas" (local tents) of various styles and colours, shapes and sizes, are always at your disposal together with a good bar service and delicious Canoa Quebrada restaurants. These restaurants offer fantastic local dishes, most of which are seafood based, freshly caught by the local population of fishermen. The tradition of fishing with "jangadas", or local rafts, has been kept and still in use today, and you can go for an exciting rafting experience on a jangada any time you wish!

Accommodation-wise, Canoa Quebrada caters to all tastes and budgets. With hostels and budget Canoa Quebrada hotels starting at modest prices, you can also indulge in more luxurious hotels in Canoa Quebrada as well. One thing you are assured of here - 365 days of sunshine and many exciting leisure activities and Canoa Quebrada tours that will keep you enchanted by Canoa Quebrada. You can even use our Canoa Quebrada map to choose your hotel in Canoa Quebrada based on its location, ensuring you are close to the beach or whatever you wish to see and do.

Despite not having any remaining sites from its first inhabitants, Canoa Quebrada is one of the oldest villages in Brazil. During the 30's, the old chapel with all the local houses was completely lost and rebuilt on the falesias, developing into the new village as it is today. The official story of its discovery goes back to Pedro Alvares Cabral who arrived in 1500 in Porto Seguro, Bahia. Some historians though, have a theory that the Spanish navigator Vicente Pizòn came by ship to the small place today known as Canoa Quebrada. He was shipwrecked and that is the origin of the name, as Canoa quebrada means "broken canoe". Until the 60's the village was a quiet fishermen's colony, occupied by descendants of the Portuguese Spanish who kept their ethnical characteristics until they mingled with the local indios.

Canoa Quebrada has a population of 2000, with half indigenous descendants, and the other half made up of Brazilian's from other parts of the country and overseas visitors who have settled there. Canoa Quebrada was discovered by the hippies in the 70's and after that by people from all over the world. This diverse mix of people in such a small environment makes Canoa Quebrada fascinating.

Another interesting find in Canoa Quebrada is the symbol of the village that you will see in various sculptures and locally made handicrafts . It is a symbol of the moon and a star, with oriental characteristics. The local tale is that a visitor from Pakistan was admiring a sculptor working his art on a tortoise shell. As the visitor wanted to give his loved one that present, he asked the artisan to sculpt a piece of the moon and a star (moon: symbol of femininity and rebirth, mental regeneration)(star: an amulet bringing good luck, the star that guides and protects). The artisan loved the idea, and decided to sculpt these symbols on the falesias. From then on, Canoa Quebrada became the land of the moon and the star.

Most artisans are sons of the first hippies, and some make beautiful small bottles with coloured sand of various designs, shapes and sizes. Meanwhile, the local women maintain the old Portugese tradition of lace embroidery called 'labirinto".

Kitesurfing, parapendium, jangada rafting, horse riding and dune buggying through transparent lakes and beautiful swaying palms are just some of the exciting activities you can take part in. Take a look at our environmentally responsible tours in Canoa Quebrada to find some exciting ways of experiencing this beautiful region.

A visit to Canoa Quebrada means discovering new emotions, old traditions, pure air, simple life and good food. This charming place teaches you to enjoy simplicity and take each day as it comes without expecting too much from it. Take a long stroll along the beach - chat with the local fishermen and relax, soaking in the fantastic views and rich culture. Enjoy the lobsters and other fresh seafood. Take a buggy ride or Canoa Quebrada tour along the coastline. Canoa Quebrada is guaranteed to rejuvenate you and make you feel completely relaxed.

We are a locally based Canoa Quebrada tour company who have personally selected a wide range of Canoa Quebrada hotels and tours in Canoa Quebrada. We can help you plan the perfect holiday in Canoa Quebrada!