All about Brazil and Fortaleza
Brazil is the fifth largest country in the world and the largest in South America, with a population of 190 million people. Furthermore, it became an independent nation in 1822 and a republic in 1889, in 1985 Brazil overcame more than half a century of military regime when they peacefully handed power to civilian rulers. The current president, Lula da Silver was first elected in January 2003, and again won the general election in 2006.
In addition, a range of exclusive lifestyle services are also available including access to a buggy car during your stay and use of wind surfing and other equipment. To read more about our co-ownership opportunities click here.
Ceará: The Land of Light! This is how this state in the Northeast of Brazil is internationally known, a state whose capital, Fortaleza, is a city with almost 2.5 million inhabitants. Located right below the Equator where the tropical sun shines all year round, this is the place where you will enjoy unforgettable moments: paradise-like beaches, pleasant temperatures around 27°C; white sand dunes; friendly people; exotic and tasty culinary; rich odd handicrafts; a lot of the regional music “forró” and the local comedians’ shows.
Ceará has a coastline of 573 Km where some of the most beautiful and exuberant beaches of Brazil are located. A great example is Jericoacoara – internationally known by its unparalleled sunset. The entire state coastline, especially in Fortaleza, offers extremely pleasant swimming conditions whether you are just looking for refreshment and relaxation, or want to practice water sports such as surfing, windsurfing, and kite-surfing. The constant winds, which contribute to form waves, make such activities possible.
The state capital, the fourth largest city in Brazil, is among the country’s favorite destinations for Brazilian and foreign tourists. All of them are attracted by the perfect balance between quietness and excitement the city offers. In Fortaleza, you can chose between relaxation in one of its delightful beaches of coconut trees and dunes, or an exciting nightlife and cultural program.
Fortaleza has another appealing feature – its privileged location. The city is the country’s shortest route to Europe, the United States, and other countries, which allows international flights of only 6 hours and 30 minutes. As a result, the city attracts foreign tourists from all over the world, such as people from Portugal, Spain, Italy, Switzerland, and Poland, to name a few. Additionally, the city also receives a great number of Brazilian tourists – most of which coming from capitals like Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo.
Those who come to Ceará, and especially to Fortaleza, experience a myriad of joyful moments and delightful places and take home memories to last a lifetime, all that in a land where real estate and tourism investment is booming. A good example of this boom is the availability of coastal plots of land of 100, 200, 500, 1.000 hectares, and the low construction costs (material and labor).
Wait no more! Come invest in a place where you can be sure to have excellent return.
Capital: Brasília |
Population: 189.081.748 million |
Area: 8.51 million km² |
Language: Portuguese (English and Spanish may also be spoken) |
Currency: Real (BRL) |
GDP: US$1.803 trillion (2006 data – places Brazil in 8th in the world ranking) |
GDP per capita: US$ 9.108 |
Climate: Tropical, equatorial, sub-tropical and semi-arid |
Main Industry: Apparel Clothing, Food and Beverage, Grains, Sugar, Oil and Gas Machinery, Equipment and Services, and Aircraft Maintenance. |
Main Investors in Brazil: Europe, USA, Central and South America |
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ADVANTAGES OF INVESTING IN BRAZIL
• It is the eighth biggest economy in the world in terms of GDP0, |
• It is the fifth largest country in the world |
• It has very nice weather |
• It has predictable natural phenomena (absence of acts of nature) |
• It is seen by the world as a country with great potential just as Russia, India, and China |
• The exchange system will not create pressure on industry or inflation |
• It offers excellent infra-structure for tourism |
• It is among the 20 biggest exporters in the world with US$ 142 billion sold in products and services to other countries. (April/2007 data) |
• It is a democratic country |
• It is a peaceful and multi-race country |
• It respects the immigrants and their beliefs |
• It has a stable Political system (absence of great conflicts among political parties) |
• It has a stable currency |
• It has the greatest biodiversity in the planet. The main example of such is the Amazon Rainforest, which |
•spreads over 3.6 million km² |
• It is responsible for 60% (three fifths) of South America’s industrial products, and it is part of several economic blocks. |
• Its scientific and technological development along with its diversified and dynamic industry attracts foreign enterprises |
• It has regular trade with more than one hundred countries |
• It is a country that develops submarines and aircraft |
• It is a country that takes part in aerospace research |
• It is a pioneer in deep-water oil research |
• It reached self-sufficiency in oil. Exports are now bigger than imports. |
• First capitalist economy to have plants of the 10 biggest automakers in the world |
• It is a tourism destination for more than 6 million foreigners each year |
• It has excellent road, train and port networks |
• It is one of the world’s biggest food producers |
• It is one of the world’s biggest electric power producers |
• It is the fourth biggest commercial aircraft producer in the world |
• It is a great producer of consumer goods |
Brazil is the giant on the South American continent, larger than Europe in extent. The country is politically stable and has a fast-growing economy. Strong growth in tourism is expected in north-eastern Brazil in the coming years. This is due to the fantastic climate, the low price level, the exotic culture and the people.
Fortaleza is home to some 2.5 million inhabitants and is very close to the equatorial line in the Northeast of Brazil. It is 4 hours less in flight time from US & Europe to Fortaleza than it is to Rio or Sao Paulo. Fortaleza has a warm and dry tropical climate with an average annual temperature of 27C (or 80 F); these graphs show the climate of Fortaleza. Fortaleza has over three thousand hours of sun per year (it is sunny 350 days of the year!) and has a constant ocean breeze.
Fortaleza is Brazil's most favorite holiday destination. Culturally, Fortaleza offers a wide variety of monuments, like for example the old prison, which is currently used as the Cear• Museum, cathedrals, theatres, and the old cinema located in the S„o Luis Theatre where many cultural festivals are being held. And let's not forget the famous area of Irecema and Dragao do Mar; here you can find a lot of restaurants and bars, fast food shops, galleries and discotheques, with a lot of live music, Forro (local music and dance) and dancing Brazilians. The boulevard of Beira Mar is a real happening place and can be compared to the famous Copacabana in Rio de Janeiro. According to the Brazilians, Beira Mar is more impressive and has a better atmosphere.
Top 10 Things to do in Fortaleza:
- Go to the boulevard Beira Mar (Fortleza's waterfront)
- Go to Praia do Futuro, it is the playground for tourists and locals alike, it has over 50 beachside bars & restaurants and is very popular on the weekends & every thursday.
- Fortaleza's Nighlife has lots of attractions such as bars, restaurants, and live shows.
- Shop at Shopping Aldeota or Shopping Iguatemi
- Take buggy rides on the sand dunes
- Kite & Windsurfing capital of the world!
- Visit Canoa Quebrada for its cliffs, green waters, white sand dunes and exciting nighlife & restaurtants
- Visit Jericoacoara, known by its beauty, as it is considered one of the world's top ten most beautiful beaches.
- Go to a theatre, museums or visit one of the many historical attractions in Fortaleza
- Take a stroll in Parque do Coco, the biggest park located inside a city in South America.
FORTALEZA is a sprawling city of over two million inhabitants, the centre literally bristling with offices and apartment blocks. It has, for well over a century, been the major commercial centre of the northern half of the Northeast. More recently it has poured resources into expanding its tourist trade, lining the fine city beaches with gleaming luxury hotels and developing the city centre. Taken together, this means that little trace remains of the city’s eventful early history, the clue to which is in its name: Fortaleza means “fortress”. The first Portuguese settlers arrived in 1603 and were defeated initially by the Indians, who killed and ate the first bishop (a distinction the city shares with Belém), and then by the Dutch, who drove the Portuguese out of the area in 1637 and built the Forte Schoonenborch. In fact the Portuguese were restricted to precarious coastal settlements until well into the eighteenth century, when the Indians were finally overwhelmed by the determined blazing of cattle trails into the interior. Another fort – the Fortaleza de Nossa Senhora da Assunção – was built by the Portuguese in 1816 on the site of the earlier Dutch one.
It was in Fortaleza that the independence movement in northern Brazil was organized, and it was one of the few places where the Portuguese actually made a fight of it, massacring the local patriots in 1824 before being massacred themselves a few months later. The city did well in the nineteenth century, as the port city of a hinterland where ranching was expanding rapidly. For decades, though, one of the city’s most important exports was the people of the state: shipping lines transported flagelados wholesale from Fortaleza during drought years to the rubber zones of the Amazon and the cities of southern Brazil. These days, Fortaleza has something of the same atmosphere as Rio, especially when it comes to the good things in life. It’s not a beautiful city but it has a safe, relaxed atmosphere, and the nightlife is superb.
Passports and VISA's: The normal limit you can stay in Brazil is 6 months with a tourist Visa.
http://www.PassportNation.com (USA)
Can assist you with both passports and Visas. The Owner, Dalton, and his staff are great.
Long Term Visas
Want to stay more than 6 months? No problem!
Here are 4 Options:
1) Student Visa.
Enroll at UNIFOR or other School that meets the requiremments of you countries Brazil consulate,
and apply for a Student Visa. I did it, and it works!
Schools, Colleges, Universities:
UNIFOR: Universidade De Fortaleza. Excellent University, nice campus. 1 hr drive from Cumbuco
FIC
UFC
IBEU Instituto Brasil Estados Unidos
2) Investor Visa
Invest $50,000. USD into a Brazilian company or open one of your own.
This is the Best method if you really want to spend unlimited time in Brazil.
Use a good Fortaleza attorney. I was happy with mine.
Costs Approx R$6,000 up to R$10,000
The total depends on the number of people needing visas ( 1 person, or a family )
and the attorney ( Advogado ) you choose. My Visa was R$5,500.
This includes: Setting up a company, Company Bank account, getting registered
with CPF Number, CNPJ Number, RDE Number, and all paperwork, processing
from Beginning until end when you have the New Perm Visa in your Hands.
Note: The $50,000 does not go to the goverment. It just needs to be transferred "correctly" to brazil
and then you can spend it any way you'd like. Land, House, Car, whatever.
Other options:
3) Marriage. Get married to a Brazilian. Never Never get married "only" for a Visa.
A dumb idea, not worth the risk or hassles. Avoid this option. VERY Dumb idea.
Even if you really did meet that pefect someone, they'll always wonder if you
did it for love, or for the visa. Get the visa 1st, and then consider marriage. ( my opionion)
4) Make a baby in Brazil. Not recommended until you complete number 3.