By plane
The modern terminal building of the international airport Pinto Martins (http://www.infraero.gov.b...) Telephone +55 85 3392 1200 was opened in 1998. An extension of the same size should be ready by 2014. Services here include federal police, post office, health authorities, internet cafe, tourist information and travel agencies. Airlines fly to almost every major city in Brazil and also other capitals of South America, mostly via São Paulo. Today's flights can be checked online (http://www.infraero.gov.b...).
Direct flights to Europe:
Daily to Lisboa by TAP (http://www.flytap.com)
Weekly to Amsterdam, via Natal with ArkeFly (http://www.arkefly.nl/), often cheaper if bought at FlyBrazil (http://www.flybrazil.co.uk/).
Weekly to Rome and Milan with Air Italy (http://www.airitaly.eu).
Other international flights:
To Lisbon via Cape Verde every Sunday by TACV.
The Miami route keeps opening, closing and reopening again. Delta (http://www.delta.com/) is currently having their go. Otherwise the direct route from [Manaus] is an alternative to Sao Paulo.
Allow at least an hour for immigration control if you fly in from abroad. Double it if there is another international flight shortly before yours.
There is an urban bus 404 Aeroporto/Benfica which runs frequently between the airport and the center, where you can find buses to virtually anywhere in Fortaleza Not recommended at night. This bus also stops at the main bus station. Going to the urban beaches can either be done this way, or by crossing the parking lotkeep slightly to the right and the highway somewhat on your left and catch the 027 Siqueira Papicu/Aeroporto, which will take you pretty straight to Praça Portugal/Shopping Aldeota in 25 minutes, traffic allowing. Not recommended at night From here you can either walk some 7 blocks along Avenida Desembargador Moreira to the beach of Meireles, or you can wait for Circular 1 which passes within a block of most hotels in Meireles and Praia Iracema. Reverse this process Start with Circular 2 to get to the airport, which is slightly easier as the bus then stops right in front of the terminal, and not on the highway.
There are two types of taxis, follow the signs: Airport taxis are more expensive, and have fixed prices. Most tourist areas fall within the most expensive zone, charging R$ 32,40 R$ 48,60 on rate 2. Regular taxis offer just about the same comfort, and run on the meter, stopping at about R$ 25 R$ 40 rate 2 to Praia de Iracema or Meireles. Bargaining is tough out here, but fairly easy in the opposite direction.
By bus
The main bus station Telephone +55 85 3230 1111 has buses to most all of the country, often via connections. Expresso Guanabara (http://www.expressoguanab...) has the most extensive network from here, and also sells tickets near Beira Mar: Loc Autos, Av. Abolição 1840 and Bem Estar Tur, Rua Tabajaras 580. Note that most lines within the state (http://www.detran.ce.gov....) of Ceará have their last coach leaving around 6-7 PM. Buses to neighbouring towns, within some 100 km, often leave from the train station in the centre.
To Natal 8 times daily 3 of these stopping in Mossoró by Nordeste (http://www.viacaonordeste...) and Guanabara (http://www.expressoguanab...) R$ 35-150, 6-8 hours.
To Salvador daily at 7 PM by Itapemirim (http://itapemirim.com.br/). R$ 190. 22 hours.
Taxi to Beira Mar is about R$ 15 and 10-15 minutes. The bus 099 Siqueira - Mucuripe / Barão de Studart on Sundays this line is substituted by 078 Siqueira - Mucuripe, bus stop around the corner will take you the same place in around 25 minutes, -right from the doorstep of the bus station! If you are heading for Praia de Iracema or anywhere else west of Av. Barão de Studart, take two lefts from the bus station's main entrance, then cross the street, and take the bus 073 Siqueira - Praia de Iracema. The bus 404 Aeroporto - Benfica takes you to the airport in less than 15 minutes.
A second, smaller bus station is in the western suburb of Antonio Bezerra1,2 km down the road from the urban bus terminal with the same name. Most all lines here are en route between the main bus station and western Ceará (such as Jeri or Sobral. Access from Av. Desembargador Moreira by bus 076 Conjunto Ceará / Aldeota in about 40 minutes.
A third bus station opened early 2010 in the southern suburb of Messejana next to the urban bus terminal with the same name, and has lines by the companies São Benedito for Canoa, Fretcar and Expresso Guanabara mostly en route between the main bus terminal and the southern and eastern parts of Ceará.