Sunrise
in Fortim

Almost everyone in Fortim rushes to the sunset, which leaves the sunrise free for anyone who wakes up early. At Barra do Fortim the sun comes up out of the sea all year round, at very predictable times. Here is when, where to look from, and what to check before heading out in the dark.

At the Barra, the sun rises out of the sea

Fortim's coastline changes direction near the mouth of the Rio Jaguaribe. According to OpenStreetMap coastline data, the stretch running south from the river mouth, past Barra do Fortim, heads southeast, at about 150° on the compass. That leaves open sea to the northeast and east, which is the way the Barra beaches face.

The sun always rises in the eastern part of the sky. Fortim sits about 4.5° south of the Equator, so the sunrise point barely moves over the year: our calculation gives between 66° and 114° on the compass, from one solstice to the other, with due east (90°) at the March and September equinoxes. That whole range falls over the sea, so in any month the sun appears on the waterline, not behind a hill or a building.

This is typical of Ceará's east-facing coast, and it is the opposite of late afternoon: the sun sets toward the land, which is why people chasing the sunset head for cliffs, dunes or the Pontal viewpoint.

What time the sun rises in Fortim

Sunrise shifts by only about 35 minutes between the earliest and the latest date of the year, so you can plan without a table. These are approximate sunrise times (Brasília time) on the 15th of each month, calculated for Fortim's coordinates:

• January: 5:29 am · February: 5:36 am · March: 5:35 am
• April: 5:29 am · May: 5:29 am · June: 5:34 am
• July: 5:39 am · August: 5:35 am · September: 5:22 am
• October: 5:09 am · November: 5:05 am · December: 5:13 am

The best places to watch the sunrise

Canto da Barra. Fortim's main beach is within walking distance of Barra do Fortim. Facing the open sea, it is the simplest place to watch the sun climb: no car and no long walk needed. See the beach page for what is nearby.

Between Canoé Beach and Farol Beach. Canoé Beach is a few minutes from the Barra, and the walk along the sand to Farol Beach, almost always empty, starts there. The walk only works if the tide allows it, and in the dark it calls for extra care: better to do it by day, or with a flashlight and a falling tide.

Farol da Barra. One of the highest points at Barra do Fortim, the lighthouse works as a viewpoint over the river mouth and the sandbanks. It is reached on foot from the beach, and it is worth asking your pousada for the way. Going up in the morning, you watch the day brighten over river and sea at once.

For sunrise, the Barra side is the pick. Pontal de Maceió is great in late afternoon and belongs in the other article.

What to check so you do not miss the dawn

Waking up early only pays off with a little preparation. These are the checks that matter most:

• Tide: it moves about 50 minutes later each day, so the strip of sand that exists today may not exist tomorrow. Check the tide table the evening before.
• Clouds: with a cloudy sky the sun only shows once it has climbed; sometimes the best moment is when it breaks through the clouds, as in the photo above.
• Light: bring a flashlight or a charged phone, because the way to the beach is still dark.
• Facilities: at dawn do not count on an open beach hut. Bring water and, if you want coffee, arrange it with your pousada beforehand.

Frequently asked questions

Want to see Fortim's beaches?

See the full guide, beach by beach, and pick your own sunrise.