Tides in Fortim:
how to use the tide table

In Fortim, the clock that runs your day is the tide. The shallow lagoons, the rock pools, the sandbanks and even the boat crossing depend on it, and reading a tide table takes five minutes.

Four tides a day, about six hours each

On the coast of Ceará the tide rises and falls twice a day: two high tides and two low tides, with about six hours between each. If it is high tide now, in about six hours it will be low, and six hours later high again.

The times do not repeat from one day to the next. Because the tide follows the Moon, each tide arrives on average about 50 minutes later than the day before. A low tide at 10 am on Monday tends to fall around 11 am on Tuesday. That is why one day’s table does not work for the whole week.

A real example, from the Brazilian Navy’s tide table for Fortaleza as published by Diário do Nordeste, shows what an ordinary day looks like:

• 4:12 am: high tide, 2.9 m
• 10:31 am: low tide, 0.7 m
• 4:46 pm: high tide, 2.7 m
• 10:42 pm: low tide, 0.5 m

Full and new moon: the strongest tides

The difference between high and low tide changes through the month. Around the full and new moon come the spring tides: highs are higher and lows are lower. Around the first and last quarter come the neap tides, with a smaller difference.

For visitors to Fortim this has a practical effect. Near the full and new moon, low tide uncovers more sand: the sandbanks at the mouth of the Jaguaribe River grow larger and the shallow lagoons show more clearly. In Fortaleza, a difference of about 2.7 m between high and low is considered normal, according to oceanographers quoted in the local press.

Wind matters too. Strong wind and a rough sea can push the water above what the table predicts, especially at high tide. In the windy months, which are exactly the kitesurfing months, look at the sea before relying only on the number in the table.

What only exists at low tide

Many of Fortim’s outings on foot depend on low tide:

• The [Canto da Barra](/en/beaches/canto-da-barra/) lagoons: low tide forms shallow lagoons between the sandbanks, without the current of the open sea. A favourite with families.
• The [Pontal de Maceió](/en/beaches/pontal-de-maceio/) rock pools: in the rocks, towards the Jaguaribe River, the tide leaves natural pools of calm water.
• The walk from Canoé Beach to [Farol Beach](/en/beaches/farol-beach/): the wide, firm sand of low tide makes the path.
• The sandbanks at the river mouth: from the lighthouse, or on foot, you can see the patterns the sand forms where the river meets the sea.

And at high tide?

High tide is not a wasted day. The river is fuller and the boat crossing of the Jaguaribe River is usually calmer near high tide, when the volume of water makes manoeuvring easier.

For kitesurfing, the tide changes the spot and the kind of water: at some times the water is shallow and flat between the sandbanks, at others it is deeper and choppier. Fortim’s schools follow the tide and the wind every day and choose the place and time of the lesson accordingly. If you are taking lessons, agree the time with the school rather than going by the table.

Where to find the tide table for Fortim

Official tide predictions in Brazil are made by the Brazilian Navy. For Fortim, use the Fortaleza table, on the same coast, as a guide and confirm locally: the exact time shifts a little along the coast and inside the river mouth. Forecast apps and websites for surfers and anglers show the same information as a chart.

The simplest approach is to check the table the evening before and plan the day around low tide: lagoons, rock pools and walks in the morning or afternoon, depending on the time, and the rest of the day for things that don’t depend on it. If in doubt, ask at your guesthouse, the boatmen or the kite schools: people who live from Fortim know the tide by heart.

Frequently asked questions

Know the tide? Now pick a beach

See Fortim’s beaches one by one, with what to do at each tide.