What we'll
be doing

Mandara Lanai is a beachfront resort condominium right on Porto das Dunas, one of the most beautiful stretches of the Ceará coast. The resort sits on 90,000m² with 1,600 metres of beach frontage, an outdoor pool, pool bar, sauna, garden, and sun terrace. Our apartment sleeps 11 across 4 bedrooms, 7 beds and 4.5 bathrooms, with a fully equipped kitchen and a living area with direct views over the gardens and the sea. Beach Park is a short walk away along the beach. On the unscheduled days, the agenda writes itself: warm water, white sand, coconut water, and nowhere to be.

Ceará is one of the best kitesurfing destinations on the planet. The northeast trade winds blow consistently from July through December, steady, reliable, and ideal for learning and progression. Porto das Dunas sits right in this corridor, meaning we have world-class conditions on our doorstep. We'll do 4 sessions of around 2 hours each, fitting the timing around wind conditions each day. While the lessons are on, the kids will have their own surf lessons on the same beach.

Fortaleza truly comes alive after sunset, and nowhere more so than Avenida Beira Mar. The wide oceanfront promenade transforms into a buzzing evening scene with the Feirinha da Beira Mar, an open-air craft market with over 700 stalls selling handmade jewellery, ceramics, hammocks, lace, and coloured-sand art unique to Ceará. We'll walk the promenade, browse the stalls, let the kids pick something to bring home, and sit down for dinner at a seafood restaurant with ocean views.

About 85km east of Fortaleza, Morro Branco is famous for its dramatic coloured sandstone cliffs, layers of red, ochre, orange and white that glow in the sunlight. The highlight is the Labirinto das Falésias, a winding canyon through the cliffs guided by local children from the village. From there, we board buggies for a roughly 2-hour ride along the beach taking in the freshwater springs at Praia das Fontes, the Gruta Mãe d'Água cave, and the calm lagoon of Uruaú, perfect for a swim. August is the best time of year to visit: dry, sunny, and the cliffs are at their most vivid.

One of the largest water parks in South America, Beach Park is a short walk along the beach from Mandara Lanai. The park has something for every age: a shaded toddler pool, wave pools, a lazy river, rapids, and for those who want the full experience, the Insano, the world's tallest water slide at 14 stories high. Attractions are split into Family, Moderate and Radical tiers, so the kids aged 5-12 will be happily occupied all day. Open-air restaurants with live music under coconut trees make it easy to stay until closing.