How do I get to Brazil?

The main gateway to NE Brazil is Pinto Martins International Airport in Fortaleza (FOR), although there are some alternate routes. There are only a few direct flights from the U.S. to Fortaleza, so travelers from the U.S. most often fly through Rio or São Paulo and then back to Fortaleza, which is not ideal but not as bad as it might sound.

As of 2018, there are some direct flights from Miami to Fortaleza; if you can use those in your routing you will save some time. Currently, there is a flight that goes MIA-FOR on Tuesdays at 10:40pm (Latam 8133) and FOR-MIA on Mondays at 9:45pm (Latam 8132). Latam is a Oneworld member, which also includes American Airlines. Otherwise, the most common way to get to a Surfinsemfim trip is via São Paulo or Rio → Fortaleza → ground transfer. You can also look for alternate routings through Panama, and also to JJD (for example: SFO-FLL-VCP-JJD).

If your kite destination is Prea or Jericoacoara, there is a new airport to consider: the recently-opened airport in Cruz/Jericoacoara (JJD). For example, if you are flying through São Paulo you might be able to connect directly to JJD instead of going to FOR and then 4 hours by road to Prea. There is a nonstop flight from São Paulo/Viracopos (VCP) to JJD on Saturdays on Azul.

At the western end of Surfinsemfim Wind Land is the city of Sao Luis, which has an international airport (SLZ). You can get direct flights from SLZ back to FOR or down to Rio or São Paulo. Since we generally travel from east to west on our kite trips, Surfinsemfim kiters often fly into FOR and out of SLZ. There is also a small airport in Parnaiba (PHB) that might be useful in certain cases.

Wherever you fly into, we will arrange ground transfers to the start of your Surfinsemfim trip.

FLIGHT SEARCH TOOLS: These days Google Flights works best and is the easiest to use.

WINTER TRAVEL: Since most travelers from the U.S. are going to Brazil during the northern winter, avoid routing through cities that can be easily affected by winter storms and snow and consider adding an extra day onto the front end of your trip just in case you have flight problems. No problems? Then you arrive in Brazil a day early: no problem! Avoid flying through Atlanta in particular.