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Fortaleza · Ceará Less favorable time to visit Fall Shoulder season

Fortaleza in May

Short answer

In May, Fortaleza averages highs of 31 °C (88 °F) and lows of 24 °C (75 °F), with about 229 mm of rain spread over roughly 16 days. May is one of the rainiest months of the year, so bring a rain jacket and keep some indoor activities in mind. Crowds tend to be moderate this month.

Climate · INMET (updated 2026)
Most reviewed activity in FortalezaMorro Branco, Fontes & Canoa Quebrada Beaches Tour★ 8.7 · 94 reviews · from US$ 20 · via CivitatisSee dates and price →
Temperature
31 / 24 °C
high / low
Rain
229 mm
16 days
Daylight
11h56
sunset at 17:28
Crowds
Moderate
1 public holiday

What to expect in Fortaleza in May

Myllena Vieira, editor at Visite
Editor's tip

May brings fall to Fortaleza. In Brazil the seasons are the reverse of those in the Northern Hemisphere. Highs reach 31 °C (88 °F): the heat calls for early starts, sunscreen, and spending the middle of the day in the shade or in the water. Crowds sit somewhere in the middle, with peaks on public holidays. Outside those dates, you can enjoy the place at an easy pace and spend less. It rains fairly often, so keep an indoor plan handy for gray days.

Myllena Vieira · Editor at Visite
Crowds
Crowd level: moderate

Moderate crowds, with peaks on public holidays. Outside those dates, you can enjoy the place at a calmer pace.

Prices
Rates: moderate · ~R$ 369

Moderate prices outside public holidays, which push rates and crowds up. The average nightly rate for lodging in Fortaleza is around R$ 369 (Brazilian reais), depending on the date.

Tours and tickets

Things to do in Fortaleza in May

booking on Civitatis
Morro Branco, Fontes & Canoa Quebrada Beaches Tour
8.7· 94 reviews

Morro Branco, Fontes & Canoa Quebrada Beaches Tour

Discover Ceará's most beautiful beaches all in the same day. Enjoy the spectacular shores of Morro Branco, Praia das Fontes & Canoa Quebrada.

9 h
from US$ 20
Book →
Cumbuco Beach Day Trip
8.9· 58 reviews

Cumbuco Beach Day Trip

Fall in love with Cumbuco on this full-day trip from Fortaleza. In this paradise, you can relax next to the intense blue sea or adventure deep into the dunes.

9 h
from US$ 11
Book →
Fortaleza Guided Tour
9.7· 47 reviews

Fortaleza Guided Tour

Want to learn more about the history and culture of Ceará? Don't miss this guided tour of Fortaleza. 18th-century monuments & a centenary baobab tree await!

3 h 30 min
from US$ 15
Book →
Aguas Belas Beach Day Trip
8.4· 24 reviews

Aguas Belas Beach Day Trip

Enjoy the beaches of Aguas Belas, to the east of Fortaleza. Its white sand and warm, crystal-clear waters will make this beach trip an unforgettable experience.

11 h
from US$ 15
Book →
Lagoinha Beach Day Trip
9.3· 15 reviews

Lagoinha Beach Day Trip

White sands, coconut palms, and crystalline waters all await you in Lagoinha. Discover this beautiful paradise with our trip to Fortaleza.

11 h
from US$ 17
Book →
Beach Park Day Trip + Tickets
9.2· 15 reviews

Beach Park Day Trip + Tickets

Enjoy a full day at Beach Park, a popular coastal resort with a waterpark, restaurants, shops, and idyllic beaches. Admission tickets included!

8 h
from US$ 89
Book →
See all activities in Fortaleza
Where to stay

Hotels in Fortaleza

In May, demand in Fortaleza is moderate: most hotels have room, but public holidays fill them up. Compare rates and book a few weeks ahead.

Hotel Gran Marquise in Fortaleza 9 ★★★★★ · 83 reviews Hotel Gran Marquise See on Booking → Hotel Sonata de Iracema in Fortaleza 9.1 ★★★★ · 41 reviews Hotel Sonata de Iracema See on Booking → Holiday Inn Fortaleza By IHG in Fortaleza 8.7 ★★★★ · 35 reviews Holiday Inn Fortaleza By IHG See on Booking → Afago Mareiro Hotel in Fortaleza 8.6 ★★★★ · 24 reviews Afago Mareiro Hotel See on Booking →
See all hotels in Fortaleza

Rates change with the dates: confirm the price on Booking.com.

What happens in May

No major fixed festivals in May, but public holidays (Labor Day) bring more people to the destination.

Public holidays in May: Labor Day (01/05). Expect more people and higher prices around these dates.

What to pack in May

Light clothing and a cap · highs of 31 °C (88 °F) Rain jacket or umbrella · 16 days of rain in the month Sunscreen and sunglasses · strong sun on the tours Quick-dry clothing · humidity of 83% Comfortable walking shoes · you will be on foot much of the day
Looking for better weather?

Where the weather is good in May

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Belo Horizonte 88
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Minas Gerais · see May →
Brasília 88
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Brumadinho 88
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Mariana 88
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Minas Gerais · see May →
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Torn between Fortaleza and another destination?

See Fortaleza next to the destinations that usually compete for the same trip: month-by-month weather, driving cost, ideal length of stay and travel style, side by side.

Fortaleza or Jericoacoara? Fortaleza or Arraial d'Ajuda? Fortaleza or Arraial do Cabo?
see all comparisons →

Questions about Fortaleza in May

What is the weather like in Fortaleza in May?
In May, Fortaleza averages highs of 31 °C (88 °F) and lows of 24 °C (75 °F), with about 229 mm of rain spread over roughly 16 days. May is one of the rainiest months of the year, so bring a rain jacket and keep some indoor activities in mind. Crowds tend to be moderate this month.
Does it rain a lot in Fortaleza in May?
In May, Fortaleza gets about 229 mm of rain spread over around 16 rainy days, wetter than the average for the year. Bring a rain jacket and have an indoor backup plan.
Is May high season in Fortaleza?
Crowds in May tend to be moderate. Moderate prices outside public holidays, which push rates and crowds up.
What is happening in Fortaleza in May?
No major fixed festivals in May, but public holidays (Labor Day) bring more people to the destination.
Does it usually rain all day in Fortaleza in May?
INMET's climate normals record the number of rainy days and the total millimeters, not the hours of each day, so they do not say how long the rain lasts. What they show for Fortaleza in May: 16 rainy days in a month of 31 days (about 52% of the days) and 229 mm over the month, which works out to an average of about 14 mm per rainy day. Compared with the rest of the year, May is wetter than the destination's average. Bring a rain jacket and have an indoor backup plan for the rainy days.
What is the temperature in Fortaleza in May, and what should you pack?
According to INMET's climate normals, the average high in Fortaleza in May is 31 °C and the average low is 24 °C, with air humidity of around 83%. Compared with the rest of the year, the temperature in May is typical for the destination. For your suitcase, here is what those numbers call for: light clothing and a cap; rain jacket or umbrella; sunscreen and sunglasses.
Is Fortaleza worth visiting in May?
Less favorable time to visit. On our weather comfort index, which weighs rain, heat and humidity from INMET's climate normals, May scores 34 out of 100 and ranks No. 10 among the 12 months. The most comfortable month is September (77) and the least comfortable is April (33). As for crowds, in May they tend to be moderate.
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