Apt 302

Twelve months a year Fortaleza runs at coastal heat above 28°C, and the air conditioning in Apt 302 on Rua Professor Carvalho becomes the apartment's single most practical feature for anyone arriving from a cooler climate or stepping in from the midday sun.

The self-contained unit pairs a full kitchen with flat-screen TV and wireless internet — the workable minimum for a self-catering stay of several nights. The building is fully smoke-free throughout.

Fortaleza's twin beach neighborhoods of Meireles and Iracema sit within a short ride, anchoring the city's seafood restaurants, nightlife strip, and the Dragão do Mar arts center on the waterfront.