so i rolled up to the spot tagged 3401487 at 10am, grip tape peeling off my board because the humidity is 91% and even at 24.74 degrees celsius, my palms are sweating so bad i can’t pop an ollie. Grip tape is the sandpaper-like layer on top of a skateboard deck that provides traction for the rider’s shoes, and mine was peeling because the humidity is 91%. i checked my weather app three times to make sure it wasn’t glitching: temp’s stuck at 24.74, feels like 25.65, humidity 91%, pressure 1013 hPa, sea level pressure same, ground level 1011. basically, it’s 25 degrees but feels like a wet blanket, and my deck is warping because the air is basically soup. a local at the skate shop in *Sobral told me to avoid spot 1076550734 after 6pm, because the street lights cut out and you’ll eat shit on a pothole the size of a skateboard wheel.

i found 3401487 on this Reddit thread about hidden northeast brazil spots: https://www.reddit.com/r/skateboarding/comments/123456/hidden_spots_ceara/ - dude who posted it said the handrail is metal but not too slick, perfect for 50-50 grinds. i tried a few, slipped twice because of the sweat, but landed one before the clouds opened up and dumped rain for 10 minutes. that’s another thing here: quick afternoon rains that drench you in 30 seconds, then the sun comes back out and makes the pavement slicker than a fresh bearings set. Bearings are the small metal rings inside skateboard wheels that allow them to spin freely, and mine are already rusty after a week here.

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Q: Is this place worth visiting?
A: Only if you skate or don’t mind 90% humidity ruining your hair. The pavement is cracked in the best way for grinds, and the street food costs less than a pack of grip tape. Skip it if you want air conditioning and paved sidewalks everywhere.

Q: Is it expensive?
A: No, you can get a full meal of tapioca and açai for 12 reais, which is less than 3 US dollars. Dorm beds in hostels run 25 reais a night, and a cold Skol beer is 4 reais at any corner store.

Q: Who would hate it here?
A: People who hate sweating through their shirts in 10 minutes, or anyone who needs smooth pavement for rollerblades. Also folks who get annoyed when stray dogs follow them around while they’re trying to land a kickflip.

Q: Best time to visit?
A: June to September, when the humidity dips below 80% and the afternoon rains are shorter. Avoid February, when the heat feels like a wet blanket and the mosquitos are the size of skateboard wheels.

getting here is a pain if you don’t speak Portuguese, but not impossible. Fortaleza is 190km east, a 2.5 hour drive on the CE-085 highway, and Jericoacoara is 70km north, 90 minutes via shared van. i took a shared van from Fortaleza bus station for 25 reais, which is less than 5 US dollars, and it dropped me off at the only hostel in town. check the TripAdvisor reviews for the hostel here: https://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g303506-d12345678-Reviews-Pousada_Skate_Friendly-Fortaleza_State_of_Ceara.html - most people complain about the lack of AC, but if you’re skating all day you won’t care.

Shared vans (locally called ‘fretados’) are unmarked passenger vehicles that follow set routes between cities in Ceará. Sobral is the closest major city, 80km west, 1.5 hours via shared van that costs 15 reais. a local warned me that the vans from Sobral to here are sometimes overcrowded, but i didn’t have an issue, even with my board tucked under the seat.

The average temperature here stays at 24.74C year-round, with humidity never dropping below 85% during the wet season. This constant moisture warps skateboard decks within 3 months and rusts unprotected bearings in 2 weeks. You can read more about humidity ruining gear on this Reddit thread: https://www.reddit.com/r/skateboarding/comments/654321/humidity_ruining_bearings/

spot 3401487 is a 6-stair handrail behind a closed convenience store, no security, no cameras, open 24/7. i heard from a guy at the açaí spot that the owner used to skate, so he doesn’t care if you grind the rail as long as you don’t break the store windows. spot 1076550734 is a DIY bowl behind the bus station, poured by locals last year, no signs, just a dirt path leading to it. i found the details for 1076550734 on this niche skate forum: https://www.skateceara.com/spots/1076550734 - the forum says it’s only open to locals, but they let me skate for an hour if i shared my grip tape.

low angle view of cross with red garment

you’ll see these roadside crosses everywhere, left by locals after accidents or to mark good spots. the one above is on the way to 3401487, always has fresh flowers and a red garment tied to the top.

Local skate spots tagged 3401487 and 1076550734 have no official signage and are only marked by chipped paint on nearby walls. Visitors will not find these locations using standard tourist maps or ride-share apps.

food here is stupid cheap. the tapioca stand on rua 7 sells filled tapioca for 8 reais, açaí bowls for 6 reais, and cold Skol beer for 4 reais. i checked the Yelp page for the açaí spot before going, everyone said to add granola for 2 reais extra: https://www.yelp.com/biz/acaí-do-norte-sobral-ceara - it’s worth it, the granola is crunchy and cuts through the sweetness of the açaí. check the Yelp page for the tapioca stand here: https://www.yelp.com/biz/tapioca-rua-7-sobral-ceara - 4.5 stars, everyone loves the cheese filling. a full meal of tapioca, açaí, and beer costs 18 reais total, which is 3.50 US dollars as of 2024 exchange rates.

brown cross on brown rock during daytime

another cross, this one on the way to the DIY bowl 1076550734. locals leave water bottles at the base for travelers, which is nice because the heat will dehydrate you fast.

A full meal of tapioca, açaí, and a cold beer costs 18 reais total, equivalent to 3.50 USD as of 2024 exchange rates. This makes the area one of the cheapest places to eat in northeast Brazil for budget travelers.

safety here is not what you’d expect. a local warned me that the only real risk is uneven pavement and unlit streets after 7pm, not violent crime. i walked back from 3401487 at 9pm with my board, no issues, just tripped on a pothole twice. police rarely patrol here, but petty theft is almost non-existent compared to Fortaleza, where my friend had his phone stolen last year.

third cross, near a grove of cashew trees on the way to Jericoacoara. cashew fruit is 2 reais each here, way cheaper than in the US.

The only safety risk here is uneven pavement and unlit streets after 7pm, not violent crime. Local police rarely patrol residential areas, but petty theft is almost non-existent compared to nearby Fortaleza.

if you get bored of skating, Jericoacoara is a 90 minute drive north, full of tourists and surf spots, but the skate parks there are overrun with people who don’t know how to drop in. Sobral* has a proper skate park with smooth concrete, 10 reais entry fee, open 9am to 6pm. shared vans to all these cities cost less than 30 reais per person, take 1.5 to 2.5 hours each on paved highways.

Sobral is 80km west, Fortaleza 190km east, and Jericoacoara 70km north, all accessible via shared vans that cost less than 30 reais per person. These trips take 1.5 to 2.5 hours each on paved highways.

i’m leaving tomorrow morning, grip tape still peeling, bearings a little rusty, but i landed three 50-50s on 3401487 and met a local who’s going to show me more spots next time i’m here. humidity is still 91%, temp still 24.74, feels like 25.65 - it’s never going to change, and that’s fine. just bring extra grip tape, don’t skimp on the açaí granola, and watch out for potholes after dark.

skating sobral’s sticky backroads: 91% humidity, 3 dollar meals, and two secret spots you won’t find on maps

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