It's All Green Lights In Porto das Dunas

Hey guys, Mikkel here, 

If you’ve been following Brazil Beachfront for any length of time, you already know Porto das Dunas has been one of our most closely watched markets in the country’s Northeast region. 

Despite shovels in the ground, infrastructure advancements, and rising rental demand, there is still something sweet about seeing validation from major players (which I’ll be breaking down for you today).

There are moments when a market crosses the line from potential to proven, and in the case of Porto das Dunas, it means no longer just being known for its stunning beaches or for being home to South America’s largest waterpark.

At this point, by all accounts, Porto das Dunas is well on its way to becoming a self-sufficient micro-city where tourism, retail, residential, and long-term rental demand are all rising in lockstep.

For investors like us, it’s as close to a “perfect storm” as it gets:

A population influx (demand-driven growth) that is pushing developers to build and businesses to set up shop here with long-term intentions.

…and still, despite this, as unbelievable as it is, the prices sit years behind where they should be.

Now… there are two major announcements that I am going to discuss this week, which are more green light signals that Porto das Dunas is positioning itself to be a long-term destination for short-term visitors, domestic retirees, expats, and wealthy Brazilian southerners (to name a few).

I am going to leave it there for now… however, let me assure you:

Either headline would be significant on its own.

But, together, they’re confirmation that Porto das Dunas is transitioning from a coastal getaway into a self-sustaining hub and soon-to-be globally recognized community.

…just like we’ve been predicting (and placing calculated, evidence-based bets on long before the others even started catching on).

Let’s get into it, 

When The Biggest Supermarket Moves In, You’re Just in Time

The largest supermarket chain in the region (São Luíz Supermarkets), which operates more than 30 stores across the state of Ceará, has confirmed the opening of a Porto das Dunas location in January 2026.

Supermarkets can’t afford to speculate; they operate with low margins, so their business model relies on high transaction volume for survival.

Simply put, the margins at grocery stores are so thin, they can’t gamble on future demand… they have to know it will be there from opening day.

They need to rely on hard data that can back up not just growth but staying power before they decide to make what is likely an investment of tens of millions of dollars.

Population data, income trends, and household consumption are just a few of the metrics I imagine would drive their decisions.

Before a company of this size commits to a new store location, they’ve already spent months analyzing demographic projections, infrastructure investment, and the spending power of nearby households.

They know exactly who’s moving in, how fast the area is growing, and what kind of disposable income those residents will have.

They track new housing development plans, road expansions, and even tourism forecasts.

Nothing is left to chance.

It’s one of the most reliable early signals that a fast-growing market is not a “just a flash in the pan” type of destination.

So when a major supermarket chain decides to break ground in Porto das Dunas, it’s a serious statement of confidence. 

It’s proof that the fundamentals are already strong enough to support long-term growth.

Thirty-thousand-square-foot stores don’t get built with the hopes that the math will check out…

…they get built because the math already does.

It means the permanent population has reached a critical mass to sustain its presence in the region.  

It means the construction equipment you’ve been seeing isn’t just for vacation projects… they’re building year-round homes, serviced apartments, schools, and small businesses to support a living, breathing community.

This is what we call infrastructure validation.

It validates the area’s transformation from a vacation town into a functioning local economy. 

It tells us that growth isn’t a trend… it’s a sign of a solid trajectory into the future.

…and for investors, that’s the kind of signal you pay attention to.

Once the fundamental aspects of a community (grocery stores, pharmacies, schools, clinics, and other daily-life services) are cemented into place, a new price “floor” is set in terms of the property values in the region.  

…and from that moment forward, the market’s baseline entry point changes.

Plus, let’s not forget that growth follows growth. 

Once one major brand commits, others take notice. 

Banks follow residential density.

Schools open to serve the children of the families moving in. 

Restaurants, gyms, and other specialized service providers follow suit. 

Before long, what was once considered a peripheral location evolves into a fully self-sustaining ecosystem… a place where people can live, work, and thrive without commuting elsewhere.

…and this growth compounds…

Families feel confident planting roots here.  

Developers see lower risk in creating larger, more luxurious builds.

Banks lend more and cut the red tape.

Local councils have more success and can secure more funding for infrastructure improvements.

As you can see, growth fuels growth… and that is where we are at right now in the region. 

Remember: supermarkets are data-driven institutions. 

They have more insight into consumer behaviour than most governments (literally).

If they’re planting a flag in Porto das Dunas, it’s because their analysts are looking at five-and ten-year consumption models that justify it.

Again, the math works for them… and for investors like us, it works, too. 

Air France Didn’t Add Flights For The Sake of Curiosity…

Air France’s decision to increase its direct flights from Paris to Fortaleza from four to six per week is more than a logistical update.

It’s a signal.

…a very expensive and highly calculated one, I should add. 

Airlines don’t move millions in assets, staff, and schedules around only to discover if the flight route will run at a profitable occupancy. 

They are among the most data-driven organizations in the world and model a wide range of financial data before adding a single new flight. 

Given every additional route represents a multimillion-dollar commitment (aircraft allocation, crew scheduling, ground-handling teams, catering partnerships, and international marketing), airlines can’t afford to make decisions based on the “if you build it, they will come” ethos.  

Simply put, they don’t make this sort of financial or operational commitment unless the data tells them it’s profitable to do so.

What this tells us is clear: both the tourism demand and business relations between Europe and Brazil’s Northeast are growing.

European travellers are rediscovering Fortaleza and the surrounding region as a legitimate destination. 

They’re coming for the beaches, the weather, the cost of living, and the investment potential that’s impossible to ignore.

…and just to be clear, every new flight means more than just a few extra tourists on the beach.

Each plane that touches down represents hundreds of high-spending visitors injecting money directly into the local economy; hotels, restaurants, tour operators, and the owners of rental units in the area, like us.

These aren’t backpackers; they’re middle and upper-middle-class travellers from Europe’s economic hubs - people who rent villas, spend freely, and will often return year after year.

This means long-term interest from foreigners who fall in love with the region and decide to buy a second home here.

When they arrive and realize they can own an ocean-view apartment for what a parking spot costs in Nice or Paris… well, the story writes itself, I’d say (for the savvy ones at least). 

You can think of every direct flight into that region as a bridge - and when that bridge connects a high-cost economy like France to one of Brazil’s most undervalued coastal markets, the ripple effects go far beyond quick tourism dollars.

More flights mean more money directly in the pockets of local business owners and larger corporate outfits alike, helping businesses in the region grow and expand.

…and for those of us positioned in Porto das Dunas, it’s confirmation that we’re standing right where the next wave of international demand is about to land.

When flight volume increases, so do jobs not just in airports and hotels, but across construction, logistics, maintenance, and professional services.

More local workers learns to operate in an international environment.

Wages go up.

Professional standards rise.

…and eventually, a new middle class emerge (the demographic that drives long-term rental demand).

Plus, do not forget the very powerful social aspect of perception.

When European airlines increase their flights, it shouts confidence and tells the world this destination matters… and suddenly, people who otherwise would have never considered Brazil’s Northeast as a place they’d like to spend time, start going.

…and in time, the satellite communities of the Northeast like Porto das Dunas aren’t “remote Brazilian beaches”…

…they become internationally recognized as accessible, investable, livable and trusted vacation destinations.  

Construction Update: Porto Residence On Track & Accelerating

By now, you can see that the big players are waking up to Porto das Dunas.

…just like we knew they would when we started heavily investing in the region years back.

We knew, before the others, what was going to happen here, and we bet on it.

…and it paid off.

It hasn’t just paid off for us as developers, either.

It’s paid off for the hundreds of families in the Expat Money community, and more recently, readers of the Brazil Beachfront newsletter, who have positioned their capital in the region.

Now, the project at hand today happens to be right in the middle of one of the hottest “growth zones” in Porto das Dunas (literally beside the Waterpark that put this town on the map).

Right now, I am going to tell you what’s going on over at the Porto Residence, the long-term rental project we launched exclusively to you guys back in November of 2024.

This project is already well underway; the walls are rising, and crews are on-site every single day, working hard to complete it. 

Construction is on schedule, on time… and the progress speaks for itself.

The foundations are complete, and the team has already begun work on the second floor.

Everything is moving as planned… just as you can expect when you’re working with a developer who has a multi-generational background and over 3000 commercial and residential projects under their belt. 

This project was designed for long-term rentals, specifically to meet the urgent housing demand of the people who make Porto das Dunas work - the engineers, hospitality staff, restaurant workers, service professionals, and young families.

That imbalance is what Porto Residence was designed to address.

As you can see in the photos I have shared above, it’s well on its way to being active in the market and playing its role within Porto das Dunas’ rental market and community.

So, if you’re one of the savvy investors who took a unit (or more), hang tight - this project will be completed soon, and in just a little over 12 months, you’ll be able to start reaping the rewards of your well-timed investment via the monthly cash flow you will start earning.

Deal of the Week: From Sold-Out Success to Second Chance Opportunity

…remember, Beach Park is the largest water park in South America.

It attracts millions of visitors annually and employs hundreds of locals, yet the irony is, most of those workers can’t afford to live nearby. 

They commute from the suburbs of Fortaleza, wasting hours every week, all because local housing has failed to keep pace with the growth of tourism and domestic migration.

That’s the gap Porto Residence fills.

It’s practical, walkable, affordable and located right where the long-stay rental demand is strongest.

For investors, that means consistent occupancy, reliable income, and strong appreciation as the surrounding area urbanizes (as it is doing now).

Now, here’s where it gets interesting… and urgent.

Porto Residence WAS sold out back in November of last year (2024).  

The keyword being WAS.

Every unit WAS spoken for months ago.

…and technically, that’s still true…

HOWEVER…

During the final site assessment for Phase 2, our architect identified additional buildable land on the lot…

Enough to add one final block of 10 units on the same build site.

Ten brand-new units have just been released… and when they’re gone, that’s it.

No more land.

No more expansions. 

No more inventory.

These 10 additional units are identical in layout and quality to the sold-out phases, with
each being expertly designed to serve the best interests of the region’s workers who want to come to the area to be closer to work.  

These units aren’t just affordable; they’re beautifully designed and equipped with luxurious amenities you’d expect to see in major urban centers, like a rooftop lounge with breathtaking views, a swimming pool and shared spaces for residents.

An open-plan kitchen, dining, and living space, complete with granite countertops, is ideal for young families and professionals who value modern living.

…it’s not just about the aesthetics here either…

The thoughtfully planned layout provides flexibility for renters to grow into their homes as their needs to accommodate a larger family become increasingly relevant to their unique situation.  

With space for family meals and a location that balances proximity to the ocean with everyday practicality, your investment will appeal to long-term tenants looking to settle down and thrive here for the long term.  

Here’s What You Need to Know

• Project: Porto Residence, Porto das Dunas, (Ceará), Brazil
  

• Units Available: 10
  

• Type: 2 Bedrooms, 2 Bathrooms
  

• Size: 48m² / 524ft²
  

• Price: $97,000 cash or $120,000 financed (25% down, balance paid monthly)
  

• Location: 15 minutes from Fortaleza, 30 minutes from the international airport, beside Beach Park

That means you can lock in a brand-new, income-producing unit in one of Brazil’s fastest-growing coastal communities for under six figures.

Folks, as sad as it is to say, 100k these days is not what it was even just 10 years ago….

…I am sure the fact that 100k can still buy you a well-built cash cash-flowing, value-appreciating asset in a demand-driven region is incomprehensible to many of you reading this…

…however, I am telling you to do whatever you need to do to wrap your head around this reality quickly because it won’t stay this way for long.

The era of sub-100k beachfront property in Brazil’s Northeast WON’T LAST.

Why Adding 10 More Units Is Good News For All Investors

Adding this final phase isn’t just good for new buyers.

It’s great for everyone already involved because it amplifies the entire project’s value.

Here’s how…

Shared Infrastructure, Lower Operating Costs:
By expanding the building’s total units, fixed costs like security, maintenance, and administration are spread across more owners. That means stronger margins and better long-term ROI.

Higher Foot Traffic, More Recognition:
A larger residential footprint draws more attention from nearby businesses and service providers. The result is that the retailers who will come in here will take our location into greater consideration before choosing where to put their business.

For those who got in early, congratulations.

For those who missed out… this is your second (and last) chance.

If you haven’t yet secured a unit (or multiple units), I trust it is becoming clear to you that this second-chance opportunity is incredibly rare.

It’s not a speculative play or a distant dream; it’s an operational, under-construction, high-demand project that already sold out once.

This is what opportunity looks like in real time.

A proven market.

A (once) sold-out project.

…a second chance (well, 10 of them to be fair).  

If you missed Porto Residence the first time around, this is your chance to correct that mistake.

…and if you were smart enough to buy in early, this is your moment to double down before prices rise.

…I can assure you that the next opportunity like this won’t come around this cheap… nor will it come wrapped in a big red bow for you like this one is… 

By adding these last 10 units to the site plan, we’re not just expanding room capacity; we’re increasing overall project value (which again, is obviously incredible news for those of you who are already owners here).

Infrastructure, commerce, and population growth are converging at a remarkable pace, and Porto Residence sits right at the heart of it.

We rarely see second chances in projects such as this.

If you missed your chance last year, this is your moment to get in while entry pricing still makes sense.

To reserve one of the final 10 units, you need to send my partner, Michael, an email at [email protected] right now.

When multinational carriers start adding flights and major retailers start planting their flags, you know the tide has turned.

…and when that momentum converges on a beachfront town just 30 minutes from Fortaleza’s international airport, the implications for property values and rental demand are enormous.

These moves confirm what we’ve been saying for quite some time now: the window of being early in Porto das Dunas is now.

Your shot at the biggest upside is now.

Right now, investors still have the rare chance to own beachfront property in a district where the fundamentals are rising faster than the prices.

You can still plant your flag before the cost of entry reflects what’s actually happening on the ground.  

The biggest players - airlines, national retailers, and institutional developers aren’t speculating… they’re committing and moving forward.

…and you should be, too.

If you’re in, let’s get moving.

Send Michael an email now at [email protected].

Speak soon,
Mikkel