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Stay away from your like minded group. Sticking with expats will hinder your learning of the language, mores, customs, and ultimately your hability to read people.

This is how many Expats get burned in business.  They don't know how to thread.

And trust me, the first ones to screw you will come out of your own brethen.   And sure thing,  dealing with Brazilians might have its own set of deceptions. But if you don't learn the lay of the land, you won't manage to thrive. 

It's the school of hard knocks. 

@NewBrazil

Quite a big change, moving from a small place like Imperatriz to a large city like Fortaleza. Is there a reason why you chose Fortaleza?

I am separating from my wife so need a new start. I also want to be next to the ocean. I looked at Rio but decided wanted a more relaxed place. I had a great experience in Brazil and the people are great. my fault is not being able to learn the language. i going to try to change that being by myself will force me to do this. It will be a time to reflex what path I will go.

@NewBrazil, BTW, all members can create events on this site.  If you select the "More" link above and select the "Events", you should be able to create events and invite expats.

For me, I would definitely go if I can.

I agree with @sprealestatebroker that your circle of friends should not be exclusively expats but there are definite advantages to keeping in touch with expats.  Expats tend to have a larger world view than locals and can provide a different (not necessarily the best) viewpoint.

@NewBrazil I may be the closest to where you are interested in living. I live in Parazinho a small village of 2,500 people about 6 hours north of Fortaleza. We are also about 20 minutes away from Jericocoara, one of the most beautiful beaches in Brazil. I have to go to Fortaleza for flights or healthcare, but I do not have a good opinion of it.

My wife of 24 years had a house behind the soccer stadium in Fortaleza when I met here over 20 years ago, we went to all the beaches and tourist spots there. Since then, it is overrun by graffiti and trash.

There are a lot of small towns in the area, but I would not recommend Fortaleza itself.

Roddie In Retirment. 

    I was wondering if there any meetup in Fortaleza. This would be expats also if there are learning Portuguese groups. How hard is it to rent a apartment or is it better to just do Airbnb. I am living in Brazil but a small town. There not any groups for expats so I been somewhat isolated. Now I want to really engage in the whole Brazilian life. Thank for any advice
   

    -@NewBrazil

Try Santos-SP.  There you will have the essentials in place. Hospitals,. good places to source your eats, a large retiree community.  A decent seafood market. And a very charming historical downtown ( Valongo ).

And then roll farther on other shores.  You do not want to take a swim on Santos beachaes.  They waterfront has a decent fully landscaped councourse. 

Santos so Sao Paulo is about an hour on the bus line.A comfortable ride.  Plenty timetables. 

The city has a relaxed pace of life. The back of the city is a port district, by the historical downtown.  The city is cut in half by a hill, Mont Serrat.   

Then you can ride South and North for more attractive places to beach comb.  Ilhabela, Cananeia, Parati, Angra dos Reis. 

I also want to be next to the ocean.
    -@NewBrazil

That's one of my goals too.  I am planning to be in the Recife / Itamáraca area during Natal and Reveillon with my family.  If people can setup an end of the year event there, we could do an expat gathering.

I don´t know much about Recife and Itamáraca yet.... I am just sharing my travel plans....

05/20/24   I was wondering if there any meetup in Fortaleza. This would be expats also if there are learning Portuguese groups. How hard is it to rent a apartment or is it better to just do Airbnb. I am living in Brazil but a small town. There not any groups for expats so I been somewhat isolated. Now I want to really engage in the whole Brazilian life. Thank for any advice
   

    -@NewBrazil

My husband and I will be in Fortaleza around the third week in July, and will try to pull together a meet-up for expats and partners and friends if anyone is around and interested.   I'll post more as our plans firm up.