Jericoacoara, Brazil: All you need to know about Jeri

Jericoacoara or “Jeri” as the locals call it, is a Brazilian village on the coast of Ceará State.

Jeri is well known for its beautiful beaches and sand dunes, the hammocks that are set over the lagoons, the perfect weather conditions for kitesurfing and windsurfing, nice restaurants and the fun nightlife.

In this article, you will find out where is Jericoacoara, when is the best time to visit it, what to do there, where to stay and for how long, what to bring to this trip, and you will also get exclusive responsible tourism tips =)

About Jericoacoara

Considered a protected area since 1984, Jeri is also part of the “Route of Emotions“, a route that crosses incredible landscapes in the Northeast of Brazil.

How to get to Jericoacoara

There are different ways of getting to Jericoacoara, check them out:

From Jericoacoara Airport to the village

The airport near Jericoacoara is Jericoacoara Airport (code: JJD), located in a city called Cruz which is 35km away and about 40 min driving.

In case you come from other countries, you might need to take a flight to São Paulo (GRU), Fortaleza (FOR), or Confins (CFN) and then, you may take a direct flight to Jericoacoara (JJD).

Bear in mind that you need a 4×4 to be able to reach the village, so you need to take a 4×4 cab/transfer, or rent a 4×4 car.

From Fortaleza to Jericoacoara

Another option to reach Jericoacoara is by taking a flight from Fortaleza Airport. Pinto Martins Airport (code: FOR) is 300km from Jericoacoara and from there you can take a bus, rent a car, or hire a private transfer.

From Fortaleza to Jeri by car

You can get to Jericoacoara from Fortaleza in about 5 hours by car. If you are going to Jeri on a public holiday/long weekend in Brazil you can expect traffic.

Once again, bear in mind that you need a 4×4 vehicle to get to the village.

We recommend renting a car only when people are familiar with driving in dunes and when they know the way very well.

You may also hire a transfer from Fortaleza to Jeri.

From Fortaleza to Jeri by bus

It takes about 6 hours to get from Fortaleza to Jericoacoara by bus. The easiest way is to book this trip with a travel agency as they organise the bus ride and the transfer from Jijoca to Jeri. You can also get tickets with Expresso Guanabara and Gipsyy.

From Jijoca to Jeri

Jijoca is 23km away from Jericoacoara. From Jijoca, a 4×4 is needed and there, you can get a 4×4 cab or what Brazilians call “jardineira”, which is a Hilux adapted to take up to 10 people in it, and that is why it is cheaper.

Day trip from Fortaleza to Jeri

If you are short in time you may take a day trip from Fortaleza to Jeri. There are buses that leave at 4am and arrives in Jijoca at 10am. At 4pm it is time to leave Jeri, the bus is back in Fortaleza around 9pm.

Tourism Tax

Since 2017, tourists are charged a Sustainable Tourism Tax in Jeri. The R$ 41,50 tax, valid for up to 10-day stay, can be paid in cash (only) when arriving in Jijoca, or via Internet on the city’s website.

People with disabilities, children up to 12 years old, seniors over 60 years old, and those who live in Jijoca or work in the village are exempted from the fee.

How many days to stay in Jericoacoara?

Some people say 2 minimum, but I would say 4 the minimum and 7 days the ideal, as there is a lot to do and it is not super easy to get there.

In my case, I was supposed to stay there for 5 days and I ended up staying for 13 days between Jericoacoara and Preá. This is because I wanted to take all the tours and have time to really disconnect.

Where to stay in Jericoacoara, Brazil?

There are several hotels, guest houses and hostels in Jeri.

Make sure you get a room with air conditioning and an accommodation with a pool. There is nothing better than coming back from a day trip and refreshing in a nice pool at the end of the day.

The best hotels in Jeri

Here is a list with the best hostels in Jericoacoara:

If you like luxury, you definitely should check it out Essenza Hotel and The Chili Beach Private Resort.

In case you like hotels with a unique style, Alchymist Art Hotel.

My Blue Hotel looks very romantic.

Are you backpacking in Brazil? Take a look at Hostel Jeri Central and Villa Chic Hostel.

Now, if you just want a nice hotel where you can disconnect from the whole world, I truly recommend you to go to Preá Beach and stay at Ventana Hotel.

Find some accommodation deals below:

Booking.com

In Jeri I stayed at Vila Bela Vista and I truly fell in love with it due to its rustic style and the trees that surround it. But unfortunately, due to the pandemic they went out of business 😢.

What to do in Jericoacoara?

Enjoy the beaches

Near the village you can visit Jericoacoara beach (main beach also called Praia da Vila) and Malhada Beach (on the right side of the village).

You can also take tours to visit Preá Beach and Guriú Beach.

LMTM Tip: Don’t walk barefoot on Jericoacoara Main Beach as there may be a parasite called chigoe flea.

Ah, don’t forget to get travel insurance! We never know when it may be needed.

Get a 7% discount with World Nomads insurance.

Sloth Tree / Lazy Tree

This exotic tree was shaped by the wind and became a touristic point.

Visit the lagoons and relax in a hammock

Jericoacoara’s lagoons are quite famous for these hammocks that are set over the water.

As the water in the northeast of Brazil is quite warm, you can easily spend hours there.

The best lagoons to visit are Lagoa do Paraíso, Lagoa Azul and Tatajuba.

Eat fresh seafood

Once you visit the lagoons, make sure you eat in local restaurants. There you can find fresh lobsters and oysters for a very cheap cost.

I remember paying back in November/2018, R$50 for this mix of lobster and shrimps and R$12 for a delicious caipirinha with lime & passionfruit at Barraca do Airton in Tatajuba.

A guy called “Tonio da Ostra” was selling 4 oysters for R$5 at the same place, can you believe it?

Visit Pedra Furada

There are 2 ways to get to Pedra Furada in Jeri: through a hill called Morro do Cerrote or walking by the beach, starting from Praia Malhada.

Kitesurfing and Windsurfing

Ceará State has great spots for windsurfing and kitesurfing, so make sure you practice this sport there.

There are several downwind trips going on in this region as well.

You can even take your first class with great kite instructors.

Visit Buraco Azul (Blue Hole)

Buraco Azul (Blue Hole) is quite a new attraction in Jericoacoara, it is located in a nearby city called Aracaú.

Take a Buggy Tour

In Jeri, you can rent a buggy or get a tour guide to take you to great sand dunes and to visit other beaches or lagoons.

Watch the sunset from the dune

Every evening, locals and tourists go up to the sand dunes in Jeri to watch the sunset which is just spectacular!

LMTM TIP: Think twice before taking a professional camera to the dune as the sand, the wind and the misty salt air can damage electronics.

Enjoy the nightlife

Each night of the week, there is something cool going on in the village.

Once you get to the village, ask what is happening during your stay, hotel’s receptionists are usually well informed about it.

Café Jeri, for example, is usually good on Fridays and Sundays from 4pm to 8pm.

Samba da benção has great samba on Fridays around 10:30pm.

The best night to dance forró is on Sundays around 10:30pm at Forró de Trás da Igreja.

Where to eat in Jericoacoara?

The cuisine in Jeri is absolutely amazing! As there are several foreigners living there, you can find pretty much everything.

Here are some of my suggestions:

• Casa B&B, Freddyssimo, Bistrô Caiçara and Lagosteiro are often recommended;
• Tamarindo Restaurante has a delicious shrimp cooked on a pineapple;
• Na Casa Dela and Rústico e Acústico have an adorable decoration
• Pão do Sol is great for a quick snack;
• Maramor has the biggest tapioca I’ve ever had;
• Gelato & Grano or Jeri Mescla for ice cream. My favorite at Gelato & Grano was passionfruit with yogurt;
• If you are looking for tasty and very cheap meals, there are some “takeaway” options on São Francisco Street at night;
• If you are keen to go further from the village, take a look at Barraca do Belo, Komaki, Camboa Restaurant and Barraca do Airton.
  
  

Responsible Travel Tips

Jeri is a paradise that really needs to be preserved. Here are some sustainable travel tips:

1) Choose drinks in aluminium cans instead of glass bottles:

Glass bottles may break and it is dangerous since most people walk barefoot or with sandals in Jeri. Also because 97,7% of the aluminium cans get recycled in Brazil versus 47% of the glasses.

2) Prefer the biodegradable sunscreen and repellent:

Biodegradable sunscreen and natural mosquito repellent are less aggressive to the environment.

3) Reduce waste:

Since you will be in a remote place, please make sure you reduce waste on your trip. You can do that by having a reusable bag, straw, water bottle, cup, cutlery.

You can read our article about zero-waste travel tips! Check it out!

4) Refill your water bottle at the hotel or get a 5 liter bottle:

If your accommodation doesn’t offer filtered water, you can buy a 5 liter bottle, for example, and refill your small reusable one daily to take it to your activities.

5) Don’t take seashells, rocks, etc:

These things are part of an ecosystem which we should not  intervene in.

6) Avoid visiting the village during New Years Eve:

The village is quite small for the amount of people that go there for this event. Don’t contribute to over-tourism.

What to bring to Jericoacoara

• Cash: There is no ATM in the village so it is always good to have some cash with you, even though most of the establishments accept credit card. Note that usually you can get better deals when paying with cash.
• Flip-flops or sandals: There is no asphalt in Jeri so it is easier to walk around on flip-flops or sandals.
• Reusable utensils: Have your reusable kit with a bag, straw, water bottle, cup, cutlery.
• Hat and sunglasses: Better safe than sorry right?! =)
• Swimming suit
• Sunscreen: Unfortunately it isn’t easy to find reef-safe natural sunscreen in Brazil, if you can bring it from abroad it is better. Either way, you should definitely bring sunscreen for this trip.
• Natural insect repellent spray
• Medicines: Bring medicines which you are used to, bear in mind that you will be in a remote place, and the pharmacy is quite small and simple. Find here some tips to stay healthy while traveling.
• Cleaning kit for your camera: As Jeri is quite windy, you need to be extra careful with sand in your electronics. If you are a photographer make sure you bring a brush to clean your camera and have a filter to protect your camera lens. You will also need to clean your lens often due to the misty salt air.
  
  

If you wonder if Jericoacoara is worth visiting, the answer is definitely YES! As mentioned, I was supposed to stay there for 5 days and I ended up cancelling a flight and staying there for 13 days. Apparently it happens a lot there, people just don’t want to leave =)

Have an amazing time in Jeri!

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Read also:

• What to do in Fortaleza, Brazil
• Learn about the Atlantic Forest and Ecological Practices at Ekoa Park in South Brazil
• Responsible tourism tips