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The latest remote-and-primitive 'in' beach and the most beautiful beach in the State of Ceará. Jericoacoara is a small fishing village, where dozens of coconut-trees drowning in sand dunes face jangadas (sailboats) stuck on a broad grey beach. Goats, sheep, cattle, horses and dogs roam the sandy streets at will. "Jeri," as it is called by the locals, has the air of an earthly paradise!

Jericoacoara was, but about 15 years ago, an isolated fishing village, without any contact with modern civilization. There were no roads, no electricity, no phones, no TV's, no newspapers, and money was something almost useless, since deals were based on trading fish for goods. In 1984 the place was declared as an "Environmental Protection Area" by federal law.
Because of this law, it is forbidden to hunt, pollute or open new roads. Moreover new buildings are limited to the village area and have to follow the same architectural style. Lodging facilities had their construction forbidden in 1992, in order to limit the quantity of tourists in the place.

Jericoacoara is situated roughly 300 km northwest of Fortaleza. The last 15 km on the way to Jericoacoara is on soft sand, so you need transport by a 4WD vehicle to get there.

Until the beginning of 1998, electricity was supplied by diesel generators. Today, there is an underground power supply, only for the houses. Street illumination still comes from the moon and the stars.

One of the most impressive attractions of Jericoacoara is the night, due to the beauty of the sky. Since there is no light on the streets, and the atmosphere is very clear, the place is perfect for sky observation. If you come in the full moon period, climb a dune, and you'll see a view that seems to be from another planet: dunes "lit" by the moonlight, and a silver shining sea, framed by the silhouette of the palm trees along the coast.
Besides the beauty of the sky, Jericoacoara also has good nightlife. There are several bars, where you could boogie the Forró (typical dance and rythm from North East Brazil) till sunrise. The "Recanto do Momento" forró is the most traditional place of Jericoacoara's nightlife. It has existed since the music used to come from the batteries of an old army truck. The rule of the house was: the music goes till the battery runs flat, and those still in the place will have to push the old truck to make the engine start.

At daytime there are several activities for the visitor in Jericoacoara, to satisfy every taste. From calm hikes, jangada- and horseback rides to more radical sports, such as windsurf or sandboard. Among the several natural attractions, the most famous is the Arched Rock, a huge gate of stone sculpted by the waves, situated in the Rocky Region of Jericoacoara. Besides the famous Arched Rock, there is an infinity of other rocks with curious shapes, as well as caves and natural pools. The hike though the rocky region is something not to be missed, but you must go at low tide. At sunset it is a tradition to watch it from a big sand dune on the west side of the village, called Sunset Dune.

Although tourism has reached the place, because of it's extraordinary beauty, it still keeps the unhurried and peaceful way of life. Book more days than you think are necessary to get to know the place: the great majority of travelers end up delaying their departure, either because they feel that there is still a lot to be seen or because they want to enjoy more days in this unique and fantastic place!