Jericoacoara, a breathtaking village!

06 DAYS IN JERI

Energy, music, and sunsets sum up Jericoacoara perfectly, a special little place hidden among the dunes of Ceará.

Jericoacoara, or as it is known around the world: Jeri!, is a peaceful seaside village located 3 degrees below the equator, surrounded by countless natural wonders such as crystal-clear lagoons, dunes, coconut groves, mangroves, caves, beaches, and coves. All the streets are sandy and there is no public lighting, which turns a simple evening walk or a look at the moon and the oil lamps scattered around the village into a delightful outing. Jeri welcomes tourists all year round, and more than half are foreigners looking to enjoy the best Brazil has to offer: sunshine and hospitality. In 1994, Jeri was named…

by Washington Post Magazine as one of the 10 most beautiful beaches in the world, and at the very end of 2017, the American magazine Forbes published a list of the 15 coolest places to visit in 2018 and, guess what, there was Jericoacoara representing the beauty of our Brazil. Yes, paradise is right here in our Ceará, and we are going to share a few tips so you can enjoy this paradise too!

How do you get to Jeri?

The two best ways are:

1– Via Fortaleza

Take a flight to Fortaleza airport and then a transfer or bus to Jeri. An important tip: check your flight's arrival time in Fortaleza carefully. If it is in the afternoon, it is better to book a hotel on Avenida Beira Mar and take the opportunity to rest and enjoy an evening along the waterfront. That is what we did: we chose to stay on the waterfront and only leave for Jeri the following day. On the way to the fishing village, we used Fretcar, with a very comfortable bus and internet access. The journey to Jijoca de Jericoacoara took about 7 hours. The bus does not go all the way to the village because the final stretch crosses dunes, so when it arrives in Jijoca, everyone collects their luggage and transfers to 4×4 pickup trucks adapted to drive through the dunes and reach the village. That part of the journey took about 40 min and was amazing!

Jeri

On the way back to Fortaleza, we used a transfer service. A shared transfer (a 4×4 vehicle with a maximum of 06 people) costs an average of 150 reais per person. An excellent option, considering that they pick you up at your hotel and drop you off at the airport in Fortaleza. Comparing the price difference between the bus and the transfer, it is worth spending a little more for the comfort and convenience.

We made a little table to help you compare. Take a look:

Fortaleza – Jeri route

Bus + Open-sided shuttle truck

Transfer

Time

Price per person

7h

R$ 85,00

4h30

R$ 150,00

2– Via Jericoacoara Airport

Another option is to arrive at Comandante Ariston Pessoa Regional Airport (Jericoacoara Airport), located on State Highway CE-085, in the municipality of Cruz. An excellent option for anyone with only a few days to enjoy Jeri who does not want to spend too much time traveling. The transfer from the airport to the village costs an average of R$ 75 and takes about 1h.

Where should you stay in Jeri? Hurricane hotels

The village has plenty of hotels, guesthouses, and hostels, as well as Airbnbs, to suit every taste and budget. When choosing, do your research and go for a good location! The closer you are to the beach and the central square, the better for enjoying everything the village offers, both by day and by night.

On our first visit to Jeri, we were lucky to make the right choice: Hotel Hurricane Gardens. It is the hotel where practically EVERYTHING happens in Jeri. The location is excellent, on Rua do Forró, 100 m from the main beach. Every little corner of the hotel is integrated into nature, so much so that right in the middle stands the largest cashew tree in the region, displaying its majesty and filling the air with its fragrance for all the guests, day and night. The rooms combine eco-friendly pieces and furniture with sophistication; you can fall in love at first sight. The surprise comes in the form of excellent-quality toiletries, the kind you immediately want to take home. The hotel offers conveniences such as excursion bookings, dance classes, yoga and massages, beach towels, and a hairdryer.

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Breakfast is spectacular! In addition to the buffet, you can order tapioca crepes, couscous, and crepes made on the spot just the way you like them. Coalho cheese with oregano is the best! The staff are extremely helpful and polite, always with a smile and a good morning, good afternoon, or good evening for you, and prompt, friendly service. Cris and Júlia welcomed us and patiently recommended the best activities for our schedule. If we could sum up the hotel in one word, it would be care. They put care into absolutely every detail, from the “Good morning” to the temperature of the shower water or a dinner recommendation that suits your taste and budget.

The Hurricane group has another hotel in Jeri, Hurricane Praia, with a quieter, more luxurious feel for couples. It is very close to Gardens (on the street behind it) and has direct access to Praia da Malhada, where you will find the natural pools and the famous Pedra Furada, one of Jericoacoara's landmarks. Hurricane Praia hosts dinners with international chefs and live music on specific days of the week, and as a guest at its sister hotel Gardens, you can reserve your place as early as breakfast.

Website: www.hurricanejerigardens.com (http://www.hurricanejerigardens.com) l info@gardens.hurricanejeri.com l WhatsApp (88) 99972-6868

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Party spots in Jeri!

The best party with a sunset and the village's signature forró.

Café Jeri is one you cannot leave off your itinerary! The best party in Jeri takes place on the rooftop of Hurricane Jeri Gardens, luckily our hotel, complete with various performances featuring juggling and even a mermaid! All of this comes with a sunset and plenty of cocktails made with local fruit. The cajá caipirinha is fantastic! Café Jeri opens Wednesday through Sunday from 16h to 20h (more or less). The DJ running the party starts with a more laid-back feel, and as sunset arrives (with a little help from the cocktails), the tempo rises, turning it into an incredibly lively late afternoon. I can guarantee that all of Jeri would love to be there at that moment.

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During the days we stayed there, we saw a line form of people wanting to get in. I recommend arriving early to get a spot. Admission is free, but there is a maximum capacity. Hotel guests get VIP entry without having to queue.

Note: the party was inspired by Ibiza's parties. Can you imagine?

Another option for enjoying some music in Jeri is Samba Rock (where there is a tree with an enormous alligator, yes, an ALLIGATOR!), in the village's main square, where there are several restaurants and ice cream shops (s2).

And to enjoy some of the village's signature forró, your best option is ClubVentos, right ON the beach, every Thursday from 16h to 19h. You can find forró in several other places, but only there can you enjoy it by the sea with the sunset making its distinguished appearance.

Jeri's nightlife is also famous and lively. Every day of the week, a venue opens with a special program, but some features are shared: events take place between 22h and 02h, they all have low lighting to match the village vibe, fairly priced drinks, cold beer, and, of course, beautiful people from all over Brazil and the world. The events schedule changes all the time, but when we went (September 2018), we found:

Monday – Mistura Fina at SerraMar (forró + samba)

Tuesday – Reggae at Serramar

Wednesday – Reggae at Solar da Malhada

Thursday – Mainstream music with a DJ in front of the caipirinha stalls

Friday – Samba at Solar da Malhada

Saturday – Mainstream music with a DJ in front of the caipirinha stalls

Sunday – Forró behind the church at Solar da Malhada

Admission costs around R$ 15 to R$ 20 per person.

Sunset on the dunes

You cannot miss it: around 16:30h, people start heading toward the top of the dune next to the main beach. The feeling is indescribable. The setting is you, the dunes, the sea, and the sun. As the saying goes, a picture is worth a thousand words, so here you go:

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East coast

The eastern side includes the following attractions: Lagoa do Paraíso, Lagoa Azul, Árvore da Preguiça, Preá beach, and Pedra Furada. We made the trip to Pedra Furada on the first day and visited the others on the third day.

Lagoa do Paraíso

We chose to walk to Pedra Furada, one of Jeri's landmarks; the walk took approximately 40min. Ideally, follow the trail to Farol do Serrote, where you will have a 360-degree view of the village, then go down to Pedra Furada and return via Praia da Malhada, stopping at the small natural pools and the caves hidden in the landscape. Check the tide before you go, because if it is high, there is no way to return along the beach. There are other ways to get to Pedra Furada: by buggy or 4×4. Choose yours and just go!

To visit the lagoons, Árvore da Preguiça, and Preá beach, we chose to travel in an adapted 4×4 vehicle. Lagoa do Paraíso is the most famous, as it has the best facilities. Yes, it is where you find those famous hammocks in crystal-clear waters. When booking a 4×4 or buggy service, ask for restaurant recommendations that suit your style, musical taste, and budget. The more “famous” a place, the more expensive it is, but the lagoon is huge and has options for absolutely everyone!

West side

Quad biking in Jeri's dunes

Without a doubt, this is the most exciting excursion and the most tiring! We recommend doing it right at the start of your trip, because it is a route that takes energy.

We took the more adventurous route: driving a quad bike! There is also a buggy option, but in that case you are not the one in control. Driving through the dunes is a spine-tingling experience. A guide must accompany you to show you the way, and from then on it is all adventure. Crossing the dunes, going up, coming down (it gives you butterflies in your stomach) is one of those things you cannot forget. And the scenery is something to fall in love with!

Our first stop was in the mangroves to see the seahorses. We parked the quad bike and got into a little rowboat with local residents who run the outing. When the guide finds the seahorses, they are placed in a container so everyone can see them and then returned to nature in the same spot where they were found. The outing is very quick and costs R$ 15,00.

The route continues through Floresta do Mangue Seco. The landscape is beautiful and has been enhanced with colorful hammocks and swings scattered along the way, complementing the scenery. It is VERY much worth a visit!

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The route continues through the dunes toward Lagoa da Tatajuba. Tatajuba is an amusement park integrated into nature, the most fun part of the excursion, with a zip line and a slide. Joining in costs R$ 15,00 for each activity, and you can use the slide 03 times and the zip line 02 times. The question is whether you have the energy to climb the dunes and go down again. As our local friend said, “You only pay to go down; going up is free.” The equipment looked safe and well organized, and there were practically no queues that day, so all you had to do was launch yourself, whether you felt brave or not. The feeling of landing in the lagoon is phenomenal; it is worth the challenge! Once you have successfully completed the challenges, it is time to relax in the hammocks at Lagoa da Torta, with a wonderfully fresh meal: the server brings you the day's fresh fish options and prepares your choice with lots of care.

ClubVentos

ClubVentos

ClubVentos is the club facing Jeri's main beach, and it was the village's first facility dedicated exclusively to water sports. It sits in the right-hand corner of the beach, and you can spot it from a distance thanks to the large blue flags at the entrance. The place has loungers, gazebos, and comfortable sofas, and is ideal for your “rest day” in Jeri. With good background music, ClubVentos offers regional snacks, international drinks, and a buffet-style lunch every day from 11h30 to 16h. Late afternoon brings a happy-hour menu with friendly prices and a one-of-a-kind guest: the sunset. Being on the seafront lets you watch the sunset in the comfort of facilities that balance modernity with a harmonious relationship with nature. Enjoy the shade of the cashew trees, watch the coconut palms dance, and take photos with the house's VIP guests: the iguanas.

You can also book water sports lessons there, including windsurfing, kitesurfing, and surfing, or, if you have already mastered one of them, simply rent the equipment and enjoy your vacation. If you are not such a sports fan but want to enjoy a different experience, take a look at JeriPass, a ClubVentos pass offering four unforgettable and different experiences in the village: a SUP/kayak outing in the mangroves, an E-Bije ride to Pedra Furada, lunch at the club, and a drink to watch the sunset.

It is worth adding an afternoon at ClubVentos to your schedule! Before arriving in Jeri, check their website for all the activities they offer: WWW.CLUBVENTOS.COM (http://www.clubventosjeri.com/) l JeriPass www.jeripass.com.br (http://www.jeripass.com.br/)

Food

Now here is one of the best parts of any trip!

Before arriving in Jeri, we checked the options on TripAdvisor, but the best way to find out about the best places at the moment is to talk to the locals. Among the best we had the chance to try was Bistrô Caiçara, run by chef Apolinário, who worked in renowned restaurants before opening his own in the village. One recommended dish is Polvo Louco: octopus in spicy rapadura syrup, lobster, shrimp, and vegetables. Another nice late-afternoon option is Restaurante Naturalmente Creperia, where you will find one crepe more delicious than the next, as well as one of the best açaí bowls in the region. Recommended order: Yara's crepe, with shrimp and cream cheese.

Japanese food at Hurricane Gardens

As we have already said, Hurricane is where everything happens. This really caught our attention, from breakfast and sunset on the Gardens rooftop to the dinners staged as little events at Praia. Yes, each is a small event, with reserved places at tables around the pool, low lighting, live music, and dishes made by internationally renowned chefs.

Golden tip: set aside an evening to attend at least one of these events offered by the hotel:

Mondays – Monday on the Grill (did someone say barbecue?)

Tuesdays – Japanese Night (Temaki, my love!)

Wednesdays – Spanish Night (paella confirmed!!!)

Saturdays – Samba on the Island (a different surprise menu every week)

There is absolutely no way you will not love it!

Day off

Simply Jeri

Leave at least one day to wander aimlessly through the village's little lanes. Enjoy every corner and discover your own Jeri. That is what we did on our last day. Wake up early and climb the Sunset Dune to see the vastness of what lies beyond. If you know how to ride a horse, rent one on the way down the dune and ride around the area for 1 hour. Have lunch at a different restaurant. Try the natural food at Do Bem (Rua São Francisco) or enjoy the unique view from Mirante, the very first beachfront house on Rua Principal (look for the little handwritten sign on the street inviting you upstairs).

Walk through the alleys, stop at the stalls to try traditional food made by local women, choose a different ice cream flavor at Gelato&Grano in the main square, and pick a beachfront restaurant to rest and watch the spectacular farewell of another day from our king of the heavens, the Sun, which sets over the sea in Jeri. It is common in Jeri to clap when it sets, because it really is an unforgettable moment. In the evening, browse the craft stalls and the crochet makers on Rua Principal, and buy gifts for friends and family. Around 22h, watch the fire-juggling shows that Circo Itinerante puts on daily in the central square, right in front of Samba Rock. Then choose your favorite place out of everything you have seen and experienced there and go say “See you soon” to this paradise, because it is impossible not to want to come back to Jeri after that first visit.

That is it! We hope you visit Jeri and get to enjoy a little of this Brazilian paradise.

Important note: you need to pay the tourist tax to enter the village.

The tax can be paid at the stop in Jijoca, where we queued and it took about 25 min for everyone to pay the amount of 5 reais for each day in Jeri. An easier and faster way is to pay directly through the municipal government's website. This link has all the information: JERICOACOARA TOURIST TAX (http://clubventos.com/br/meios-de-comunicacao/noticia/375-como-pagar-a-taxa-de-turismo-de-jericoacoara)

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