Jericoacoara Beach, National park beach in Jijoca de Jericoacoara, Brazil.
Jericoacoara Beach sits within a protected national park on the northern coast of Brazil and stretches along a bay with white sand dunes and turquoise water. The coastline shows shallow tidal zones, scattered rock formations, and natural freshwater lagoons that form a few kilometers inland.
The area remained a remote fishing village without road access until the 1970s, when backpackers began visiting the spot. Mention in an international travel article in the 1980s brought worldwide attention and led to the creation of the national park in 2002.
Fishermen pull their boats onto shore each morning and sell the fresh catch directly on the sand, while visitors wade through shallow tidal pools between the sandbars. The name comes from the indigenous Tupi language and means turtle hole, a reminder of the animals that once nested here.
Reaching the area involves flying into Jericoacoara Regional Airport or Fortaleza, followed by roughly a four-hour journey through sand and unpaved tracks in specialized vehicles. Wind blows year-round, especially strong between July and December, which suits kitesurfers but also kicks up sand.
Regulations forbid artificial street lighting throughout the village, so eyes adjust to starlight and moonlight at night. Some paths remain so dark that visitors bring flashlights or follow locals who know every trail.
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