Jericoacoara — Photo: Jade Queiroz (MTur Destinos)

A kiter about to launch on the sand at Jeri. — Photo: Janjusto

A windsurfer at Malhada, spray everywhere. — Photo: Winniepix

A jangada sail and hammock at Lagoa do Paraíso. — Photo: idobi

A lone kite out at sunset off the main beach. — Photo: Helio Bastos Salmon

White water, a full sail and the trade on. — Photo: Winniepix

Brazil

Sep · 100% rideable

Jericoacoara

What it's actually like

You launch west of the village in a side-offshore east trade, so this is for experienced kiters only. For flat water, Lagoa do Paraíso is a short buggy ride inland, and September is the pick.

Jeri, as everyone here calls it, is a village of sand streets inside a national park. The Duna do Pôr do Sol stands over the west end of the bay, and the first gust of the season still gets the whole bay buzzing. You get steady trades, warm water, flat lagoons behind the dunes and a sunset that fills the big dune every evening.

The season runs August to January, with the trade blowing almost always from the east. September is the pick, with nearly every day rideable, and October is barely behind. The wind gets stronger around midday and stays on well past sunset, when the bay fills with sails and everyone is hooning. Rig for the mean wind, not the biggest gust, and you will not end up stacked.

Now the honest bit. February to May is the rainy season, and in March and April only about a third of days are rideable, the lowest of the year. Book a wind trip then and you may get skunked, so come for the village too. The trades are back from the middle of July, and then the countdown is on.

Windsurfers and wingers have the village side. The village takes the edge off the wind at the launch, but move off along the bay and the full trade fills your sail. The Atlantic swell rolls in clean, waist to head high, and does not suddenly close out, so it is a kind place for first wave rides. At low tide it is a long walk out to the water. The northern part of the bay has a sharp reef and higher, faster waves, so stay south while you learn.

Kiters launch where the markers and the schools say. A local school’s guide warns that with the wind side-offshore there it is easy to lose a board. For flat water, a short buggy ride inland puts you on Lagoa do Paraíso, fresh water with big areas shallow enough to stand. When you are ready, ride the downwinder west with the trade to Guriú, a park beach with no buildings, side-shore wind and flat water. You will still be banging on about it years later.

The wind has a reason to be strong here. The coast around Jeri runs east to west, parallel to the equator and to the trades, so the wind reaches it with no land in the way. East along the coast, Preá has side-onshore wind, good for beginners at low tide and wavier at high tide, with a downwinder possible from there to Jeri.

Then comes the last hour of the day. The light turns gold off the big dune. The galera, the crowd of locals and visitors, heads up the Duna do Pôr do Sol to watch the sun go down. The wind holds for a last session.

Plenty of schools work the beach, ClubVentos and the smaller crews among them, and between them they teach and hire out kite, wing and windsurf kit. Bora? It is how locals say let’s go.

Rules and safety. Jeri is a national park with its own rules. No kites in the zone off Praia da Malhada and Ponta das Pedras. No kites in the zone off the beach north-west of the Duna do Pôr do Sol. Windsurfing is not allowed between Sítio do Papai Noel and the dune fence. And there are no wind sports at all in a 50 m strip at Praia da Malhada. Follow the buoys and signs, and carry the safety kit your sport needs. Mind that no rescue service on the water is confirmed, so do not count on one being out there. Ride within your limits and be able to self-rescue. In an emergency call 193 for fire and rescue, or 185 for the navy at sea. The Jeri kite beach has side-offshore wind, and locals recommend it for experienced kiters only. Buggies and 4x4s use the shoreline, so always have someone spotting traffic when you rig and launch.

When it's good

Is it for you?

LevelBody dragger to kiteloop
Preá at low tide suits beginners; the Jeri beach is side-offshore, experienced kiters only.
WaterMillpond to head-high
Lagoa do Paraíso is flat, fresh and shallow enough to stand; the bay carries swell.
LaunchNot checked yet
WetsuitBoardies
Sea about 28 °C in September: boardies weather, with a rash vest at most.
AprèsGoes off till sunrise
5 bars, 1 club and 57 places to eat within 5 km: the night's yours.
CostNot checked yet

Where to launch

Conditions change. Check local rules and conditions before you ride.

Launch
Stay

West beach

Kite launch west of the village, towards the Duna do Pôr do Sol.

For kite. Directions: Google Maps · Apple Maps
Village beach

Windsurf and wing launch in front of the village.

For windsurf, wing. Directions: Google Maps · Apple Maps

Getting there

Nearest airportJericoacoara (JJD). Jeri has its own airport, but Fortaleza (FOR) is the long way in, so allow for the extra journey time.
Getting aroundSand track from Jijoca. The sand track is for buggies and 4x4s. There are no paved streets in the village and no parking at the launch.

Stay, learn and rent

Full details for every place are in the Pocket Guide.

Pousada Ponta da Pedra

Beachfront pousada next door to ClubVentos on the main beach, with breakfast served facing the sea.

Website

Vila Kalango

Stilt houses and bungalows on the beach, a short walk from the launch. Its own centre teaches kite, wing and windsurf, with storage and a repair workshop.

Website

Treehouse Kitecamp Jericoacoara

Treehouse tents and dorms on Rua Principal, a kitecamp since 2025 with its own kite school and guided kite trips.

Website

Pocket Guide

Jericoacoara, in your pocket

Everything you need on the beach in one PDF. Save it to your phone and it works with no signal.

01The month: wind, conditions and water02Every hazard, and the local rules03The launches, with maps04Getting there with kit05Stays, schools and kit hire06Where every score comes from

Jericoacoara

When it's good

Is it for you?

Where to launch

West beach

Village beach

Getting there

Stay, learn and rent

Pousada Ponta da Pedra

Vila Kalango

Treehouse Kitecamp Jericoacoara

Rancho do Peixe

Pousada Samba do Kite

Casa na Praia Jeri

Jeri Kite Surf Hostel

ClubVentos

GoKiteJeri

Jeri250

Kiteloop

Rancho do Peixe Water Sports Center

KitesTropik

ClubVentos

GoKiteJeri

KitesTropik

Jericoacoara, in your pocket

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