A lagoon among dunes with kitesurfers on the west coast of Ceará

Region · Ceará

Jericoacoara

A village in the municipality of Jijoca de Jericoacoara, surrounded by Jericoacoara National Park, on the west coast of Ceará.

See the developments

The region

Village, municipality and Park

Jericoacoara is the village; the municipality is Jijoca de Jericoacoara, whose seat is Jijoca. The town council itself draws the distinction.

The village of Jericoacoara is run by the municipality and is not part of the National Park, but the Park surrounds it. The way in by land runs through the Park.

The village beach faces west, so the sun sets over the sea.

In numbers

25,555

inhabitants of Jijoca de Jericoacoara, IBGE 2022 Census

209 km²

area of the municipality, IBGE

8,850 ha

approximate area of the National Park, with a 1 km strip of sea

1.2 million

visits to the Park in 2024

Sources: IBGE, Censo 2022; Lei 11.486/2007; Prefeitura de Jijoca de Jericoacoara, levantamento do ICMBio

Climate

Rain and temperature through the year

There is no INMET station in Jijoca or in Jericoacoara. The nearest official reference with a 1991-2020 Normal is Parnaíba, in Piauí. According to ICMBio, the Park can be visited all year round.

Month	Average rain (mm)	Average high (°C)
Jan	123.1	32.5°
Feb	173.2	31.7°
Mar	206.9	31.1°
Apr	216.7	31°
May	144.5	31.5°
Jun	51.1	32°
Jul	42.7	32.7°
Aug	4.5	34°
Sep	0.9	34.6°
Oct	2.5	34.5°
Nov	3	34.2°
Dec	27.8	33.8°

INMET, Parnaíba (PI) station 82287, Climatological Normal 1991-2020. Annual total: 996.9 mm. The Normal gives no minimum temperature for this station.

Rainy season

According to FUNCEME, Ceará's rainy season runs from February to May, with a pre-season in December and January. ICMBio describes the region's rain as concentrated from February to May, broken by sunny spells.

Wind and kitesurfing

There is no official wind measurement on the west coast. At the INMET station in Fortaleza, the only one with an official wind series in the 1991-2020 Normal, the average is highest from August to December and lowest from March to May, blowing mainly from the east.

Unofficial data: Windfinder's statistics for Jericoacoara (a private service, observations from 2005 to 2015) show a monthly average of 13 to 14.7 knots from August to November and 6 to 7 knots from April to June.

Getting there

Access by air and by road

Jericoacoara Airport

Jericoacoara Regional Airport, Comandante Ariston Pessoa (JJD), is in the municipality of Cruz, on the CE-085. Since 1 September 2026 it has been run by Fraport Brasil, the same concession holder as Fortaleza airport.

By road

From Fortaleza, take the CE-085 to the town of Jijoca. From there, according to ICMBio, it is another 20 km of dirt road to the village.

In the village

Private vehicles do not drive inside the village; they stay in the authorised car park at the entrance. Inside the Park, tourist transport uses vehicles and drivers authorised by ICMBio.

Attractions

What to see

Pedra Furada
A rock arch seen as the icon of Jericoacoara, inside the Park.
Serrote and the lighthouse
The highest point of the Park, north east of the village. The lighthouse opened in 1952.
Sunset Dune
The standout of the Park's dune field.
Árvore da Preguiça
A sight in the Park visited from the village.
Guriú River
A canoe trip through the mangrove to watch seahorses, on the border with Camocim.
Lagoa do Paraíso
In the Lagoa da Jijoca Protection Area, outside the Park, about 5 km from the town and 18 km from the village, with restaurants and hammocks in the water.
Lagoa Azul
Also in the Lagoa da Jijoca Protection Area, with clear water, stand up paddling and canoeing.
Mangue Seco
Mangrove, dunes and streams in Jijoca, with beach huts serving crab dishes.

Rules

Protected areas and rules

Sustainable Tourism Fee

A municipal fee of R$ 41.50 per person, valid for up to 10 days, plus R$ 4.15 for each extra day, in force since 1 February 2023. On 12 March 2026 the town council said it is the only compulsory municipal fee.

Vehicles

Private vehicles do not drive inside the village. In the Park, driving on fixed or moving dunes is forbidden, and tourist transport is limited to authorised vehicles and drivers.

National Park

Created in 2002, with boundaries redrawn by Law 11.486/2007. Its management plan was approved by ICMBio Ordinance 3.180 of 15 September 2023. In the Park it is forbidden to leave rubbish, light fires, or collect or chase wildlife.

Information checked on September 26, 2026.

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