Why Honeymoon in Jericoacoara
Few beach towns combine this much scenery in such a small area. Within a short ride you have desert-like dunes, freshwater lagoons, a rock arch on the sea and mangroves full of birds. Every day can look different without long transfers.
The village itself is a pleasure after dark. Restaurants spill onto sand lanes lit by string lights, cocktail carts line the beach and live music drifts from bars. Yet the best pousadas sit on quieter edges of town, so you can choose how social you want each evening to be. The sense of arriving somewhere hard to reach adds to the romance.
When to Go
July through December is the dry, windy season and the most reliable time to visit. Rain is rare, skies are blue and the trade winds blow strongly from mid-afternoon, which kitesurfers love. Couples who do not kite will still enjoy the cooling breeze, though sand can sting on the windiest days.
January and June are pleasant transition months. From February to May the rains arrive, sometimes heavily. The upside is that the lagoons fill to their fullest just after the wet season, so June and July are a lovely time to swim in them.
Brazilian holidays at Christmas, New Year and Carnival bring crowds and higher rates.
Where to Stay
Jeri has dozens of pousadas, from simple guesthouses to stylish boutique places with pools. For a honeymoon, choose one on the quieter side streets or near the sunset dune rather than right above the busiest bars.
Vila Kalango, close to the dune, has rustic-chic wooden bungalows on stilts and a pool facing the sea. In Preá, a few miles east, Rancho do Peixe has bungalows right on the beach and suits couples who want to kitesurf or simply want more space and less nightlife.
Book ahead for the windy season, when kite travelers fill the best rooms.
Romantic Things to Do
Spend a morning at Lagoa do Paraíso, where you can lie in hammocks hung over the shallow water and order lunch to your table. Nearby Lagoa Azul is similar and often quieter.
Walk east along the beach and over the rocks to Pedra Furada, a natural arch that frames the sea. Go at low tide, since the route can be cut off at high water.
Book a buggy tour west to Tatajuba, crossing rivers on small rafts and stopping at dunes and lagoons. Take a kitesurf lesson in Preá if the wind is up. Every evening, climb the sunset dune with the rest of the village.
Getting There and Around
Fly to Jericoacoara Regional Airport (JJD) in the town of Cruz, which has domestic flights from São Paulo and some other Brazilian cities. From there a 4x4 transfer takes about 30 to 45 minutes over sand tracks.
The other option is Fortaleza (FOR), the regional hub, about 4 to 6 hours away by private transfer or shuttle, with the last stretch in a 4x4. Private transfers are worth the extra cost after a long flight.
Visitors pay a daily tourism fee to the municipality, usually collected online or on arrival. In the village you walk. Buggies and drivers handle everything farther afield.
Food and Drink
Jeri eats surprisingly well for a sand village. Lunch is grilled fish or shrimp at a beach shack or a lagoon restaurant, with fresh coconut water and a caipirinha made with cashew fruit, a local specialty in Ceará.
Breakfast usually features tapioca, a chewy crepe made from cassava starch with sweet or savory fillings. At night, the main streets offer Italian, Japanese and modern Brazilian kitchens.
After sunset, cocktail carts park along the beach and mix caipirinhas with any fruit you like. Weekend nights end at a forró party for couples who want to dance.
Honeymoon Tips
Pack sunglasses with good coverage and a light scarf for windy afternoons; blowing sand is part of life from August to November.
Check tide tables before walking to Pedra Furada. Wear water shoes for rocky stretches.
Use only licensed 4x4 transfers and buggy drivers, which your pousada can book.
Cards are accepted at most restaurants and pousadas, but a little cash helps for beach carts and small tips.
Jeri can be loud on weekends and holidays. If quiet matters, ask for a room away from the main street or stay a night or two in Preá.
