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Jericoacoara State of Ceara Brazil

JERICOACOARA - compliments of Wikipedia

Jericoacoara is a virgin beach hidden behind the dunes of the west coast of Jijoca de Jericoacoara, Ceará, Brazil. Selected by The Washington Post as one of the Top 10 most beautiful beaches in the world, "Jeri" consists of blue lagoons, calm seas and huge dunes

In 1984, the area around Jericoacoara was declared an environmental protection area. It became national park in 2002. As a result, many restrictions on building and tourism were introduced to help preserve the area. The distance to bigger cities and limited road access also helped to keep the beach and the village isolated.

Fairly recently, Jeri was just a fishing village with little contact with modern life. Electricity was generated by diesel engines, and street lighting was provided only by the moon and the stars. After the selection by The Washington Post was published, tourism grew rapidly, and the beach village became a popular destination. Electricity arrived in 1998, and today hot showers and air conditioning are no longer luxuries. However, electrical street illumination is still forbidden by local law.

Attractions:

• Pedra Furada: rock formation, approximately sixteen feet tall

• Duna do Pôr do Sol: Sunset Dune
• Igreja Nossa Senhora da Consolaçăo: Church Our Lady of Consolation
• Serrote: rock formation about 95 feet tall
• Farol de Jericoacoara: Lighthouse Jericoacoara

Getting to Jericoacoara Jericoacoara is 300 km from Fortaleza capital of the state of Ceará close to the Equator providing a stable climate all year round. Getting to Jeri can still be challenging. The road from Fortaleza to Jericoacoara presents beaches and rustic villages. The last 4 hours of the journey takes place off-road, among dunes and along a beach. It is one of several places in Brazil from which one can see the sun sink into the ocean. Both visitors and locals often view this show from the tall "sunset dune" just next to the village. The village has streets covered in sand from the dunes. Jericoacoara is a popular spot for windsurfing and sailing.

Another look at Jericoacoara - compliments of RioLife:
Jericoacoara is an ecological paradise located in an area of environmental preservation. This small fishing village located in the state of Ceará, has about 10,000 inhabitants and maintains a rustic feel. The sandy streets and absence of streetlights contrast with the lively nightlife and tourism infrastructure.

The long coastline of beaches, dunes, clear freshwater lakes and warm natural pools make a perfect setting. The Duna do Pôr do Sol (Sunset Dune) is a must see in the late afternoon.

For water sports lovers, this is the place. Here, windsurfers and kitesurfers come from around the world find the perfect amount of wind and waves of all sizes, allowing for the practice of several styles. Canoeing, fishing, capoeira, boating, horseback riding and bike riding are also highly recommended in this natural paradise. The intensity of the sun makes the sand dunes change color every instant, and the tidal movement is so extreme that it leaves one beach full of water reaching up to the dunes, while another is so dry that the boats are left anchored in the desert. The contrast between the Jeri desert and the oasis of the Lagoa Azil and Lagoa do Paraíso lakes couldn't be greater. On the shores of both lakes, the sand is extremely white and the water a super clear blue. It's like taking two vacations in one trip.