The journey to arrive in Jericoacoara has already discouraged some people from visiting this beautiful destination. It's just that it's not that close to Fortaleza: it's 300 km along the west coast of Ceará. And Vila de Jeri is located in the middle of a national conservation unit, with access via sand paths instead of roads.
But let's not create panic: things improved a lot with the opening of the Jericoacoara Regional Airport in 2017. Since then, the offer of flights to the region has been considerably expanded, including Azul, Gol and, more recently, Latam.
If you want to go by car, it is important that you know how to drive very well on sand, as there are a lot of jams. Furthermore, you will have to leave your vehicle in a parking lot at the entrance to the village, as tourists cannot enter by car.
Important: Jijoca de Jericoacoara City Hall, the municipality to which Jericoacoara belongs, charges a sustainable tourism tax to visit the village. It costs R$41.50 for up to 10 days of stay and can be paid in advance online via city hall website from Jijoca. Children up to 12 years old and seniors over 60 years old are exempt from the charge.
Flights to Jericoacoara
For those who want to get to Jericoacoara, there are two options: travel to Jericoacoara Regional Airport (JJD), located in the neighboring city of Cruz, about 30 km from the village, or to the Pinto Martins International Airportin Fortaleza, which is 300 km from Jeri.
Jericoacoara Airport operates direct Azul flights departing from Belo Horizonte and Campinas; Gol has flights departing from Guarulhos and Brasília; and, to Latam, departing from Guarulhos. You can travel from the airport closest to your city, making connections at these airports.
As the number of regular flights to this terminal has grown significantly in recent years, the ticket price is often on par with that of flights to Fortaleza or is just a little more expensive. It's worth it, if that's the case, to save time and save money on land transfers.
You will need a transfer to reach Vila de Jeri, flanking the beach and sand dunes. This route is normally done by 4X4 vehicles, like Hillux, which stop at the entrance to the Jericoacoara National Park to adjust the tire pressure and be able to travel better on the sand.
It is possible to book a private or shared transfer through hotels and inns in Jericoacoara and the region. We indicate the Civitatiswhich allows you to schedule online and even pay in installments, and another option is to contact the CooperJeri, local cooperative, which distributes demand among local agencies. Potiassu has a counter at Jericoacoara Airport, along with Taxi Cruz, which also offers transport for those arriving without a reservation. In addition to all this, I also found several drivers offering their services at the airport entrance.
Choosing to travel via Fortaleza Airport — I think it's a good option if you want to spend a few days in the capital of Ceará or other beaches on the west coast —, you will have to complement the land journey to Jericoacoara, and this trip can be done in different ways:
Transfer to Jericoacoara in 4×4 vehicle
The most comfortable option for those who are in Fortaleza and want to go to Jericoacoara is to hire a 4×4 transport. The trip takes approximately five hours, maybe even a little less. Most of it is done on a paved road and, when you get close to Praia do Preá, the tires are deflated to drive through the dunes.
This type of route is carried out by different companies and drivers, starting from Fortaleza or the opposite route, leaving from Jeri. It can be done privately (it was around R$700 in November 2022) or shared with other tourists (we budget R$200 per person). The latter is more affordable if you are traveling alone or in a pair, but be aware that you will need to adapt to other travelers' flight times as well, so you may have to leave Jeri a few hours earlier than necessary — which hurts. in the heart.
We hire the agency transfer UP Jeribut your inn will certainly have more trustworthy contacts.
Bus from Fortaleza to Jericoacoara
Those who travel by bus between Fortaleza and Jeri are currently the Guanabara Express. The entire trip lasts around 7 hours, it is more tiring, but it was also surprising in terms of comfort. On the same bus, you have the option of an executive seat (it was R$ 107.55) or, better for sleeping, a sleeper category (R$ 144.10).
The collective takes its passengers to Jijoca, where they disembark and pick up a bib to complete the journey between the dunes — the route included in the ticket. They left us in front of the inn.
There are daily bus schedules leaving from Fortaleza bus station or Fortaleza airport to Jericoacoara. It is recommended to purchase your ticket a little in advance to avoid the risk of disruptions to your schedule. The website of Guanabara has other information.
By car to Jericoacoara
From Strength, the best option is to take the road on the CE-085 highway, also known as Estruturante. Despite it being just a highway for most of the route, it is recommended to use GPS to avoid problems due to the lack of signage.
The road will take you to Jijoca de Jericoacoara or Vila do Preá (you can choose which way to take). From these places, it might be a good idea to hire a guide to show you the best route to follow. The trails to Jeri are sandy and have no signage. Don't risk going alone, especially at night.
For those leaving Teresina, it is possible to take the BR-343 when leaving the city, heading to the city of Granja, where there is access to Jijoca.
Most motorized visitors arrive in 4×4 cars, but if you have experience and want to risk walking on the sand without traction, it is possible to arrive too. What is usually done is to deflate the tires a little.
You will not be able to travel around Jericoacoara with your own car, you will need to leave it in the parking lot. In November 2022, it cost R$40 per day. There are people who leave them in parking lots in Praia do Preá to save money.
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