Everybody talks about this place and the wind here does not disappoint. The strong easterly winds blowing everyday along the Northern coastline of this amazing country make for it to be one of those places kitesurfers dream about. The closer you get to the small village of Jeri (as the locals call it), the stronger the winds become reaching 30-35knts daily.
Kiting in Jeri itself is not that easy so expect to get a buggy or hitchhike to one of the many flat water lagoons or back along the coast where you can downwind back to Jeri. Northern Brazil has something for every adventurous kitesurfer who loves strong pumping winds and a vibrant coastline.
Quick Location Overview
Location: Brazil – Jericoacoara (map link)
Windy Months: July – December
Wind speed: 20 – 35knts
Best Wind direction: East
Air Temperature: 25 – 35°C (77 – 95°F)
Water Temperature: 22 – 26°C (72 – 79°F)
Water Flatness: Flat water lagoons and open ocean chop/wind swell
Beach Type: Sand
Experience level: Beginner – Expert
Gear rental/Storage: Kite is Cool, Rancho do Kite
Closest Airport: Fortaleza (FOR)
Wind Conditions
The wind in Northern Brazil typically blows from the East and starts kicking in around noon and blows on through until sunset each day in the peak season. The Easterly wind is strong and very punchy being 20-35knts everyday in the peak season (August – November) which makes for some of the most consistent winds you will find on this big blue planet.
The wind accelerates up the Northern coastline of Brazil where it peaks around the area of Jeri. The further east or west you travel from here, the lighter the winds are but still very consistent.
Water Conditions
The area around Jeri has a variety of kite locations being flat water lagoons to the wild and windy ocean. No wetsuit is needed as the water temperature is around 26°C’s but I would highly recommend wearing a long sleeve rash guard and applying a lot of sunscreen as the sun is very intense and you will burn easily.
Lagoons – The lagoons are flat water riding paradise but they can get very crowded. The lagoon of Tatajuba is a must to ride but it only works on a medium to high tide. The water in this lagoon/river mouth is glassy with a consistent, unobstructed strong wind blowing across it. You will also find small lagoons along the side of the beach road between Prea and Jeri at different times of the season but they are very shallow.
Ocean – The beaches along the coast have a wind swell being 0.5m which makes for a fun bump and jump style kiting to the East of Jeri towards the village of Prea. The further you go out, the more you will experience a larger ocean swell (1-2m) especially around the headland at Jeri itself. The tidal differences do not affect the coastline dramatically so you can kite on any tide.
Where to Kite
Below is a map of the Jeri region. It can get very busy on the water during the peak of kite season so make sure to obey the rules while kiting.
Where to Stay
Jeri has a large variety of accommodation from 5 star resorts to simple pousadas that are not much more than a hammock under a roof. Some recommendations are below;
- Hurricane Jeri – 4 star hotel with treehouse style accommodation and a beautiful infinity pool surrounded by tropical gardens.
- Pousada Bangalo – Simple, clean pousada with a really tasty breakfast
- Villa Jehol – Brand new pousada with an amazing swimming pool.
The area of Jeri has become quite popular not just to kiters and windsurfers over the past few years but to Brazilians from Sao Paulo and Rio heading here for their vacations. This being said, expect to find a mix of people of all ages and not just kiters in this remote village which has pushed accommodation prices higher.
Where to Eat
You can’t come to Brazil and not indulge in their famous Charasco (BBQ meats) to get your daily protein fix or start the day off with an Acai bowl from one of the many vendors. Below is a list of some of my recommendations.
- Kaze Sushi Bar – great Sushi and service
- Jeri Cafe – A must for sunset drinks and dancing
- Rancho do Peixe – great place to get a coconut before downwinding
- Villa Burger Jeri – burgers that are out of this world
How to get there
Getting to Jeri is best done by flying into Fortaleza International Airport (FOR) and organising a private transfer up the coast which takes approximately 4.5 hrs and costs around $150. Flights into Fortaleza (FOR) come from most major carriers multiple times a day from all over the world.
Getting Around
The best way to get around to the kite spots is to rent a beach buggy with a driver. They cost about $100/day which is quite expensive but they will take you to your kite spot with all your gear and also follow you down the coast if you choose to do a downwinder. The other option is to hitchhike which is cheaper and it seemed to be pretty easy especially if you just wanted to do a downwinder from Prea (starting at Rancho do Peixe so you can pump your kite) back down to Jeri. The best way to do this is to wait outside the entrance to Jeri for one of the 4WD’s to come past who is not full. You can normally hitch a ride from R$0 to R$20 up to Prea.
Experience level needed
The kite spots surrounding Jeri can be enjoyed by beginners through to experts with multiple kite schools operating in the area. The flatwater lagoons make for a safe place to learn how to kite for an absolute beginner but also an amazing spot for the most advanced freestyle kiter.
Downwinding along the coast can be enjoyed by almost anyone as it is a side/on-shore wind with large open beach areas with very few obstacles to get in your way. A lot of kite schools are now offering downwinders multiple times a day from Prea to Jeri or Jeri to Tatajuba. These mini downwinders have vehicle support which makes for a safe enjoyable trip for kiters of all levels.
Internet/Cellular
Brazil’s Northern coastline has spotty at best cellular reception on most of the major carriers. In Jeri and the surrounding villages there is good quality reception but as you venture further west of Jeri it becomes very patchy.
If visiting, I recommend you pickup a SIM/Prepaid plan from Vivo, Claro or TIM for your device as they have pretty decent coverage. You can get one of these at the airport of any small supermarket. You will also find that many restaurants, bars and hotels have free WiFi.
No Wind? No Worries
This list could go on for some time but below are some of the things I would recommend if you find yourself without any wind during your stay in.
- Surfing – the waves are perfect for a longboard at the main Jeri beach
- SUPing – it’s a perfect place to catch small waves or just paddle about
- Sand Dunes – Waterslides, Ziplines and relaxing in hammocks over the water
- Sunset Dune – Grab a caipirinha and enjoy the sunset on the Jeri dune
Travel/Airline Tip
Getting cash in this part of Brazil can be very difficult or extremely expensive so bring cash with you or withdraw a lot from the ATM at Fortaleza airport.
Don’t forget to organise your VISA before arriving to Brazil. They have made it a lot easier now for Australians and you can do it online and they will email it to you within ~72 hours.
And as I always say with flying, I have found that if you are a One World/Star Alliance priority member and use the priority/business class lane at the airport, they tend to not charge you for your kite bag as long as it is under 23kg (50lbs).
Have I left anything out? Feel free to comment below to help others out with this kiting location. Also make sure to checkout my blog for many other reviews of kiting locations at www.ikite.surf
