Jijoca de Jericoacoara
Encyclopedia
Jericoacoara is a virgin beach hidden behind the dunes of the west coast of Jijoca de Jericoacoara
, Ceará
, Brazil
. Selected by the The Washington Post
as one of the Top 10 most beautiful beaches in the world, nicknamed Jeri, consists of blue lagoons, calm seas and huge dunes.
", kûara means "lair, hole").
in 2002. As a result, many restrictions for building and tourism were introduced to help preserve the area.
The distance to bigger cities and limited road access also helped keeping 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 lights was provided only by the moon and the stars. After the Washington Post selection was published, tourism grew rapidly and the beach village became a popular destination. Electricity arrived in the village in 1998 and today a hot shower and air conditioning are no longer luxuries. However, since the illumination of the streets is forbidden by local law, street lights are still provided by the moon and the stars.
to Jericoacoara presents beaches and rustic villages. The last 45 minutes of the journey takes place off-road, "on-sand", among dunes and along a beach.
The village has streets covered in sand from the dunes by the sea. Jericoacoara is a popular spot for windsurfing and sailing.
Jericoacoara is one of several places in Brazil from where you can see the sun sink into the ocean. This show is often viewed by many, both visitors and locals, from the tall "Sunset dune" just next to the village.
Jijoca de Jericoacoara
Jericoacoara is a virgin beach hidden behind the dunes of the west coast of Jijoca de Jericoacoara, Ceará, Brazil. Selected by the The Washington Post as one of the Top 10 most beautiful beaches in the world, nicknamed Jeri, consists of blue lagoons, calm seas and huge dunes.- Etymology :The name...
, Ceará
Ceará
Ceará is one of the 27 states of Brazil, located in the northeastern part of the country, on the Atlantic coast. It is currently the 8th largest Brazilian State by population and the 17th by area. It is also one of the main touristic destinations in Brazil. The state capital is the city of...
, Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
. Selected by the The Washington Post
The Washington Post
The Washington Post is Washington, D.C.'s largest newspaper and its oldest still-existing paper, founded in 1877. Located in the capital of the United States, The Post has a particular emphasis on national politics. D.C., Maryland, and Virginia editions are printed for daily circulation...
as one of the Top 10 most beautiful beaches in the world, nicknamed Jeri, consists of blue lagoons, calm seas and huge dunes.
Etymology
The name "Jericoaquara" comes from the tupi language and means "lair of the turtles" (îurukûá means "sea turtleSea turtle
Sea turtles are marine reptiles that inhabit all of the world's oceans except the Arctic.-Distribution:...
", kûara means "lair, hole").
History
In 1984, the area around Jericoacoara was declared an Environmental Protection Area. It became a national parkJericoacoara National Park
Jericoacoara National Park is a national park of Brazil, located in the municipality of Jijoca de Jericoacoara, state of Ceará. On its seashore is located the famous beach of Jericoacoara.- About Jericoacoara :...
in 2002. As a result, many restrictions for building and tourism were introduced to help preserve the area.
The distance to bigger cities and limited road access also helped keeping 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 lights was provided only by the moon and the stars. After the Washington Post selection was published, tourism grew rapidly and the beach village became a popular destination. Electricity arrived in the village in 1998 and today a hot shower and air conditioning are no longer luxuries. However, since the illumination of the streets is forbidden by local law, street lights are still provided by the moon and the stars.
Characteristics
Getting to Jeri can still be challenging. The road from FortalezaFortaleza
Fortaleza is the state capital of Ceará, located in Northeastern Brazil. With a population close to 2.5 million , Fortaleza is the 5th largest city in Brazil. It has an area of and one of the highest demographic densities in the country...
to Jericoacoara presents beaches and rustic villages. The last 45 minutes of the journey takes place off-road, "on-sand", among dunes and along a beach.
The village has streets covered in sand from the dunes by the sea. Jericoacoara is a popular spot for windsurfing and sailing.
Jericoacoara is one of several places in Brazil from where you can see the sun sink into the ocean. This show is often viewed by many, both visitors and locals, from the tall "Sunset dune" just next to the village.