The name Jericoacoara was created by some old fishermen one day, when on their way back from a day on the ocean saw an alligator sunbathing on a big dune, or maybe the dune looked like an alligator laying by the sea. Just depends on who tells the tale to you. Coarar is a variation of the verb "quarar" which means to sit under the sun and jacaré means alligator. Combining these two names gives Jericoacoara.

          Jeri, as it is affectionately called, sits 203 miles from the Statue of Iracema in downtown Fortaleza. We fondly consider it as the western jewel of the state of Ceara Brazil.. Although it has been praised in Brazil and abroad, it is exceedingly hard to do it justice in words.
          Typical of the Cearán coast, Jeri was little known even by its own people as late as the 70's. Not until March 1987, when the Washington Post published an article naming Jeri as one of the ten most beautiful beaches in the world did the world discover it. Europeans and Americans pioneered the Jeri trail and were only later followed by Brazilians. The town now contains an excellent tourist structure replete with good, but simple inns, restaurants and bars.
          The pavement ends some 45 minutes from Jeri and the dunes begin at the edge of Lagoa de Gijoca, aka Paradise Lake. When the dirt road turns to sand, you'll be in an eye popping expanse of dunes that is large enough to get thoroughly lost in. However, far from being intimidating though, it is a place to be cherished and protected.
          When the way turns to pure sand, you'll be transported over the ever-changing dunes in 4wd trucks or in dune buggies by experienced guides that know the way, even as it changes due to the ever shifting sand.
           Jeri is located in an APA or Ambiental Protection Area, which is an environmentally protected area. Because of this, paved roads are not allowed on the dunes, which live between the end of the highway and Jeri. Of course, the other reason there is no paved path, is that the path is constantly changing as is the nature of dunes in general.
          After your exciting trip over the sands, you arrive in the little town of Jeri. If you are staying there you will most likely stay in an inn, or pousada, which is a small hotel, comfortable, but simple. Behind you, the dunes that were a bright white during the day are almost golden as the sun sinks low. In front, an unbelievable range of colors, from the lightest blue to emerald green makes up your ocean view.
          Daytime in Jeri offers many diversions, and an easy life style that make your vacation a real winner. There are scores of entrepreneurs in dune buggies offering rides to outlying beaches such as the Lagoa do Paraíso (Paradise Lagoon) or to the village of Nova Tatajuba (New Tatajuba). Old Tatajuba lies buried at the bottom of the marching dunes. There you will see pigs, sheep and "jegues" a kind of donkey being raised free.
          On the way, you will cross fantastic dunes, take a hand powered ferry, ride along the coast, ever keeping in mind the tides, and skirt the thick forests. There aren't many villagers this far out, but they are very friendly, as you have come to expect, and all the children wave. It's nearly impossible to describe the wonderful, and romantic experiences that await you on this, our western most tour. To venture further than Nova Tatajuba takes a person with a bit of adventure in the soul, but the extra effort is well worth it, because the scenery is like nothing else on earth. It is much like Jeri of the 70's.
          In 1996, the only store owner in Nova Tatajuba marveled when he totaled up his visits for the year. Twenty. Some people who have been there consider the beaches of New Tatajuba far more beautiful than even Jeri. Even further down the beach, the fabled and virtually unknown beach of Bitupita awaits the most curious. Its shores washed by five rivers, Timonha, Ubatuba, Carapina, Camelo, and Chapada, it is an adventure worth the trouble. When you get this far along you will have to spend your evenings with the local fishermen as there aren’t any lodgings. Nature as you have never even dreamed awaits the adventurer here.
          While in Jeri, you will make the pilgrimage to the signature sight of known as  Pedra Furada (Stone with a hole) which rests on the beach. You can see it in the picture above, center top. It's about 20 feet high. You can view it from atop the high dune above it, or walk down to see it close up. Just be warned that as in those desert movies, getting to the bottom of a dune is much easier than going back to the top.
          You'll finish the day with the setting sun. Many climb up on top of a nearby dune called the "Dunas do Sol" or Dune of the Sun, to watch the last rays. 
          The streets of Jeri will never be paved, as the sand tends to reclaim as time goes by. But, for now, it is a dream within reach, a place of romance and adventure, where the old meets the new in delightful ways. You may have thought that the days of discovery were long past but Jeri proves that there is always one more horizon. Just civilized enough for comfort, and wild enough to provide the heart with memories and joy enough to last a lifetime. Jeri is a place that has defied the best writers of our time to explain properly. It is a place that must be experienced. Jeri is a place of great romance. Ultra romance.

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