On the coast of Parque Nacional de Jericoacoara, beaches, dunes and water sports take center stage; at Parque Nacional de Ubajara, caves, forests and hiking trails shape the natural experience. Ceará also offers historic townscapes and cultural traditions in other places. If you’re planning a trip, it helps to decide on your main focus first: would you like to spend time on the coast, explore a cave and forest trails, or discover the cities’ culture and architecture?
Jericoacoara: Beaches, Dunes and Water Sports
Parque Nacional de Jericoacoara is located on the coast of Ceará, between the municipalities of Jijoca de Jericoacoara and Cruz. Established in 2002, the protected park covers about 8,800 hectares of protected coastal ecosystems. Its beaches range from busy stretches to more secluded areas; some are suitable for water sports. Windsurfing, kitesurfing, surfing and stand-up paddleboarding are practiced in the park. Walking along the beaches and through the shifting dune fields is also possible.
Excursions from Vila de Jericoacoara lead to Serrote, Pedra Furada and Árvore da Preguiça. Pedra Furada is a rock formation shaped by the erosion of the waves. Another option is to canoe through the mangroves of the Rio Guriú, where visitors can observe seahorses (Hippocampus reidi). From Duna do Pôr do Sol, visitors watch the sun set directly over the sea.
Two details are useful when planning your arrival: Aeroporto Regional de Jericoacoara (JJJ) is in the municipality of Cruz, about 30 kilometers from Vila de Jericoacoara. The final stretch to Parque Nacional de Jericoacoara must be traveled on sandy roads in a 4x4 vehicle.
The Rota das Falésias on the eastern coast
The Ceará section of the Rota das Falésias covers eight cities and 215 kilometers along the eastern coast, known as the Costa do Sol Nascente. The landscapes described along the route include colorful cliffs, white dunes and wide beaches with warm, greenish water. This gives the route a distinctive coastal perspective alongside the beaches and dunes of Parque Nacional de Jericoacoara.
Handicrafts also define this stretch of the route: artisans use sand in different colors from the cliffs to create landscapes inside glass bottles. This craft is considered a characteristic feature of the Ceará section of the Rota das Falésias.
City History and Culture
Aracati retains an urban layout dating back to the 18th century. The city has more than 2,500 buildings, including mansions and churches whose design is distinguished by Portuguese azulejos. In Fortaleza, Centro Dragão do Mar de Arte e Cultura includes a planetarium and museums.
In Barbalha, the festivities of Festa do Pau da Bandeira are recognized as intangible cultural heritage of the state of Ceará. Festa do Pau da Bandeira de Santo Antônio is a tradition encompassing memory, identity and Brazil’s social development. For a different kind of outing, Beach Park in Aquiraz offers attractions for all age groups.
Ubajara: Caves, Forest and Trails
Parque Nacional de Ubajara extends across areas of the municipalities of Ubajara, Tianguá and Frecheirinha. Covering 6,299 hectares, it protects a transition zone between the Caatinga and the Atlantic rainforest. Gruta de Ubajara is 1,120 meters long in total, with about 450 meters open to visitors. Visitors must be accompanied throughout their visit to the cave by a guide accredited by Parque Nacional de Ubajara. From Centro de Visitantes, Gruta can only be reached by cable car; the same cable car is used for both the outward and return journeys.
Bondinho de Ubajara offers a panoramic ride over the Atlantic rainforest, with views of the valleys, caves and natural landscapes of Ceará. Advance reservations are mandatory for Bondinho, including for visitors to Trilha Ubajara–Araticum. Check the official reservation page when planning your visit.
The park’s trails vary in their themes and features. Trilha da Samambaia passes through humid forest along a well-marked route with boardwalks, bridges, shelters and viewpoints. Circuito das Cachoeiras leads to Cachoeira do Cafundó, a waterfall about 72 meters high with a natural pool suitable for swimming. Trilha Ubajara–Araticum is a centuries-old route of moderate to high difficulty. Trilha Cara Suja – Bike has both a section reserved exclusively for cyclists and a section shared by hikers and cyclists.
When choosing a hotel, your main travel interest is a useful starting point: tailor your search to whether you’re most interested in coastal activities, cave and forest trails, or city history and culture. This can help you first choose the destination that best fits your trip.
More destinations
Discover more destinations: Fortaleza, Jijoca De Jericoacoara, Caucaia, Beberibe, Aquiraz, Trairi, Aracati, Itapipoca, Taíba, Icó, Amontada, Camocim, Maranguape, Flamengo, Acaraú, Cascavel, Fortim, Pacatuba, Icapuí, Juazeiro Do Norte, Mundaú, Horizonte, Quixadá, Sobral, Barbalha, Maracanaú, José Rodrigues, Paraipaba, Crato, Itarema, Paracuru, Ubajara, Baturité, Guaramiranga, Costas, Baixio, Brejo Santo, Redonda, São Gonçalo Do Amarante, São Benedito, Pindoretama, Redenção, Uruburetama, Guaraciaba Do Norte, Guajiru, Aratuba, Preá, Baleia, Santa Tereza, Barreira, Viçosa Do Ceará, Eusébio, Boa Viagem, Espinho, Tianguá, Canindé, Ibicuitinga, Morada Nova, Icarai, Mulungu, Hidrolândia, Cruz, Retiro Grande, Acarape, Amontada, Barroquinha, Aurora, Aracoiaba, Porteiras, Pacajus, Jaguaribe, Jaguaruana, Mauriti, Nova Russas, Trairi, São Gonçalo do Amarante, Itarema, Pedra Branca, Solonópole, Barroquinha, Graça, Fortaleza, Caucaia.
For the broader travel overview: Brazil.
