After the Maratona Internacional de Fortaleza: Jericoacoara
The Route: Fortaleza → Jijoca de Jericoacoara → Jericoacoara → Fortaleza → Fortaleza Airport (FOR) Logistics: Bus, shared shuttle or private transfer from Fortaleza, then a 4x4 from Jijoca to the village. Marathon Month: April Duration: 2 nights
Fortaleza ──(about 5 to 6 hrs by road)──> Jijoca de Jericoacoara ──(4x4 over sand)──> Jericoacoara
Jericoacoara ──(4x4, then road)──> Fortaleza ──(transfer)──> Fortaleza Airport (FOR)
Jericoacoara, "Jeri" to everyone who has been, is a village of sand streets inside a protected area on Ceará's western coast. Cars do not drive in. You leave the road at Jijoca de Jericoacoara and a 4x4 takes you across the dunes for the last stretch to the village. Travel guides give the road distance from Fortaleza in several different figures, so plan by time instead: published journey times run from about 4 hours 30 minutes by rental car to about 5 hours 30 minutes by shared shuttle or private transfer and 5 hours 30 minutes to 6 hours by bus.
April in Jericoacoara: this is part of Ceará's wet season. Rain arrives in heavy bursts, the sand is wetter and the days can be grey for hours. The high seasons are June to August and December to January, which means April is quieter and easier to book. Wind sports have their best conditions later in the year, with kitesurfing at its peak from July to November, so do not plan the trip around them.
Getting There
The operator Girafatur sells the outward trip and the return on different days, which fits a two-night stay and means your luggage goes with you instead of waiting in a hotel store room. Confirm the pick-up from your Fortaleza hotel, the vehicle change at Jijoca, the walk from the drop-off point to your accommodation and the luggage limit before you pay. Buses run to Jijoca de Jericoacoara from the Fortaleza bus terminal with several daily departures. Shared shuttles leave in the morning. A private transfer costs far more and suits people with a lot of luggage. Leave on the Monday, not the Sunday, and sleep as much as you can on the way.
Sitting in a vehicle for five or six hours the day after a marathon will stiffen the legs. Ask to stop at least once and walk around for a few minutes.
Night One: Arrival and the Village
The village streets are sand. That is the central fact for a runner with a sore body. A short flat walk on soft sand works the calves and Achilles tendons more than tarmac does, so keep the first evening to the main street and the beach edge, not a hike to a viewpoint. Restaurants and bars line the lanes, and pousadas range from basic to comfortable. Choose one within a short walk of the 4x4 drop-off, and ask whether your room has a fan or air conditioning.
Day Two: One Quiet Day
With two nights, you get one full day without another intercity journey. The local classic is the sunset from the large dune at the edge of the village, a soft-sand climb that is steep and slow and hard on freshly marathoned quadriceps. Walk the lower slope if you want to see it, or watch from the beach, and save the full climb for a future trip.
Local excursions are mostly by buggy or 4x4. Tatajuba and Lagoa Azul, for example, can only be reached by dune buggy, and a buggy with a driver is sold by the vehicle, seating up to four. The ride is bumpy. Ask for a driver who will go gently and book a short route. Water levels in the lagoons depend on the rains, and April is often well supplied, but conditions vary, so ask your pousada what is open.
Getting Home
On the third morning, take the 4x4 back to Jijoca and the road to Fortaleza, using the return service you booked. Allow the full five to six hours plus city traffic, and do not book a flight on the same afternoon. Pinto Martins International Airport (FOR) is the departure airport. A small airport near Jericoacoara, JJD, exists, but flights are limited and often dearer, so most visitors fly from FOR.