Surfing Jericoacoara: The Complete Guide

Jericoacoara is a sandy-bottom beach break located in Jijoca de Jericoacoara, CE, Brazil, offering both lefts and rights along South America's vast coastline. Jericoacoara is a legendary Brazilian beach destination, a former fishing village only accessible by 4x4 across the dunes. Rated as intermediate difficulty with lightly crowded conditions, this beach break is a worthy destination for surfers looking beyond the usual suspects.

Best Conditions

Swell Direction: The ideal swell direction is NE (45°), with workable conditions from NNE to E (22°–90°). Swells outside this window will either miss the break or produce disorganized waves.

Swell Size: Jericoacoara needs a minimum of 0.9m / 3ft to start working and handles swells up to 2m / 7ft before conditions deteriorate.

Swell Period: Look for a swell period of at least 8 seconds, with 12 seconds being the sweet spot. Longer periods deliver more organized, powerful waves with better shape.

Wind: True offshore here blows from the S (180°). The full offshore range spans SE to SW (135°–225°). Glassy conditions under 4km/h from any direction also produce excellent surf. Plan for early morning dawn patrol sessions.

Tide: This spot works best at all tides.

When to Go

Primary Season: The prime window at Jericoacoara runs November, December, January, February, March (Nov–Mar). This is when swell consistency and direction align most reliably with the break.

Season Notes: N/NE swells December-March

Water Temperature: Expect water temperatures around 28°C / 82°F. Boardshorts or a thin rashguard are all you need.

Getting There

The nearest airport is FOR, approximately 5 hours by road.

Access: 4x4 only - no paved roads

Hazards & Tips

Known Hazards:

🚶 Difficult access — Long paddle or walk

4x4 access only to town

Safety Tips:

Allow extra time for the approach and factor in energy for the paddle/walk

Skill Level: This spot is rated intermediate (4/10). Crowd Level: Typically lightly crowded (4/10).

Check the Live Forecast

Planning a session at Jericoacoara? Check the live forecast on Strike Mission to see today's conditions and the 10-day outlook. Our Strike Score algorithm rates this spot from 0 to 100 every day, factoring in swell direction, size, period, wind, and tide — so you know exactly when to paddle out.

Don't leave your next surf trip to chance. Let the data tell you when Jericoacoara is firing.

*Conditions data sourced from Strike Mission's verified spot database.*