Jericoacoara Nestled in the dunes, 317 kilometers from Fortaleza and 165 kilometers before the border with the state of Piaui, is the fishing community of Jericoacoara, or Jerí as the locals call it. It is popular with both Brazilian and International travelers, crowded at weekends mid-December to mid-February, in July and during Brazilian holidays. Despite the large influx of visitors, it remains a tranquil and safe town. The native families of fishermen join the new residents, many of them owners of small hotels and restaurants, in the commitment to respectfully explore the ecological sanctuary, which luckily is still difficult to be reached. The visitor is rewarded with towering sand dunes, deserted beaches with little shade, cactus-covered cliffs rising from the sea, interesting rock formations and a pleasant atmosphere. Watching the sunset from the top of the large dune just west of town, followed by a display of capoeira on the beach, is a tradition among visitors well worth preserving. There is a forró nightly in high season, Wednesday and Saturday at other times.