Region · Ceará

Praia do Preá

The only beach in the municipality of Cruz, on the west coast of Ceará, between Jericoacoara National Park and the border with Acaraú.

See the developments

A lagoon at Vila Carnaúba, Praia do Preá

The region

Between the Park and the sea

Praia do Preá lies in the municipality of Cruz, 40 km from the town centre. Its shoreline runs for 9,854 m, of which 3,553 m are inside Jericoacoara National Park.

About 30% of the Park lies within Cruz. The municipal plan describes the village of Preá as a gateway to the Park and a way through to the village of Jericoacoara.

A former fishing village, Preá now also lives from tourism built around wind sports.

In numbers

29,761

inhabitants of Cruz, IBGE 2022 Census

335.9 km²

area of the municipality of Cruz, IBGE

9,854 m

of shoreline at Preá, 3,553 m inside the Park

30%

of the National Park lies in Cruz, approximately

Sources: IBGE, Censo 2022; Prefeitura de Cruz, Plano de Gestão Integrada da Orla (2024)

Climate

Rain and temperature through the year

There is no INMET station in Cruz or at Preá. The nearest official reference with a 1991-2020 Normal is Parnaíba, in Piauí, west of Camocim.

Month	Average rain (mm)	Average high (°C)
Jan	123.1	32.5°
Feb	173.2	31.7°
Mar	206.9	31.1°
Apr	216.7	31°
May	144.5	31.5°
Jun	51.1	32°
Jul	42.7	32.7°
Aug	4.5	34°
Sep	0.9	34.6°
Oct	2.5	34.5°
Nov	3	34.2°
Dec	27.8	33.8°

INMET, Parnaíba (PI) station 82287, Climatological Normal 1991-2020. Annual total: 996.9 mm. The Normal gives no minimum temperature for this station.

Rainy season

According to FUNCEME, Ceará's rainy season runs from February to May, with a pre-season in December and January. ICMBio describes the region's rain as concentrated from February to May, broken by sunny spells.

Wind and kitesurfing

There is no official wind measurement on the west coast. At the INMET station in Fortaleza, the only one with an official wind series in the 1991-2020 Normal, the average is highest from August to December and lowest from March to May, blowing mainly from the east.

Unofficial data: Windfinder's statistics for Jericoacoara (a private service, observations from 2005 to 2015) show a monthly average of 13 to 14.7 knots from August to November and 6 to 7 knots from April to June.

Getting there

Access by air and by road

Jericoacoara Airport

Jericoacoara Regional Airport, Comandante Ariston Pessoa (JJD), is in the municipality of Cruz, on the CE-085. Since 1 September 2026 it has been run by Fraport Brasil, the same concession holder as Fortaleza airport.

By road

From Fortaleza, take the BR-222 to Caucaia and then the CE-085 through São Gonçalo do Amarante, Paraipaba, Itapipoca, Amontada, Itarema and Acaraú: about 245 km to the town of Cruz.

At Preá

Preá is 40 km from the centre of Cruz. Most of the village streets are sand. The way to the village of Jericoacoara along the beach runs through the National Park.

Attractions

What to see

Kitesurfing and windsurfing
Schools with IKO and ABK certified instructors, and gear for hire and for sale in the village. Preá hosted a stage of the GKA Kite World Tour in November 2018.
Pedra da Sereia
A rock on Praia do Preá that forms natural pools at low tide.
Lagoa Azul
In the Lagoa da Jijoca Environmental Protection Area, between Cruz and Jijoca, and listed among the municipality's attractions.
Jericoacoara National Park
Part of the Preá shoreline is inside the Park, with access to the village of Jericoacoara along the beach.
Buggy and sailing trips
Named in the municipal plan among the village's activities.
Feast of São José
Preá's patron saint is celebrated on 19 March, with the São José Regatta.
Rota das Emoções
Preá is part of the route of about 500 km that links 14 municipalities in Ceará, Piauí and Maranhão.

Rules

Protected areas and rules

Jericoacoara National Park

A federal conservation area run by ICMBio, with boundaries set by Law 11.486/2007 in the municipalities of Jijoca de Jericoacoara and Cruz. Driving on fixed or moving dunes is forbidden in the Park.

Lagoa da Jijoca Protection Area

A state environmental protection area created by Decree 25.975 of 10 August 2000, covering 3,995.61 ha between Jijoca and Cruz and run by SEMA. Access, tourism included, follows the environmental laws.