The main beach at Jericoacoara faces north into the Atlantic trade winds — which is why kitesurfers love it and sunbathers sometimes find it more energetic than expected. The beach is wide, sandy, and backed by the main street of the village. Fishing boats work from one end; kite schools and rental operations occupy the middle; and the Pedra Furada end is rockier and wilder. At low tide the beach extends far enough to play football, which happens most evenings.
The beach is car-free — one of the main streets runs along it but only on donkey-back, horse, or foot. This gives the whole seafront a quality of open, undeveloped space that is rare in popular Brazilian beach towns. The water is warm year-round (around 27°C), and while the waves can be strong during wind season, the sheltered sections near the eastern headland are swimmable in all but the most extreme conditions.