Preá

Preá is a small fishing village 10 minutes east of Jericoacoara along the Ceará coast — sand roads, palm-thatched pousadas, and a long beach facing the equatorial South Atlantic. The village is geographically right next to Jeri but feels a generation behind in development: where Jeri has become a destination village with shops, restaurants, and a substantial kite-tourism scene, Préa has remained mostly residential and quiet. That is exactly its appeal for many returning visitors — same wind, same water, fewer kites in the air.

The wind is the Alísios — the same equatorial north-easterly trade wind that powers Jeri, Cumbuco, and the rest of the northeast Brazilian coast. The trade is reinforced by daily thermal flow from the inland sertão, building through the morning to a stable afternoon strength. At Préa the wind arrives side-cross at the main beach, smooth and clean off the open Atlantic. Strengths of 18 to 25 knots are typical in peak season (September through November); 28+ knots happens on the windier weeks.

Peak season runs August through January, the same dry-season pattern as the rest of Ceará. September, October, and November are the windiest months; August and December are slightly lighter on average but still rideable on most days. After January the trade fades and the wet season takes over (February through July), with rain, lighter wind, and a much quieter village.

Préa is two riding zones in one. The beach itself runs long and open with side-cross trade wind, small ocean chop, and plenty of room — comfortable for freeride and progression sessions. Lagoa do Préa, a short walk inland, is a shallow flat-water lagoon used by lessons and freestyle riders — quieter than Cauípe (near Cumbuco) and noticeably less crowded than Jericoacoara's main beach. Many Jeri-based riders ride a downwinder from Jeri to Préa as a half-day session, picking up transport back at the village.

Water temperature stays between 27 and 29°C year-round — no wetsuit needed, board shorts and a sun shirt are the entire kit. The equatorial sun reflects hard off the sand and water; long-sleeve UV shirts and reef-safe sunscreen make a real difference. Preá's infrastructure is modest — a handful of pousadas with on-site kite operations, a few beach restaurants, and not much else. The closest supermarket and ATMs are in Jericoacoara, 10 minutes away by buggy. Plan accordingly.

Most riders bring a 9 m² and a 12 m² to Préa. The 9 covers typical 22-knot trade days; the 12 covers lighter early-season afternoons and the start of August. Strong riders bring a 7 for the strongest October and November weeks. Préa works for every level: the lagoon is beginner-friendly, the beach gives intermediates progression space, and the downwinder routes (Jeri ↔ Préa, Préa ↔ Tatajuba) give advanced riders coastal kilometres.

February through July is the wet season. The trade wind drops, daily rain becomes common, and the village goes notably quieter as several kite operations reduce hours or close. A Préa visit in these months can still be a peaceful beach holiday but is not a kite-focused trip — the wind days are too sparse and short to deliver the experience the destination is known for.

Riders looking for nightlife, varied restaurants, or a substantial tourist scene will find Préa quiet to the point of feeling empty in the evenings. The right choice for that profile is Jeri (10 minutes east) or Cumbuco (4 hours south). Préa rewards riders who want the wind, the lagoon, and an early bedtime — set the right expectation and the spot delivers.

The Jeri-area transfer is part of the experience but adds 3 to 4 hours each way from Fortaleza. Travellers with limited holiday days will find this taxing on a short trip; plan at least 10 days on the ground to make the transfer feel proportionate. Booking a one-week trip means losing two days to transport.