Preá

About This Spot

Praia do Preá (Vila Preá, municipality of Cruz) sits just east of Jericoacoara on Ceará's north coast and is one of the most wind-reliable kite beaches on the planet. WIND: the Atlantic trade winds blow side-onshore (from the east/ESE) almost daily. High season is July–February, with steady 20–30 kt most days and frequent spikes of 30–40+ kt; afternoons build stronger than mornings. March–June is the lighter shoulder, with shorter windows where a foil or big twin-tip earns its keep. Most kiters ride 7–10 m in season. WATER: a very long, wide-open beach that is broadly flat-to-light-chop, with smoother sections during tide windows and small kickable bumps forming at sandbars, river mouths and points. It is excellent for long-distance riding, downwinders and freeride/freestyle progression rather than big-wave riding. SKILL: the constant strong wind and chop make the main beach better suited to intermediates and above; you should be comfortable on smaller kites and powered conditions. Genuine beginners are better served at the nearby flat lagoons — Guriú (mid-to-high tide) and Tatajuba/Barrinha sandbars (low tide, size varies with tide) a short drive or downwinder west. LAUNCH & ACCESS: huge open sand with plenty of room to launch and land; many schools and pousadas line the front. Access is ~4–6 hrs from Fortaleza (paved road then 4x4/buggy over sand near Jeri). HAZARDS: read the tide — shallow sandbars and shifting river mouths change the playground hour to hour; watch for current near river mouths, and the spot can get busy with schools and downwinders in peak months. No reef, but mind soft-sand launches in gusty afternoon wind. Water 26–28°C, air 28–34°C, sunny and dry in season — boardshorts/bikini riding. A classic launchpad for the Jeri-to-Atins downwind safari.