THE LURE
GOOD FOR:
Turning your phone off and indulging in the strong winds that blow almost everyday of the season
With strong wind almost everyday during the season, Preá somewhere you can disconnect from it all - a quiet fishing village located just inside the entrance of the beautiful Jericoacoara National Park with pumping conditions.
The most reliable kite spot in this 15 mile section of coast, there are mile after mile of empty beaches with daily 25-knot cross / cross-onshore winds, with July to January being the best months.
Photos: Rancho de Peixe and Analice Diniz
THE SET-UP
Fourteen kilometres of sandy beaches present an endless riding area with strong winds blowing cross-onshore for much of the year. Now a regular location on the GKA Kite World Tour in front of Rancho do Peixe, this is where Airton Cozzolino landed the world-first strapless boogie loop. Google it!
Despite the high winds in Preá, the wind isn’t gusty so any level of kiter can ride and progress. In the calmer winds the water is flatter in the morning and then choppier with more waves to hit in the afternoon as the wind builds. Although popular during the high season, there’s still lots of space and the beach is enormous with no obstacles, so downwinders are a must.
Just a 20 minute beach buggy ride from Jericoacoara, the kiting conditions in Preá are steadier and less punchy, so many people make the daily trip from Jeri to Preá. You can also downwind back to Jeri at the end of a full day’s kiting. There are other spots further along the coast, like Tatajuba, which is a 40 kilometre buggy ride away (with a small ferry crossing).
Of course operators like Surfin Sem Fim and Freeride Kitesurf run downwinders in the area and Preá to Tatajuba is one of their cruisiest routes over a couple of days.
Sunset in Prea / Photo: Analice Diniz
Sebastian Ribeiro on a Surfin Sem Fim downwinder / Photo: Analice Diniz
Photo: Rancho de Peixe
WIND, WEATHER & WATER
Preá's season runs from July to January with the best conditions from August to November. During that time it averages 25 knots and above from the east or northeast and air temperatures hover around 27 - 30°C / 82 - 86°F throughout the season. The wind is strong here, so you might feel a little windchill at night when some light layers can be worth having. Water temperature is 25 – 28°C / 77 - 82°F throughout the year so there's no need for neoprene.
Slash the lip!
PHOTO: Eliseu Souza
Inverted in Prea
SCHOOL
RANCHO DO KITE teach all levels with IKO instructors using bluetooth headsets for easy communication in English, Spanish, Italian and French.
www.ranchodokite.com.br
info@ranchodokite.com.br
WINDSPIRIT PREA teach all levels and use radio helmets for seamless communication between student and instructor. They're a Duotone Pro Centre, so are stocked with the latest Duotone and ION gear which is also available to hire or buy. They also organise coaching clinics and downwind trips!
Languages: English, Spanish and Portuguese.
www.windspiritkite.com
windspiritkite@gmail.com
ACCOMMODATION
Preá maintains an intimate, small village feel, but you’re just a cheap taxi away from the busier Jericoacoara (good for nightlife). You can stay right next to the beach in Preá in everything from luxurious hotels to locally owned guesthouses, pousadas or rental properties. Rancho do Peixe is on the luxurious end of the spectrum and has 26 bungalows -– with 14 of them located on the sand of the beach – and a built-in kite school, Rancho do Kite, with professional support to help you get the most out of your stay.
RANCHO DO PEIXE offer chic-boutique luxury throughout their grounds with great cuisine right on the beachfront and luxury individual bungalows.
www.ranchodopeixe.com.br
reservas@ranchodopeixe.com.br
TRAVEL AGENTS
KITEWORLDWIDE specialize in delivering extraordinary kitesurf holidays to exotic destinations while avoiding the tourist traps.
www.kiteworldwide.com
info@kiteworldwide.com
Planet Kitesurf Holidays specialise in luxury tailor‐made kitesurf holidays worldwide. Through its team of highly experienced kitesurf travel professionals, the company offers expert impartial advice, backed up by full ATOL and TTA financial protection. Planet Kitesurf belongs to the Planet Travel group, a market leader in active holidays since 2000.
www.planetkitesurfholidays.com
info@planettravelholidays.com
Surfin Sem Fim - If you want to experience Brazil at its best, and enjoy a unique, world-class kitesurfing adventure along some of the most beautiful coast lines in the world, the Surfin Sem Fim team have got you covered. Sign up for an unforgettable immersion in wind, water, nature, beauty, adventure, and physical challenge in the best of Brazil!
www.surfinsemfim.com.br
contact@surfinsemfim.com.br
Freeride Kitesurf specialise in organising unique downwind adventures and tailor-made trips along the coasts of Brazil and South Africa. Booking a trip with them is a guarantee of adventure, discovering unspoilt and uncrowded spots with unbeatable conditions for kitesurfing. Every detail of the trip is taken care of by a professional team with huge local expertise.
www.freeridekitesurf.com
contact@freeridekitesurf.com
NO WIND
The wind is basically non-stop in season, but if you get a rare day off then there’s plenty to do. 30 metre high dunes surround the town are ripe for exploring with picturesque lagoons dotted between them. You can also get spa treatments, go horse riding, SUPing, kayaking, sailing or just relax on the beach or by the pool.
GET AROUND
Being a small village, Preá is easy to walk around, but if you want to get a rental car then go for a 4x4 or beach buggy because much of the time you'll be driving on sand. There are many convenient sand-equipped taxis / buggies. Crime isn't really a concern in Preá and it feels very removed from some of the busier parts of Brazil. It doesn’t have Jeri’s party scene, but that makes it awesome for a relaxing break and you can eat great food, relax and shut-off from the outside world for a while.
The closest cities are Cruz and Jijoca de Jericoacoara, should you need anything unusual, but most things are available in Prea and particularly, Jericoacoara. Prea is a small, peaceful fishing village, so you won’t experience any bigger city problems.
There’s no ATM in the village, the nearest is in Jeri but most hotels and restaurants accept credit and debit cards and some places also accept US dollars. It's a good idea to take Brazilian Reals with you.
CURRENCY
BrazilianReais(R$)-£1=R$4/€1=R$3/US$ =R$2.6
The villages do not have ATMs, so bring cash with you. Most hotels and restaurants (including Vila Kalango, Rancho do Peixe and Rancho do Kite) accept credit and debit cards.
FOOD & DRINK
Preá has a few shops where you can get the basics / essentials, but you’ll find more in the nearby towns / small cities of Cruz and Jijoca de Jericoacoara, which are around half-an-hour away. There are some great restaurants around the village, including a pizza joint and some fantastic seafood dishes. There's no raucous nightlife but Jeri has plenty going on after dark and it's easy to get there by taxi.
AIRPORT
Fortaleza (FOR) is approximately four hours by car. Rancho do Peixe offer 4x4 vehicles for private transfers. The first 300 kilometres are tarmacked, after that the roads are very rutted. We did manage it in a little hire car, but it was very bumpy for the last 30 minutes and without a 4x4 we couldn’t drive in to Jericoacoara, however we did make it to Rancho do Peixe in Prea. If you’re planning on just moving between Prea and Jericoacoara, there isn’t really any need to hire a car. For the fit and adventurous you can of course reach Jeri from Fortaleza on a huge downwinder! You’ll arrive at Rancho do Peixe in neighbouring Prea with total assistance all the way. Taking three to four days with guides on the water and 4x4 on land, you’ll stay over-night in exclusive hotels. Check out: www.surfinsemfim.com.br
TRAVEL AGENTS
KITEWORLDWIDE specialize in delivering extraordinary kitesurf holidays to exotic destinations while avoiding the tourist traps.
www.kiteworldwide.com
info@kiteworldwide.com
Planet Kitesurf Holidays specialise in luxury tailor‐made kitesurf holidays worldwide. Through its team of highly experienced kitesurf travel professionals, the company offers expert impartial advice, backed up by full ATOL and TTA financial protection. Planet Kitesurf belongs to the Planet Travel group, a market leader in active holidays since 2000.
www.planetkitesurfholidays.com
info@planettravelholidays.com
Surfin Sem Fim - If you want to experience Brazil at its best, and enjoy a unique, world-class kitesurfing adventure along some of the most beautiful coast lines in the world, the Surfin Sem Fim team have got you covered. Sign up for an unforgettable immersion in wind, water, nature, beauty, adventure, and physical challenge in the best of Brazil!
www.surfinsemfim.com.br
contact@surfinsemfim.com.br
Freeride Kitesurf specialise in organising unique downwind adventures and tailor-made trips along the coasts of Brazil and South Africa. Booking a trip with them is a guarantee of adventure, discovering unspoilt and uncrowded spots with unbeatable conditions for kitesurfing. Every detail of the trip is taken care of by a professional team with huge local expertise.
www.freeridekitesurf.com
contact@freeridekitesurf.com