Barroquinha: Coast, Dunes and Fishing

Barroquinha is a coastal destination in the state of Ceará, with a landscape shaped by beaches, dunes and fishing traditions. The village of Bitupitá lies on the municipality’s coast; Praia de Bitupitá features stretches of light-coloured sand and rolling dunes. Barroquinha has a coastline approximately 25 kilometres long, with numerous beaches and scenic attractions. Praia de Bitupitá is also known as “Paraíso Dourado do Ceará” (Golden Paradise of Ceará). If you are looking for a holiday rental, you can first consider whether you would most like to experience the beach scenery or the fishing culture.

Beach Scenery and Viewpoints

Praia de Bitupitá combines stretches of light-coloured sand with rolling dunes and the opportunity to watch the sunset. At Farol de Bitupitá, members of the local community and tourists gather to view the region’s beaches, dunes and forests from above. An especially impressive sunset can also be seen from Praia das Curimãs.

Known as a quiet beach with cuisine typical of fishing regions and smaller, relatively simple guesthouses, Praia de Bitupitá is well suited to relaxing away from large crowds of bathers. This gives the place a different character from a beach whose appeal is primarily associated with heavy bathing activity.

Fishing as Coastal Culture

Artisanal fishing is the main economic activity of the residents of the beaches of Bitupitá and Curimã. At Bitupitá, the fishing corrals known in the region extend more than five miles out to sea from the coastal beach area. These are structures built in the sea to catch schools of fish. Praia das Curimãs also has numerous fishing stakes, or fishing corrals, and considerable potential for fishing. For travellers who want to learn about local coastal practices as well as beaches and dunes, these fishing structures offer a tangible connection to the fishing tradition.

Beach Locations with Distinctive Features

Barra dos Remédios is an important tourist destination and is considered the place where Barroquinha began. At Praia Nova, Lagoa da Praia Nova lies directly beside the beach. A canoe regatta is traditionally held there on Holy Saturday. If this event is important to your trip, check the specific event dates in advance. The lagoon and regatta give Praia Nova a different character from the fishing corrals of Bitupitá and Curimãs.

Distances and Access

Barra dos Remédios is 14 kilometres from the centre of the municipality of Barroquinha, and Praia Nova is 15 kilometres away. Praia de Bitupitá and Farol de Bitupitá are each 30 kilometres from the centre. These distances can help you choose the focus of your holiday rental: Praia Nova and Barra dos Remédios offer a different geographical focus from Bitupitá, with its beach, dunes and fishing corrals.

For road directions: Praia de Bitupitá is accessible via CE-187. BR-402 is one of the main access roads to the municipalities of Barroquinha and Chaval in Ceará; both are part of APA Delta do Parnaíba.

Discover more destinations: Mauriti, Amontada, Fortaleza, Aracoiaba, Trairi, Pacajus, Graça, Jaguaribe

For the wider travel overview: Ceará.