Piauí is not made only of Barra Grande!

Ok, we chose Barra Grande as the perfect place to build Terra Patris, but we canm't deny that Piauí has many other beautiful places. The coast is small, but there are lot of places to go!

With some disposition and a car (or a bike, if you enjoy sports) it is possible to know another piece of the coast with a little time.

Only 8 km separate Barra Grande and Cajueiro da Praia!

Cajueiro da Praia

We choose to start with Cajueiro da Praia, the city which Barra Grande is part of. Yes, there are a lot of people that think that Barra Grande is a city, but actually it is the last beach of the town.

Cajueiro da Praia has another 5 beaches that are worth the visit!

From Barra Grande to Cajueiro

Starting the road trip from Barra Grande, take the road to Barrinha, a rustic stone road that goes parallel to the beach until you reach Cajueiro, passing by all the other beaches from the town. As you only have 8 km of road ahead, be prepared to gorgeous views.

Barrinha

Just on the first kilometers, the road will pass over the São Miguel river, that divides the beaches of Barra Grande and Barrinha. There, the natives nurse oysters in the crystal clear water.It is possible to see where the small river meets the ocean from the bridge, depending on the tide's condition. Tha village of Barrinha is hometown for many natives, so it has its own local and rustic architecture style, with many colorful houses (some of them hand painted by a local artist). The beach has a lot of rocks, so you should be aware when entering the ocean, for swimming or kitesurfing. On the other hand, it is a really nice beach to have a walk. There are some restaurants and beach tents.

Ponta do Sardim

Following the road, just after the Barrinha village, you will see one of the most beautiful views from the coast: the beach of Ponta do Sardim. Coconut trees, white sand and green colored sea. Do you need anything else to call it a paradise?

It only gets better: the place is unknown and always deserted, besides its easy access. You can stay there the whole day and don't see anyone (perhaps one fisherman). All this quietness is because there are no beach tents, just private houses, that are normally occupied only during the weekends. If you decide to stay the day, take some water and snacks with you. From here, you can also walk or bike on the beach (mainly on low tide), until you get to the town of Cajueiro.

Morro Branco

For the ones who decide to take the road back, the next beach is Morro Branco, named like this due to the white dunes on the other side of the road. On this beach there is also a cemetery in front of the sea. It may sound weird but when you feel the peace and tranquility of this place, it will change your opinion.

Cajueiro da Praia

The end of the rock road is the city of Cajueiro da Praia. On the roundabout, following to your right, the road will take you directly to Parnaíba. But you should turn left: there are still more places to know in the city!

Now the road will be inside of the town: lots of local's houses, small stores, health care, the municipality. You can have an idea how the locals live, calmly in the town, with their chair in front of their house, just watching the people passing by.

Cajueiro beach is left to to the main road, any of the streets to you left will lead you there. A simple and rustic beach, with a lot of fisherman and their boats by the sea. Coconut trees and darker sand are the frame of this tranquil beach.

On the edge of the beach, by the small cliff, you can see the Research Center of the Manatees, an Ibama project to protect these animals that are under threat of extinction. It is also possible to go along with the researchers in one of their visits to the Manatee Observation tower, but it is necessary to talk to them in advance. There is also another tour (paid) where you can possibly see a manatee, but it always require some luck!

Itam

If you choose to walk, take the Trilha do Barbaço, path that you take to the last beach of Cajueiro, Itam. The beach is in front of the Timonha River, dividing the states of Ceará and Piauí. Itam is also a fisherman beach, of coarse sand and lots of shells.

If you don't want to walk, you can always access the Itam beach by the road. Just follow the road close to the Manatee Research Center, until the signs to Itam and The Cajueiro Rei, the biggest cashew tree of the world. You should also make a stop there!

After all this Cajueiro tour, it is time to return to Barra Grande. Depending on how long you decide to stay in each beach, you will take around 1 hour to do this complete tour.

 (*) Want more? Follow www.praiasdopiaui.com.br/en para pictures, videos and more tips from the coast!

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