What size does Carate work best at?

2–6 ft is the working range. Below that it goes flat; above, it stops being fun and the lineup thins out.

When is the best season to surf Carate?

Peak season runs through the months when the swell window aligns and trade winds blow offshore. See the month strip in Wave fit for the working window.

What swell direction does Carate need?

Carate works on a s - w groundswell with north easterly winds.

What are the main hazards?

no concerns. Reef booties are common at reef breaks; check tide and crowd conditions before paddling out.

What type of wave is Carate?

Carate is a a-frame breaking wave over beach. Short shifty beachbreak peaks near rivermouth.

Golfito, South Costa Rica, Costa Rica

Carate

8.396, -83.340

Edited by Thomas Jackson

Verified May 2026

Cross-referencedCross-checked against 1 reference

A-frame · BeachBeginner → Intermediate2–6 ftApr – Oct

A fallback beachbreak at the doorstep of Corcovado National Park, Carate picks up S and W swells onto exposed sandbanks near a rivermouth when most spots in the Matapalo area go flat. Offshore winds come from the NE, and the wave works across all tides in the 2-6ft range, though it rarely delivers anything memorable. Beginners and intermediate surfers looking for any rideable wave in a flat spell will find it functional rather than inspiring, and the lineup is almost always empty. Bottom: sand. Season: S and W swell windows, typically southern hemisphere winter pulses. Consistency: medium. Be aware that rain-swollen river runoff muddies the water and is known to attract sharks, so surf with caution after heavy rainfall and avoid dawn sessions when visibility is low near the rivermouth.

Wave fit

Skill suited

Beginner → Intermediate

BegIntAdv

Best months

Apr – Oct

Character

Short shifty beachbreak peaks near rivermouth.

Conditions

When it works

Swell window

S - W

Offshore wind

North easterly

Optimum tide

All tides

Size range

2-6ft

Medium

Hazards

No concerns

Trip planning

Quick facts

Wetsuit

Boardies

What to bring

Longboard or funboard for small days
Mid-length 7ft to 8ft for flexibility on shifting banks

Lineup

Mellow lineup

Where it sits

Location

Loading map...

About this break

What it's actually like

Crowd Access Nearby Alternatives

Crowd & Localism

The crowd is almost nonexistent. Remoteness and difficult access keep most surfers away, and there is no localism pressure to speak of. You will likely have the water to yourself, which is the main draw.

Access & Facilities

Carate sits at the end of a long, rough 4x4 dirt track from Puerto Jimenez. Swollen rivers can cut off access entirely after heavy rain, which is common in this region. Parking is restricted and there are zero facilities on site. Bring all food, water, and first aid. The track into this area services the Corcovado park entrance, so timing arrival around river levels is essential.

Nearby Alternatives

If Carate is too messy or too small, the Cabo Matapalo area offers Pan Dulce, a Rincon-style right point that turns on in a decent S swell, plus Backwash and the cobblestone left points nearby. Punta Banco to the south adds beachbreak peaks flanked by reefbreaks for more variety when the swell has size.

10-day swell, wind and tide