Carate Beach, Costa Rica, may sound like it’s populated by a hundred little Mr. Miyagis, but really Playa Carate (like “karate”) is a beautiful spot on the Osa Peninsula.

Playa Carate is known for its surf. It also backs up to the magnificent Corcovado National Park. The beach is located in the province of Puntarenas, Costa Rica next to the stunning Laguna Pejeperrito. The dark sand of Playa Carate is mostly unknown except for to a fortunate few who frequent this location opposite the Gulf of Sweetness (Golfito Dulce).

The Laguna Pejeperrito would be great place from which to explore in either a paddle board or an Oru Kayak. The surf is pretty consistent at the beach, as well, but make sure to wear some protective gear as there a number of rocky patches. Look here to see how the surf is from day to day.

The Osa Peninsula has been described as the most biologically diverse on the planet by National Geographic, and the Corcovado National Park is a place where nature seekers come with great regularity. You can find at least a dozen different adventures to partake of here. The park is 164 square miles, and filled with so many different species of flora and fauna that you probably wouldn’t be able to see them all within one lifetime.

With the park, the sea and the Laguna in mind you should be sure to plan ahead. A short packing list of things you might need would be hiking gear, a compass and map (it is likely that GPS won’t work here), a surfboard, a camera, a water bottle and sun block. The national park is not easily accessible and contains no roads, so keeping this in mind you’ll have to bring things you feel will benefit you the most.

The beach has a few lodgings where you can find rooms and help with touring the area. These hotels include Laguna Vista Villas, Finca Exotic Eco Lodge, Lapa Rios Eco Lodge and Iguana Lodge & Spa Beach Resort. Getting to Carate and the hotels may not be the least bumpy venture you might undertake. The estimated times of travel could be double with unpaved dirt roads, and may not be possible in the wet season from September to November.

From San Jose Playa Carate is six hours and eleven minutes away. Daniel Oduber Quiros International Airport in Liberia, Costa Rica is about nine hours from Playa Carate, and Juan Santamaria International Airport in Alajuela, Costa Rica is about seven and half hours from the beach town. Carate can be reached by flight through the nearby city of Puerto Jimenez and the domestic airlines of Nature Air or Sansa Air.

Location: Carate Beach
Items to bring: hiking gear, a compass and map, a surfboard, a camera, a water bottle and sun block
Distance from San Jose: 6 hrs 11 mins
Distance from Liberia: 8 hrs 57 mins
Hotels nearby: Laguna Vista Villas, Finca Exotic Eco Lodge, Lapa Rios Eco Lodge, Iguana Lodge & Spa Beach Resort
Ways to get here: private shuttle, plane, rental car (ATV preferably)