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Back to Carate

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Voykit pocket guide · Costa Rica

Carate

Skip Carate unless you are entering Corcovado National Park via the La Leona trailhead. One night is enough: arrive, sleep, enter the park at dawn.

Carate is a dirt-road settlement at the southern edge of Corcovado National Park, used almost exclusively as a launch point for the La Leona ranger station. There is no town centre, no bank and no supermarket. Most visitors arrive from Puerto Jiménez, spend one night and walk into the park the next morning. Without a park permit and a plan, Carate has nothing to do.

AlajuelaAtenasBijagua de UpalaBrasilitoBribriCabo MatapaloCahuitaCartagoCurridabatDominicalDrake BayEsterillosFinca SonadorGolfitoCarate100 kmdots: other places in this guide
Sketch, not to navigate by: shapes follow this guide’s areas and places, not official boundaries. North is up.
Country
Costa Rica
Best months
December–April (dry season)
Avoid
September–November (heavy rain, roads may be impassable)
Stay
1 night

Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.

Essentials

Currency
CRC
Money
Currency is the Costa Rican colón (CRC, ₡); US dollars are widely accepted in tourist areas, with change often given in colones.
Daily spend
Budget ₡25,000–40,000 excl. bed · Mid ₡40,000–70,000 excl. bed · High ₡70,000+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
SIM and data
Kölbi, Claro and Liberty sell SIMs at SJO and in towns; passport required.
Emergency
Police 911 · Fire and ambulance 911
Plugs
Types A, B · 120 V · 60 Hz · US-style plugs.
Tipping
Restaurants: 10% service is in the bill; extra optional.; Guides: US$5–10 per person per tour.; Shuttle drivers: US$2–5.
Water
Tap water is safe in most of the country, including San José; drink bottled on parts of the Caribbean coast and in remote areas.
Toilets
Western toilets; put paper in the bin in many places.

Get in

By air

PJM · Puerto Jiménez Airport
10 min flight to Carate (charter only, check availability)

Typical fares

Collectivo Puerto Jiménez → Carate
about ₡5,000–8,000, 2.5 h (check)
Taxi Puerto Jiménez → Carate
about US$60–80, 1.5 h (check)
Charter flight Puerto Jiménez → Carate
about US$100–150 per person, 10 min (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card

Get around

Walking only. The beach path to La Leona ranger station takes about 35 minutes. No taxis, no buses, no rental cars beyond the lodges' parking.

See and do

Known for

  • Gateway to Corcovado National Park (La Leona entrance)
  • Remote beach walking
  • Minimal infrastructure

Day trips

WhereHowTime
Corcovado National Park (La Leona sector)Walk along the beach, about 35 min35 min walk from Carate lodges
Puerto JiménezCollectivo (dry season) about 2.5 h, or taxi about 1.5 h1.5–2.5 h

Sleep

Beachfront lodges
A handful of ecolodges along the beach; book ahead in dry season.

Phrase card

EnglishSay or show
HelloHolaOH-lah
Thank youGraciasGRAH-see-ahs
How much?¿Cuánto?KWAN-toh
Where is the entrance?¿Dónde está la entrada?DOHN-deh es-TAH la en-TRAH-dah
I need a guideNecesito un guíaneh-seh-SEE-toh oon GEE-ah

Etiquette, safety and scams

Etiquette

  • Greeting: 'Buenas' and a handshake; cheek kiss among friends; avoid: Skipping the greeting
  • Conflict: Stay polite and indirect; avoid: Raised voices
  • Time: Be on time for tours; avoid: Expecting social events to start on time
  • Nature: Stay on trails, keep quiet; avoid: Feeding animals

Scams and watch-outs

  • No ATM, no bank, no fuel station: bring enough cash (US dollars or colones) for your stay and park fees.
  • Road from Puerto Jiménez is unpaved and can be impassable after rain; a 4x4 is essential.
  • Park entry to Corcovado is by reservation only: book your permit and guide in advance.
  • No shops worth the name: buy all food and water in Puerto Jiménez before you come.

Carate is remote but safe. The main risks are the river crossing on the access road after rain (check conditions locally) and the strong rip currents along the beach – do not swim.

One and two days

No timed day plan for Carate yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.

  • Gateway to Corcovado National Park (La Leona entrance)
  • Remote beach walking
  • Minimal infrastructure

Sources

Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.

Pocket card

Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.

Carate

A esta dirección, por favor

To this address, please

My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)

  • Police911
  • Fire and ambulance911

No cell signal in most of Carate; download maps and park info before you leave Puerto Jiménez.

Voykit · checked 2026-09

Printed from Voykit (/carate). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.