Quatro Casas

Quatro Casas is a right-hand reef and point break that holds waves for extended stretches, typically 50 to 100 meters, with a bottom of rock and sand. It performs best during summer on south swell and in winter on northwest swells, particularly with northeast offshore winds that are sheltered by the coastal bluff; kelp beds in the water also help maintain clean faces. The reef works across the tidal range, though lower and medium tides are preferred, and the break suits intermediate surfers looking for consistent, playful conditions rather than serious power.

The site has been surfed since the 1960s and developed into an established destination for beach camping on the bluffs above the break. The Campo Cuatro Casas hostel, which opened in 1998, established permanent infrastructure including The Showbowl, a dedicated concrete skate park, making it a dual-sport retreat rather than a wave-only destination.

Access is remote and requires navigation of approximately 45 kilometers of dirt road west from Highway 1 past the Rio San Telmo, turning right after Providencia. Four-wheel drive is recommended though not essential in dry conditions; careful route-finding with offline maps (Maps.me is more reliable than Google Maps here) and arrival well before dusk are essential given the remote location and indirect road system.