Surfing Chaguarama de Sotillo: The Complete Guide

Chaguarama de Sotillo is a reef break located in Paria Peninsula, Sucre, Venezuela, offering both lefts and rights along the Caribbean's tropical waters. Chaguarama de Sotillo sits on the wild Paria Peninsula—Venezuela's easternmost surf frontier. Rated as intermediate difficulty with uncrowded conditions, this reef break is a worthy destination for surfers looking beyond the usual suspects.

Best Conditions

Swell Direction: The ideal swell direction is NE (55°), with workable conditions from NNE to E (20°–90°). Swells outside this window will either miss the break or produce disorganized waves.

Swell Size: Chaguarama de Sotillo needs a minimum of 1m / 3ft to start working and handles swells up to 2.5m / 8ft before conditions deteriorate.

Swell Period: Look for a swell period of at least 8 seconds, with 12 seconds being the sweet spot. Longer periods deliver more organized, powerful waves with better shape.

Wind: True offshore here blows from the SW (225°). The full offshore range spans S to W (190°–270°). Glassy conditions under 4km/h from any direction also produce excellent surf. Plan for early morning dawn patrol sessions.

Tide: This spot works best at mid tide. Optimal tide range is 0.5m–1.5m.

When to Go

Primary Season: The prime window at Chaguarama de Sotillo runs November, December, January, February, March, April (Nov–Apr). This is when swell consistency and direction align most reliably with the break.

Secondary Season: A secondary window opens June, July, August, September, October (Jun–Oct). While not as consistent, patient surfers can still score quality sessions during this period.

Season Notes: Year-round E-NE trade swell on the exposed Paria Peninsula.

Water Temperature: Expect water temperatures around 27°C / 81°F. Boardshorts or a thin rashguard are all you need.

Getting There

The nearest airport is CUP, roughly 30 minutes by car.

Access: East of Carupano on the Paria Peninsula. 4WD recommended.

Hazards & Tips

Known Hazards:

🪸 Sharp reef — Shallow reef, booties recommended
🏝️ Remote — Far from help

Reef/sand mix bottom. Remote location on Paria Peninsula.

Safety Tips:

Wear reef booties to protect your feet from sharp coral and rock
Carry a first aid kit and emergency communication. Help may be far away

Skill Level: This spot is rated intermediate (5/10). Crowd Level: Typically uncrowded (1/10).

Check the Live Forecast

Planning a session at Chaguarama de Sotillo? Check the live forecast on Strike Mission to see today's conditions and the 10-day outlook. Our Strike Score algorithm rates this spot from 0 to 100 every day, factoring in swell direction, size, period, wind, and tide — so you know exactly when to paddle out.

Don't leave your next surf trip to chance. Let the data tell you when Chaguarama de Sotillo is firing.

*Conditions data sourced from Strike Mission's verified spot database.*