Charlot
- Advanced riders
- Best for
- Intermediate to Advanced
- Skill Level
- Swell, Ocean
- Spot Type
- Moderate
- Crowd Level
This spot information is AI-assisted and has not been human verified. It may be incomplete, outdated, or incorrect. Verify safety, access, local rules, and current conditions with official or local sources before riding.
About
Charlot is an exposed reef break on Martinique’s extreme north coast near the entrance area of Basse Pointe, reached from the remote village of Grand’Rivière. The wave is described as reasonably consistent, with powerful, long sections that can form barrels both to the left and right, depending on swell and local conditions. The break is over a volcanic/rocky reef bottom with shallow water in places, so conditions can change rapidly as tides and swell vary.
- Exposed reef break with reasonably consistent surf
- Powerful waves with barreling potential
- Works on North Atlantic/North swells with a stated working swell window
- Exposed, consistently surfable reef break during the winter swell season
- Powerful, long waves with barreling potential
- High-quality waves over a reef/rock bottom when swell is aligned
- Remote location with limited access and no on-site rescue base
- Hazardous reef environment (rocks and sea urchins) plus strong rip currents
- Wind and surface conditions can be turbulent due to nearby cliffs and swell/currents changing quickly
Wind, water and seasons
Wind
- Direction
- E, NE
- Wind Range
- 15–25 kts
- Wind Type
- Trade — Trade winds (Alizés) dominate the wind regime.
- Reliability
- high
- Gust Factor
- Moderate gusts — Moderate gusts reported; cliff areas can add local turbulence.
- Best Months
- December, January, February, March, April
- Shadow Zones
- High cliffs surrounding the bay can create significant wind shadows and turbulence near the shore.
Water & beach
- Water Type
- Swell, Ocean
- Beach
- Mixed — Reef/rocky volcanic bottom with areas of black sand reported for entry.
- Beach Size
- Small
- Waves
- Small — Small to medium swell described across sources; performance depends heavily on North Atlantic swell alignment.
- Launch
- Small — Entry is typically over rocks and black sand in a narrow bay.
- Launch Difficulty
- Difficult — Entry is over rocks/reef with sea urchins; generally difficult.
Through the year
Can be crowded on weekends and during good swell events, primarily with local surfers.
June to November (hurricane season risk).
By sport
What to expect for each.
Exposed reef break with reasonably consistent surf, working on North Atlantic swell. Waves can offer long, fast sections when well-aligned and are heavy when larger swells increase currents.
- Wave Direction
- Both
- Optimal Swell
- NE, E
- Swell Height
- 1–2.5 m
- Optimal Tide
- Mid — Mid tide reported as optimal.
- Shelter
- Exposed — Exposed north-coast reef setting; high cliffs and bay geometry can also create localized turbulence.
- Wind Effect
- Trades can blow side-offshore or cross-onshore depending on angle; conditions are often cleanest with light southerly winds. Peaks can be shifty with lower tides.
- Bigger Swell
- Wave holds size well but becomes very heavy; rip currents increase significantly.
- Wave Quality
- Good — Quality described as good, with fast, peeling/barreling sections when aligned.
- Wave Power
- Powerful — Powerful, long waves reported; can form barrels.
- Wave Shape
- Barreling — Barrels reported; some sources also describe a peeling wave shape.
- Peel Speed
- Fast — Fast peeling described for the main right-hand setup.
- Ride Length
- Medium — Ride length varies by swell alignment; long waves mentioned in general.
- Ride Length Details
- Long waves; can be long and fast when the swell is well-aligned.
Check the forecast before you go
See wind, waves, weather and session windows for Charlot in the full forecast view.
Charlot wind and wave forecast summary
- Wind
- 7–14 ktsGusts 26 kts
- Direction
- E97°
- Strongest day
- Sun, Oct 2514 kts
- Windy days
- 2/712 kts or more
- Waves
- 0.8–1.1 m8s period
- Temperature
- 27–31 °C
Over the next 7 days, Charlot is forecast for daytime winds of 7–14 kts, peaking around 14 kts on Sunday, October 25 with gusts to 26 kts. The prevailing direction is E. Waves run 0.8–1.1 m with a period of about 8s. Based on the Wavind model, in the spot’s local time.
Other spots in the area
What to know before you launch
Safety, access, restrictions, rescue, and local rules can change. Treat these details as informational and confirm them locally before launching.
Hazards
- Rocks
- Urchins
- Shallow black-rock reef
- Strong rip currents
- Remote location
Rescue & support
- Lifeguard
- None — No lifeguard presence reported.
- Rescue & Self-Rescue
- Limited — No dedicated on-site rescue base in the immediate vicinity; services are managed by SNSM and the Gendarmerie from larger nearby towns.
- Emergency Info
- Use 112 for emergencies. Primary medical center is CHU de Martinique in Fort-de-France. Nearest medical facilities are located in the larger towns to the south; access to Grand'Rivière is limited to a single winding road.
- Localism / Vibe
- Moderate — Spot is respected and maintained by a dedicated local crew.
Rules of the spot
General surfing etiquette applies. The spot is respected and maintained by a dedicated local crew.
- Bring reef booties to protect against sharp volcanic rocks and sea urchins.
- The location is very remote, so ensure you have all necessary supplies and a first-aid kit.
- Strong rip currents are common, especially when larger swells are running.
Getting there & access
- Nearest City
- Fort-de-France
- Nearest Town
- Grand'Rivière
- Nearest Airport
- Martinique Aimé Césaire International Airport (FDF)
- Parking
- Limited parking is available in the village and near the harbor area.
- Public Transport
- Access is very limited; the area is at the 'end of the road' and requires a private vehicle or local collective taxi.
- Access
- Accessible by car via the road to the northern tip of the island. The spot is located near the end of the road in Grand'Rivière.
- Local Language
- French
What's on the beach
- Accommodation
- Nearby town — Gites and small local rentals are available in Grand'Rivière.
- Food & Drink
- Small local restaurants and snack bars are located in the village of Grand'Rivière.
- Equipment Rental:
- No surf rentals at the beach; visitors must bring their own gear. No specialized wind sports or surfing rental shops are available on-site.
- Gear Storage
- No dedicated wind-sports storage facilities exist in the area.
- Gear Repair
- No local repair; repairs must be handled in southern industrial zones near Fort-de-France.
No schools or services are listed for this spot yet.
Off the water
Grand’Rivière is described as a rugged, authentic north-coast area with eco-tourism and a local village feel away from more developed hubs.
One of the tallest bridges in Martinique, offering views over the river and lush valley.
A traditional colorful harbor where local boats bring in the daily catch.
A world-class 20 km coastal trek through primary rainforest connecting northern villages.
A well-known local institution serving traditional Martinican seafood and Creole specialties.
Cooling off in the clear fresh waters of the Grand'Rivière is a popular local pastime.
From riders who've been here
Latest reported conditions
Spot questions
Frequently asked questions
When is the best season at Charlot?
The best overall months at Charlot are December, January, February, March. The best wind months are December, January, February, March, April.
Which wind directions work at Charlot?
Charlot works with E, NE winds.
What skill level is Charlot suitable for?
Charlot suits these riding levels: Surfing: Intermediate to Advanced.