Expert-verified surf spot database with detailed swell/wind parameters, hazards, and travel information
Punta de Lobos is Chile's crown jewel—a powerful left point break designated as a World Surfing Reserve that produces rides of 800+ meters when massive SW Pacific swells hit the coast. The wave handles enormous size and hosts stops on the Big Wave World Tour. The setting is stunning: rugged cliffs, cold upwelling water, and an endless parade of groundswell. Pichilemu town has built its identity around the wave. This is South America's most celebrated big wave venue.
🇨🇱 World Surfing Reserve • 800m rides • South America's finest
Works best with swells from 235° (SW). Workable range: 210°-280°.
Ideal size: 3.6m. Too small below 1.2m, too big (closeout) above 6m.
Needs at least 12s period. Ideal: 16s+ (long-period groundswell).
Offshore wind from 112° (ESE). Offshore range: 70°-150°. Best window: morning.
Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov
Swell direction must be within the workable range AND within the spot's coastal orientation. A south-facing beach cannot receive north swells, no matter the size or period.
Offshore wind (blowing from land toward ocean) grooms the wave face. Onshore wind (blowing from ocean toward land) destroys wave quality. Wind tolerance varies by wave type.
El Gringo is Chile's most dangerous wave—a left-hand slab that breaks over an impossibly shallow rock shelf in Arica, earning it the nickname "Chilean Pipeline." The wave is so heavy and the reef so unforgiving that most professional surfers wear helmets here. When solid South swells light up this section of coast, El Gringo produces perfect, death-defying barrels for those brave enough to paddle out. This is the realm of big-wave hellmen only.
🇨🇱 Chilean Pipeline • Helmet required • Slab of death
Works best with swells from 202° (SSW). Workable range: 180°-225°.
Ideal size: 2.8m. Too small below 1.8m, too big (closeout) above 3.7m.
Needs at least 15s period. Ideal: 17s+ (long-period groundswell).
Offshore wind from 0° (N). Offshore range: 315°-45°. Best window: morning.
Iquique is Chile's desert surf capital—a city wedged between the vast Atacama Desert and the cold, powerful Pacific, offering some of South America's most dramatic surf settings. Multiple left points line the coastline, receiving consistent Southern Ocean groundswells against a backdrop of sand dunes and barren hills that haven't seen rain in years. The water is brisk thanks to the Humboldt Current, but wetsuits are a small price for quality waves with minimal crowds. The city's dramatic setting beneath towering cliffs and its duty-free shopping zone make it an unlikely but rewarding surf destination.
🏜️ Atacama meets Pacific • Cold water lefts • Dramatic desert setting
Works best with swells from 230° (SW). Workable range: 210°-260°.
Ideal size: 1.9m. Too small below 0.8m, too big (closeout) above 3m.
Needs at least 10s period. Ideal: 14s+ (long-period groundswell).
Offshore wind from 120° (ESE). Offshore range: 80°-160°. Best window: morning.
Pichilemu is Chile's undisputed surf capital—a collection of world-class point breaks centered around the historic resort town on the country's cold Pacific coast. La Puntilla, the main break, offers long left-hand walls that can rival anything in South America when solid Southern Ocean groundswells arrive. The surrounding coastline is dotted with additional spots, from beginner-friendly beaches to hollow reef breaks. Chilean surf culture runs deep here, with wetsuit-clad locals braving the cold water year-round. Pichilemu proves that you don't need tropical warmth to find world-class waves.
🇨🇱 Chile's surf capital • La Puntilla lefts • Cold water commitment
Works best with swells from 240° (WSW). Workable range: 210°-280°.
Ideal size: 2.1m. Too small below 0.8m, too big (closeout) above 3.5m.
Offshore wind from 90° (E). Offshore range: 50°-130°. Best window: morning.
Year-round swells. Autumn-Winter bigger and cleaner.
Rocky coastline. Strong currents. Cold water.
Chile surf capital. Multiple breaks in the area.
Playa Chinchorro is the main surf beach in Arica, Chile's northernmost coastal city. This west-facing beach break offers consistent waves year-round.
🏜️ Desert beach break • Consistent waves • Northern Chile gateway
Works best with swells from 225° (SW). Workable range: 200°-270°.
Ideal size: 1.6m. Too small below 0.8m, too big (closeout) above 2.5m.
Year-round surf. Best swells autumn through spring.
Strong currents on bigger days. Desert climate.
Main beach in Arica. Easy access from town.
La Lisera is a quality right-hand reef break south of Arica. When solid SW swells hit, long walling rights peel along the rock reef.
🪨 Arica reef right • Needs solid swell • Desert perfection
Works best with swells from 220° (SW). Workable range: 195°-260°.
Ideal size: 2.0m. Too small below 1m, too big (closeout) above 3m.
Offshore wind from 85° (E). Offshore range: 45°-125°. Best window: morning.
Needs solid SW swell. Winter/spring best.
Shallow reef. Sea urchins. Booties recommended.
Cavancha is Iquique's main urban beach. Beginner-friendly beach break with consistent waves year-round.
🏖️ Iquique city beach • Beginner-friendly • Consistent
Ideal size: 1.3m. Too small below 0.6m, too big (closeout) above 2m.
Offshore wind from 100° (E). Offshore range: 60°-140°. Best window: morning.
Huayquique is a quality left-hand point break south of Iquique. 100+ meter rides possible on good days.
🌊 Northern Chile point • Long lefts • Desert backdrop
Works best with swells from 215° (SW). Workable range: 190°-250°.
Ideal size: 2.3m. Too small below 1m, too big (closeout) above 3.5m.
Best with solid winter/spring SW swells.
South of Iquique. Drive down coast road.
Playa Brava is Antofagasta's primary surf beach in Chile's mining region.
🏙️ Mining city surf • Desert coast • Consistent beach break
Works best with swells from 230° (SW). Workable range: 200°-270°.
Year-round waves. Best autumn to spring.
Urban beach. Some water quality concerns.
Central Antofagasta. Beach access from Avenida.
La Portada is a quality reef break near the famous natural arch rock formation.
🪨 Arch landmark reef • Powerful rights • Remote
Ideal size: 2.1m. Too small below 1.2m, too big (closeout) above 3m.
Needs solid swell. Best autumn to spring.
🪸 Sharp reef, 🪨 Rocks, 🚶 Difficult access
Pan de Azucar offers uncrowded waves in one of Chile's most beautiful national parks.
🏜️ National park waves • Complete solitude • Desert wilderness
Works best with swells from 225° (SW). Workable range: 195°-265°.
Very remote national park. Limited services.
Pan de Azucar National Park. Camping available.
Totoralillo is a quality right-hand point break in a charming fishing village near La Serena.
🎣 Fishing village point • Workable rights • Chilean classic
Works best with swells from 220° (SW). Workable range: 190°-260°.
Punta de Choros is a remote left-hand point break near the Humboldt penguin reserve.
🐧 Penguin reserve point • Remote adventure • Wildlife
Works best with swells from 215° (SW). Workable range: 185°-255°.
Los Vilos is a well-known right-hand point break at a small fishing port on the Panamericana.
🚗 Highway stop point • Consistent rights • Fresh seafood
Maitencillo is a popular beach resort and surf destination within easy reach of Santiago.
🏖️ Santiago escape • Beginner-friendly • Beach resort vibes
Works best with swells from 230° (SW). Workable range: 215°-270°.
Ideal size: 1.6m. Too small below 0.6m, too big (closeout) above 2.5m.
Popular resort beach. Crowded in summer.
Popular beach resort north of Valparaiso.
Ritoque is a long, exposed beach break with multiple peaks and more space than busier breaks.
🌊 Long beach break • Multiple peaks • Room to spread out
Works best with swells from 235° (SW). Workable range: 205°-275°.
Offshore wind from 95° (E). Offshore range: 55°-135°. Best window: morning.
Consistent year-round. Best autumn-spring.
Long beach with strong rips on bigger swells.
Renaca is Vina del Mar's most popular surf beach.
🏙️ Vina del Mar classic • Consistent waves • Crowded summers
Works best with swells from 240° (WSW). Workable range: 225°-280°.
Punta Pite is a quality left-hand reef break in the exclusive Zapallar area.
💎 Exclusive reef left • Hollow barrels • Upscale setting
Works best with swells from 225° (SW). Workable range: 195°-260°.
Sharp reef. Exclusive area, respect locals.
La Boca is a well-known left-hand reef break at the river mouth in Concon.
🏄 Concon classic • River mouth reef • Quality lefts
Matanzas is Chile's premier kitesurfing spot. Surfers: mornings only.
🪁 Kite capital • Morning surf only • Quality point left
Famous for strong afternoon winds. Morning surf.
Famous kitesurfing spot. Mornings for surfing.
La Puntilla is the main surf break in Pichilemu town.
🌴 Pichilemu heart • Consistent point • Surf town vibes
Year-round surf. More consistent than Lobos.
Infiernillo ("Little Hell") is one of Chile's heaviest waves.
🔥 Little Hell • Heavy Chilean slab • Experts only
Works best with swells from 215° (SW). Workable range: 185°-250°.
Ideal size: 2.8m. Too small below 1.5m, too big (closeout) above 4m.
Between Puntilla and Lobos. Cliff access.
Constitucion marks the transition into southern Chile's coastline.
🌊 River mouth break • Southern gateway • Off the beaten path
Year-round surf. Colder water than north.
Cobquecura offers quality waves near a famous sea lion colony.
🦭 Sea lion point • Scenic lefts • Wild Chile coast
Best with winter swells. Scenic location.
Buchupureo is a quality right-hand point in an authentic fishing village.
🎣 Fishing village right • Long peeling waves • Authentic Chile
Lebu is a rugged beach break in the former coal mining region.
⛏️ Coal coast power • Raw beach break • Frontier surfing
Works best with swells from 235° (SW). Workable range: 220°-280°.
Ideal size: 2.5m. Too small below 1m, too big (closeout) above 4m.
Consistent year-round. Cold and powerful.
Puerto Saavedra sits at the Imperial River mouth in Mapuche territory.
🌿 Mapuche coast • River mouth waves • Cultural respect
Works best with swells from 240° (WSW). Workable range: 210°-285°.
River mouth currents. Mapuche territory.
Imperial River mouth. Mapuche territory.
Curanipe is a quality left-hand point in a sleepy coastal town.
🏘️ Sleepy town point • Workable lefts • Traditional Chile
Mehuin is a quality left-hand point at a fishing village near Valdivia.
🐟 Fishing village point • Cold water lefts • Fresh seafood
Works best with swells from 235° (SW). Workable range: 205°-280°.
El Buey ("The Bull") is a tow-in big wave reef near El Gringo that comes alive when massive SW swells hit Arica. The wave can produce 40-foot faces, making it one of South America's premier big wave venues.
This is a big wave break, breaking left.
Works best with swells from 225° (SW). Workable range: 200°-250°.
Ideal size: 8.3m. Too small below 4.5m, too big (closeout) above 12m.
Needs at least 16s period. Ideal: 20s+ (long-period groundswell).
Offshore wind from 45° (NE). Offshore range: 20°-70°. Best window: morning.
Tow-in big wave. Jet ski support required. Extreme.
Near El Gringo. Tow-in only on big days.
La Brava is Arica's powerful beach-break counterpoint to El Gringo, a heavy right-hand barrel that unloads close to shore when south swell hits the exposed sand. The wave is fast, punchy, and less forgiving than the simple beach label suggests, with strong rips and shifting banks that demand local knowledge. It should not share El Gringo's reef pin or left-breaking metadata.
Arica beach barrel | Heavy right | Pin needs local verification
Solid left reef. Less intense than El Gringo.
El Laucho is a beginner-friendly beach and reef break south of Arica center, offering mellow waves as an alternative to the heavy slabs nearby. A good warm-up spot before tackling more challenging breaks.
🏖️ Arica mellow option • Beginner-friendly • Warm-up spot
Ideal size: 1.4m. Too small below 0.9m, too big (closeout) above 1.8m.
Las Machas ("The Razor Clams") is a mellow beach break named for the shellfish found on its shores. A beginner-friendly option in the Arica area with consistent, forgiving waves.
🐚 Razor clam beach • Beginner waves • Consistent
Works best with swells from 225° (SW). Workable range: 210°-250°.
Arenillas Negras ("Black Sands") is a reef break on a distinctive dark volcanic sand beach in Arica. The wave offers quality walls without the intensity of nearby El Gringo.
🖤 Black sand reef • Quality walls • Less intense
Ideal size: 1.8m. Too small below 1.2m, too big (closeout) above 2.4m.
El Brazo ("The Arm") is a reef and sand hybrid break in the Arica surf zone, offering both lefts and rights depending on sandbar configuration. A versatile option with varied conditions.
💪 The Arm • Reef/sand hybrid • Versatile waves
Ideal size: 1.6m. Too small below 0.9m, too big (closeout) above 2.4m.
El Colegio ("The School") is the heaviest wave in the Iquique slab complex - a thick left that breaks over a shallow reef. The name is ironic, as this wave provides harsh lessons for those unprepared.
🎓 The School • Harsh lessons • Iquique heaviest
Ideal size: 3.1m. Too small below 1.8m, too big (closeout) above 4.5m.
Needs at least 14s period. Ideal: 18s+ (long-period groundswell).
Offshore wind from 67° (ENE). Offshore range: 45°-90°. Best window: morning.
🪸 Sharp reef, 😮‍💨 Hold-downs, ⚠️ Shallow
Intendencia is a wedging slab in the Iquique heavy wave zone, producing thick, hollow lefts when SW swells wrap into the bay. A step up from beginner waves but not quite as heavy as El Colegio.
🌊 Wedging slab • Thick barrels • Iquique power
Punta Dos ("Point Two") is another heavy slab in the Iquique complex, delivering thick barrels over a shallow reef. Part of the world-class concentration of slabs in this northern Chile city.
✌️ Point Two • Iquique slab • Heavy barrels
Ideal size: 2.7m. Too small below 1.8m, too big (closeout) above 3.6m.
Hueso de Ballena ("Whale Bone") is a left reef break in Iquique named for whale bones found on the shore. A quality wave that offers a less intense option compared to the heavy slabs nearby.
🐋 Whale Bone reef • Quality left • Less intense
Diamante is a beginner-friendly beach break near Punta de Lobos, offering a mellow option when the famous point is too powerful or crowded. A good warm-up spot for the Pichilemu area.
💎 Diamond beach • Beginner-friendly • Near Lobos
Offshore wind from 135° (SE). Offshore range: 110°-160°. Best window: morning.
Puertecillo is a quality left point break north of Pichilemu, offering long rides when WSW swells wrap into the bay. A less crowded alternative to the famous breaks further south.
🌊 Long left point • North of Pichilemu • Less crowded
Works best with swells from 247° (WSW). Workable range: 225°-270°.
Offshore wind from 112° (ESE). Offshore range: 90°-135°. Best window: morning.
Topocalma is a left point break between Puertecillo and Pichilemu, offering quality waves in a quiet coastal village setting. A good stop on the central Chile surf route.
🏘️ Quiet village point • Central Chile • Quality left
Pupuya is a consistent beach break north of Topocalma, offering fun waves in a scenic setting. A good intermediate option on the O'Higgins coastline.
🏖️ Consistent beach • O'Higgins coast • Fun waves
Works best with swells from 225° (SW). Workable range: 200°-260°.
Matanzas La Boca is a right point break at the famous kitesurfing town. Unlike the left point (Matanzas), this right works at low tide but requires early morning sessions before the notorious afternoon winds blow in.
🌅 Morning right • Low tide • Before the wind
Offshore wind from 90° (E). Offshore range: 70°-110°. Best window: morning.
Morning only. Afternoon winds destroy it.
Strong afternoon winds. Morning sessions only.
Famous for afternoon wind. Mornings only.
Roca Cuadrada ("Square Rock") is a big wave left reef near Matanzas that comes alive on massive SW swells. Named for a distinctive square-shaped rock, the wave can produce 30-foot faces for tow-in chargers.
🪨 Square Rock • Big wave left • 30ft+ potential
Ideal size: 6.8m. Too small below 4.5m, too big (closeout) above 9m.
Big wave reef. Jet ski support recommended.
El Muro ("The Wall") is a right reef section at Totoralillo, offering powerful walls when solid SW swells hit. Part of the quality wave complex at this fishing village.
🧱 The Wall • Powerful rights • Totoralillo section
El Pipe is the hollow left section at Totoralillo, nicknamed after Pipeline for its barrel potential. When SSW swells hit, this section produces the best tubes in the complex.
🛢️ Totoralillo Pipeline • Hollow lefts • Barrel section
Carelmapu is a frontier beach break near the ferry crossing to Chiloe Island, one of the southernmost accessible surf spots in Chile. Cold water, powerful waves, and stunning Patagonian scenery await the adventurous.
🥶 Southern frontier • Near Chiloe • Cold adventure
La Cupula is Antofagasta's signature bodyboarding slab, a left breaking over shallow rock in Chile's dry northern coast. It has hosted international bodyboarding events because the wave can deliver thick, technical barrels when south-southwest swell and clean wind line up. The setup is close to the city but still serious, with reef, rocks, and heavy sections making it best for confident riders.
Antofagasta slab | Bodyboard event wave | Shallow left reef
Works best with swells from 200° (SSW). Workable range: 180°-220°.
Offshore wind from 65° (ENE). Offshore range: 45°-90°. Best window: morning.
Best months: Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep.