Surfing Totoralillo: The Complete Guide

Totoralillo is a point break located in Coquimbo, Chile, offering a right-hander along South America's vast coastline. Totoralillo is a quality right-hand point break in a charming fishing village near La Serena.. Rated as intermediate difficulty with lightly crowded conditions, this point break is a worthy destination for surfers looking beyond the usual suspects.

Best Conditions

Swell Direction: The ideal swell direction is SW (220°), with workable conditions from S to W (190°–260°). Swells outside this window will either miss the break or produce disorganized waves.

Swell Size: Totoralillo needs a minimum of 1m / 3ft to start working and handles swells up to 3m / 10ft before conditions deteriorate.

Swell Period: Look for a swell period of at least 12 seconds, with 16 seconds being the sweet spot. Longer periods deliver more organized, powerful waves with better shape.

Wind: True offshore here blows from the E (90°). The full offshore range spans NE to SE (50°–130°). 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 to high tide. Optimal tide range is 0.4m–1.5m.

When to Go

Primary Season: The prime window at Totoralillo runs April, May, June, July, August, September (Apr–Sep). This is when swell consistency and direction align most reliably with the break.

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

Season Notes: Best with winter SW groundswells.

Water Temperature: Expect water temperatures around 15°C / 59°F. Bring a 3/2mm wetsuit — 4/3mm in winter months.

Getting There

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

Access: Small fishing village. Good camping.

Hazards & Tips

Known Hazards:

🪨 Rocks — Rocky entry/exit or in lineup
🦔 Urchins — Sea urchins present

Rocky point. Watch for sea urchins.

Safety Tips:

Reef booties are essential. If stung, vinegar helps with urchin spines

Skill Level: This spot is rated intermediate (5/10). Crowd Level: Typically lightly crowded (3/10).

Check the Live Forecast

Planning a session at Totoralillo? 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 Totoralillo is firing.

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