Iquique

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.