Arenillas Negras
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.
Arenillas Negras surf forecast
Model forecast for swell, wind and tide.
Today's ConditionsToday's Conditions
Find FlightsLocation & Conditions
Hourly Forecast, Tide & Strike Windows
Tide times today
Strike Score Breakdown
Plan Your Strike
Return flights to ARI, departing today with a 5-day trip window.
Search Flights on SkyscannerLocation & Conditions
Know when South America is about to fire
Get the best strike windows in South America — and worldwide — in your inbox every Monday & Thursday. Live Strike Scores, the swell behind them, zero fluff.
¿Prefieres español? Recibe el Strike Report en español, gratis →
Get the full Arenillas Negras trip window
Pro unlocks the 10-day forecast window, unlimited alerts, and custom spot tracking that help turn a good-looking surf report into a better travel decision.
10-day window
See the trip window before flights get expensive.
Unlimited alerts
Let the app watch your score threshold for you.
Custom spots
Track the breaks that actually matter to your travel plans.
Spot Details
CustomizeCustomize this spotSwell Requirements
- Optimal direction
- SW (225°)
- Direction range
- 200° - 250°
- Size range
- 1.2m - 2.4m
- Ideal size
- 1.7m - 2.1m
- Height multiplier
- 0.97×
- Ideal period
- 16s+
Wind Requirements
- Optimal direction
- NE (45°)
- Offshore range
- 20° - 70°
Tide Requirements
- Optimal tide
- mid
- Optimal range
- 0.4m - 1.4m
Water temp
18°C
Wetsuit
3/2mm fullsuit
Difficulty
6/10
Crowd level
2/10
Access: Near Arica slab zone.
Frequently Asked Questions
What kind of wave is Arenillas Negras?
Arenillas Negras is a reef break in Arica, Chile, that mostly breaks left.
What swell works best at Arenillas Negras?
Arenillas Negras picks up swell from the SSW round to the WSW, and it's best when it's coming straight out of the SW. It starts working at around 1.2m and handles up to about 2.4m, with the sweet spot around 1.7 to 2.1m. Period matters too: aim for 16s or longer, as anything under 12s tends to be weak. These are the numbers our scoring uses, so treat them as a guide rather than a promise.
What wind is offshore at Arenillas Negras?
A NE wind is dead offshore at Arenillas Negras, and anything from the NNE round to the ENE keeps it clean. The morning is typically the best window, roughly 6am to 11am. Light winds from other directions can still be fine; strong offshores can make it hard to get into waves.
What tide is best at Arenillas Negras?
Arenillas Negras is at its best around mid tide, roughly 0.4m to 1.4m on the local chart.
When is the best time of year to surf Arenillas Negras?
The most reliable run of swell at Arenillas Negras comes Apr to Sep. There's a second window in Mar and Oct too. Quality reef break.
How cold is the water at Arenillas Negras?
The water at Arenillas Negras averages around 18°C, so you'll want a 3/2mm fullsuit. It shifts a few degrees through the year, so check the season before you pack.
Is Arenillas Negras good for beginners?
It's more of an intermediate wave, rated 6/10 for difficulty, so newer surfers are best off sticking to the smaller days. The lineup is usually quiet (crowd 2/10). Rocky reef. Dark volcanic sand.
How do I get to Arenillas Negras?
The nearest airport on our list is ARI, then it's roughly a 12-minute drive. Near Arica slab zone.
What other surf spots are near Arenillas Negras?
The closest breaks we track are El Gringo (0.3 km), El Brazo (0.7 km) and El Buey (0.9 km), handy when Arenillas Negras isn't working. We track 9 spots around Arica in total.
Best Season
Peak: Apr-Sep
Secondary: Mar, Oct
Quality reef break.
Getting There
Nearby Spots
El Gringo
🇨🇱 Chilean Pipeline • Helmet required • Slab of death
El Brazo
💪 The Arm • Reef/sand hybrid • Versatile waves
El Buey
🐂 The Bull • Tow-in giant • 40ft+ faces
La Lisera
🪨 Arica reef right • Needs solid swell • Desert perfection
El Laucho
🏖️ Arica mellow option • Beginner-friendly • Warm-up spot
Las Machas
🐚 Razor clam beach • Beginner waves • Consistent