El Laucho
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.
El Laucho surf forecast
Model forecast for swell, wind and tide.
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Spot Details
CustomizeCustomize this spotSwell Requirements
- Optimal direction
- SW (225°)
- Direction range
- 200° - 250°
- Size range
- 0.9m - 1.8m
- Ideal size
- 1.3m - 1.6m
- Height multiplier
- 0.97×
- Ideal period
- 14s+
Wind Requirements
- Optimal direction
- NE (45°)
- Offshore range
- 20° - 70°
Tide Requirements
- Optimal tide
- mid to high
- Optimal range
- 0.4m - 1.5m
Water temp
18°C
Wetsuit
3/2mm fullsuit
Difficulty
3/10
Crowd level
4/10
Access: South of Arica center.
Frequently Asked Questions
What kind of wave is El Laucho?
El Laucho is a beach break in Arica, Chile, with peaks that run both left and right.
What swell works best at El Laucho?
El Laucho 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 0.9m and handles up to about 1.8m, with the sweet spot around 1.3 to 1.6m. Period matters too: aim for 14s or longer, as anything under 10s 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 El Laucho?
A NE wind is dead offshore at El Laucho, 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 El Laucho?
El Laucho is at its best around the mid to high tide, roughly 0.4m to 1.5m on the local chart.
When is the best time of year to surf El Laucho?
The most reliable run of swell at El Laucho comes Mar to Oct. There's a second window in Nov to Feb too. Year-round. Beginner-friendly.
How cold is the water at El Laucho?
The water at El Laucho 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 El Laucho good for beginners?
Yes, it's one of the friendlier waves around, rated 3/10 for difficulty. Expect a moderate crowd (4/10) when it's on. Milder conditions. Good for beginners.
How do I get to El Laucho?
The nearest airport on our list is ARI, then it's roughly a 10-minute drive. South of Arica center.
What other surf spots are near El Laucho?
The closest breaks we track are La Lisera (0.1 km), El Gringo (1.1 km) and Arenillas Negras (1.4 km), handy when El Laucho isn't working. We track 9 spots around Arica in total.
Best Season
Peak: Mar-Oct
Secondary: Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb
Year-round. Beginner-friendly.
Getting There
Nearby Spots
La Lisera
🪨 Arica reef right • Needs solid swell • Desert perfection
El Gringo
🇨🇱 Chilean Pipeline • Helmet required • Slab of death
Arenillas Negras
🖤 Black sand reef • Quality walls • Less intense
La Brava
Arica beach barrel | Heavy right | Pin needs local verification
Las Machas
🐚 Razor clam beach • Beginner waves • Consistent
El Brazo
💪 The Arm • Reef/sand hybrid • Versatile waves