Totoralillo El Pipe
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 El Pipe surf forecast
Model forecast for swell, wind and tide.
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Spot Details
CustomizeCustomize this spotSwell Requirements
- Optimal direction
- SSW (202°)
- Direction range
- 180° - 225°
- Size range
- 1.2m - 2.4m
- Ideal size
- 1.7m - 2.1m
- Height multiplier
- 0.97×
- Ideal period
- 16s+
Wind Requirements
- Optimal direction
- E (90°)
- Offshore range
- 70° - 110°
Tide Requirements
- Optimal tide
- mid to high
- Optimal range
- 0.4m - 1.5m
Water temp
15°C
Wetsuit
4/3mm fullsuit
Difficulty
6/10
Crowd level
3/10
Access: Part of Totoralillo complex.
Frequently Asked Questions
What kind of wave is Totoralillo El Pipe?
Totoralillo El Pipe is a point break in Coquimbo, Chile, that mostly breaks left.
What swell works best at Totoralillo El Pipe?
Totoralillo El Pipe picks up swell from the S round to the SW, and it's best when it's coming straight out of the SSW. That's a tight window, so it needs the swell direction to line up. 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 Totoralillo El Pipe?
An E wind is dead offshore at Totoralillo El Pipe, and anything from the ENE round to the ESE 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 Totoralillo El Pipe?
Totoralillo El Pipe 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 Totoralillo El Pipe?
The most reliable run of swell at Totoralillo El Pipe comes Apr to Sep. There's a second window in Mar and Oct too. Hollow section at Totoralillo.
How cold is the water at Totoralillo El Pipe?
The water at Totoralillo El Pipe averages around 15°C, so you'll want a 4/3mm fullsuit. It shifts a few degrees through the year, so check the season before you pack.
Is Totoralillo El Pipe 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 3/10). Hollow wave. Rocky bottom.
How do I get to Totoralillo El Pipe?
The nearest airport on our list is LSC, then it's roughly a 35-minute drive. Part of Totoralillo complex.
What other surf spots are near Totoralillo El Pipe?
The closest breaks we track are Totoralillo El Muro (0.2 km) and Totoralillo (13 km), handy when Totoralillo El Pipe isn't working.
Best Season
Peak: Apr-Sep
Secondary: Mar, Oct
Hollow section at Totoralillo.
Getting There
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