The Ultimate Guide to Surfing in Chile

Surfing in Chile means opening 2,400 miles of swell-bashed South American coastline. Like Peru before it, those SW pulses turn it into a haven for goofy footers. This guide runs through all you need to know.

An introduction to surfing in Chile

This slender lady of South America is all coastline, over 2,400 miles (4000km) of it. Like a runaway supermodel working the Pacific Ocean catwalk, she ranges from the dusty Atacama in the north all the way to the islets that fragment off Patagonia in the south. There’s bottomless surf options between the two, much of which takes a nod from Peru to the north and really caters to those goofy footers.

Start your journey at Punta de Lobos, where waves are so massive they make the Andes in the distance look like speed bumps. This place is the darling of the Big Wave World Tour, and not one for humble surf travelers like ourselves. Same is true down in Arica, the “City of Eternal Spring.” Home to El Gringo, a heavy barreling wave that smashes boards like the real gringos smash Pisco Sours.

To balance the seesaw, there’s La Boca de Concón, the nursery of Chilean surf. That offers gentle waves and forgiving wipeouts. Plus, there are the hippy enclaves of Maitencillo, a beer-swilling ocean town with peeling lefts and plenty of surf schools to go around.

The water in Chile gets progressively colder the further south you head. That’s why most people stick to the northern beaches and breaks. Key spots can get busy – Lobos, Puertecillo – but this remains a bit of a frontier, so it’s never too hard to escape to somewhere totally deserted.

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This is just one part of a complete guide to surfing in South America

Surfing in Chile

The good:

Long left-hand points
Some heavy XXL sets
Great upper intermedaite and expert waves

The bad:

Only a few destinations for beginners (Peru is probably better)
Cold water down south

What will I find in this guide to surfing in Chile?

Where is Chile?

Come on. Chile is hard to miss. The country is the backbone of South America. It covers over half of the Pacific Coast of the continent, running from borders with Peru and Bolivia in the north all the way to the Magellan Straits in the south. The main point of entry is still Santiago, the main capital, which isn’t actually ideal for surfers since the coast is still a trek from there. Still doable though. Check below…

How to get to Chile?

The first step is usually a flight into Santiago. It’s the biggest city, the capital, and the home of the main airport. Use Skyscanner to search for long-haul connections there.

You can also use it to search for connections to the regional airports that match the surf area you’re looking to go to. For example, surfers looking to get to Arica or the northern surf zone of Chile can fly to Iquique and then transfer from there. There’s also an arrival point in Antofagasta.

Getting to the central surf zone of Chile is easier. In fact, the whole reason the breaks in the middle of the country are consistently popular is because they’re closer to Santiago, since the northern beaches tend to be superior. Buses link up most major coast towns. Pullman and Turbus have the biggest networks and tickets tend to be cheap.

If you’re okay with driving in South America then a car can be a great option. There are hefty distances to cover here, but wheels of your own mean you can channel that Endless Summer spirit and drive the whole route south or north, surfing your way from Arica to Patagonia. Cool stuff, but probably needs a 4X4 or something gnarly.

We use RentalCars.com for our hires in Chile and South America more generally…

Where to surf in Chile?

Surf spots in northern Chile (the warmest water)

Northern Chile is the region that really puts the country on the map. Lobos and slabby barrels of Antofagasta are fodder for surf photographers brave enough to battle the rips and urchins to get the right shots. Ridiculous consistency sees over 325 days a year of swell but be wary that the level is a cut above your usual South American beginner surf town. It’s an area really tailored for pros, like the St Anton of the surf world, if you will.

Arica

The main attractions here are El Gringo and El Buey, two world-class waves that often host competitions and pro-level surfers.

El Gringo, also known as the Chilean Pipeline, is a heavy-duty, fast-breaking wave that has earned a reputation as one of the best and most dangerous in South America. It breaks over a shallow, sharp reef creating a powerful, hollow riflebarrel that pounds into an endzone.

Then there’s El Buey. It’s an A-frame wave breaking into right and left tubes, creating walls of water that can reach over 30 feet. This monster requires a jet-ski tow-in and is not for the faint-hearted.

Other beaches in the region cater more to intermediates. Check out the beaches and points around El Laucho for the best of them. The season is long in Arica, there’s often, swell, and the town has the warmest water in Chile.

Check out our complete guide to surfing in Arica (coming soon)

Iquique

Iquique is a city break with a desert backdrop, making it feel a bit like you’re catching waves on Mars.

The star of the show is Colegio, a gnarly point break named after the nearby military school. It’s known for its consistent right-handers that roll in with ridiculous reliability – NW and S swells all work, provided there’s enough wraparound power in those direct southerlies.

Then you’ve got Las Urracas and Playa Cavancha. Both are beach breaks with left- and right-handers, offering plenty of play space for learners and beginners.

Check out our complete guide to surfing in Iquique (coming soon)

Mejillones

Mejillones, north of Antofagasta, is a Chilean surf haven with consistent breaks. The Punta de Angamos, a right-hand point break, performs best on a southwest swell. With less crowded line-ups and frequently good surf, Mejillones offers an appealing alternative for surfers seeking quieter waves than you’ll get in nearby Antofagasta. That said, they’re still challenging things that get real punchy on SW swells come those dry-season months.

Antofagasta

Antofagasta, located in the north of Chile, is a surprising surf gem, featuring several top spots suitable for various skill levels. La Cupula, the region’s most famous spot, is renowned for its long, right-hand point break that works best on a straight southern swell during the dry season.

The less crowded La Portada offers a left-hand wave ideal for intermediate surfers, particularly when the swell comes from the S-SW. This spot offers clean, ridable waves that peel beautifully off the point. It’s rarely as heavy as the other Chilean points of the north.

Then there’s the El Buey, a big wave spot with intense, steep walls that pound the open ocean on the heaviest S-SW swells. It’s tow-out stuff only and real dangerous.

Portofino

Portofino has one of the most highly-rated surf camps in Chile right now. Breaks in these parts lend themselves to learners and intermediates, too, so there’s almost always something to paddle out on, even if you’re a total novice. Most of the time, the main bay is filled with little drainers and mush. Every once in a while, big S-SW sets push through and breath life into a heavy right that can hold maybe triple overhead. It loves a dropping tide and little water on the reef but is still manageable for strong paddling upper intermediates.

La Serena

La Serena offers a less aggressive but enjoyable surf experience. Totoralillo Beach, a sandy-bottomed break, produces fun left and right-hand waves with northern swells. Just be warned this this one WILL be busy. It’s one of Chile’s main beach resort areas and isn’t all that far away from Santiago.

Check out our complete guide to surfing in La Serena (coming soon)

Surf spots in central Chile (nearest to Santiago)

When we talk about the central surf zone of Chile, really we’re talking about the O’Higgins region and the coast that stretches up to Valparaíso. It’s a lush land with a rugged coastline, blessed with scything bays that have wide sand shelves and harness SW swells very nicely. There are long lefts – as you’d expect – but also decent rights. Mostly, though, this is the region within striking distance of Santiago, so it’s popular and has the country’s best surf towns. Chief among them…

Maitencillo

Maitencillo is our favorite place to start a Chilean surf trip. It’s not too far from Santiago, sitting just north of the popular Vina del Mar holiday beaches. Well protected from direct SW dominant swells by a series of salt-caked reefs that poke about 40 meters or so out from the puntas, the main bay gets cruisy lefts and small, short rights that bend around into the inside. They’re easy to catch, have nice channels for paddling, and are generally small.

Occasional big days send outer sections into the overhead category but this one’s got some of the best surf schools around and is suited to all levels.

Matanzas

Matanzas is a notable surf town that features consistent, year-round breaks. Primarily, it’s known for La Boca, a high-quality right-hand point break ideal for intermediate and advanced surfers. The stuff here is optimal with a south-southwest swell direction, which means the dry season is the time to swing by. Matanzas also hosts the Roca Cuadrada, a big wave spot that roars into life like twice each year.

Pichilemu

Pichilemu is home to the best array of surf camps in the country. Just three hours’ driving will bring you here from the big city of Santiago, so it’s relatively accessible. And it’s got a great range of breaks, mainly in the upper-intermediate to expert category.

Punta de Lobos, the main XL point steals the show a lot of the time, but most don’t come for that. Most come for the left barrels of Inferno or Infernillo, which breaks out front of the river mouth. Track further up the black sand beaches and there are long breaks that suck swell when it’s westerly and offer A-frames that crumble on both sides; it’s better for learners up there.

The best stay in town is probably Esfera Pichilemu – Lodge, which has views across the bay to Punta de Lobos but walking access to a beach out front. The alternative is a planned surf package at highly-rated SuperFun Chile.

Check out our complete guide to Pichilemu surf right now (coming soon)

Punta de Lobos

Officially a part of the Pichilemu coast, Punta de Lobos deserves a mention on its own here. It’s one of Latin America’s most feared XXL setups, capable of holding 30+ foot on the biggest of swells. It breaks right in front of a huge cathedral-like rock where the seabirds gather to watch the gun riders doing their thing. Always a tow-out jobby and only for complete pros. Smaller days do give Uluwatu-level shoulders but it’s a shifty, hard line to ride over very shallow cobblestone and reef.

Surf spots in southern Chile (for the frontier surfers with their own cars)

We’ve chosen Punta Pullay as the start of the south Chile zone. That will be a little high for some purists but we feel that the dip in water temps and the five-hour drive from Santiago warrants the division. It all starts to feel like a whole other world as you cross into the Biobío Region anyhow. From here on, lush forests crash down through pastures to meet the ocean and the bays are beset by big rivers that flow down from the Chilean lakes and the Andes. It’s gorgeous and it’s wild.

Punta Pullay

A rare sand-bottomed point break with real power, the Punta is one of the main reasons to track this far south in Chile. You’ll need to brave the cold waters and have a good bottom turn, because the wave begins on a steep ramp that heads almost squarely into the cliffs. Stick with it, turn well, and navigate an initial shelving section and you can get a mini Lobos with very long rides. Pack the rubber.

Playa De Llagua

It’s no easy feat to get to Playa De Llagua but drive the way down from Santiago and there’s no telling what you’ll find. The winter SW pulses can set off roaring freight train barrels in the middle of the bay. Othertimes, there are neat little A-frames that peel left and right, great for intermediates. The water is cold as down here, so prep for that. On the plus side, the crowds thin out a lot and the landscapes are nothing short of majestic.

Step-by-step guide to planning your [yoast_kw] trip right now

Step one: Book flights to the [yoast_kw]…Lately, we like Omio for searching flights. It’s a nice interface and has lots of airline options. We also use Skyscanner because that sometimes offers deals that even beat going direct to the carrier!

Step two: Book your surf camp Book Surf Camps is the numero uno online booking platform for fully-fledged surf-stay packages on the internet right now. Then there’s Booking.com. That has consistently unbeatable rates for hotels and a nifty map feature that lets you check EXACTLY how close your hotel is to a surf break.

Step three: Get insuranceThis is kinda’ important. Not just for surf trips but for any trips. SafetyWing is great for nomad travelers. They offer rolling contracts that cover amateur surfing.

Step four (optional): Rent a car If you’re surf camping then you might not need wheels. If you’re not then we’ll just say this: We’ve never been on a surf trip that wasn’t improved by having our own car. Use RentalCars – they’re the best.

Step four: Enjoy!

Surf camps in Chile

There are a few surf camps on offer in Chile. Most are located in the northern and central zones of the country, mainly to make the most of the easier-going swells, the wider beaches, and – crucially – the warmer water. The best ones we can reccomend are:

SuperFun Chile: 5 Day Super Fun Surf Camp in Pichilemu – We’d say these guys are running the best planned surf packages in the country right now. They’ll take you up to the famous Punta Lobos to see the pros hitting the lefts there but you’ll surf easier beaches. Across five days there three surf sessions. You’ll stay on the grounds of gorgeous Hotel Alaia, which has a hot tub and swimming pool just a short walk back from the Pacific.
SuperFun Chile: 3 Day Surf Camp – The same as the above only shorter, this package is fantastic for travelers whizzing through Chile north to south or the other way. You’ll do two days of surfing with professional guides in one of the country’s top surf towns.

A note on why we partner with BookSurfCamps.com: Book Surf Camps are probably the biggest online aggregator of surf camps and surf-yoga packages in the world. We sounded out a quite a few potential partners before we affiliated with them. But, in the end, the abundance of choice for beginners, intermediates, and female-only surfing sealed it. We also love the simplicity of their booking system and the trusted brand name, along with the focus on connecting with homegrown local businesses on the ground.

Want more [yoast_kw] camp options? Search the whole shebang below right now and book in a few clicks.

When to surf in Chile?

The surf in Chile is known for its consistency, offering year-round opportunities. However, the best period to catch quality waves depends on the region you’re targeting.

North – In the Northern region, like Antofagasta and Arica, the peak surfing season is in the summer, from December to March. These months offer warmer water temperatures and consistent swells, making it an ideal time for taking to the water.
Central – In Central Chile, areas like Pichilemu and Matanzas, the best surf typically occurs during the winter months, from May to August. This period sees larger and more consistent swells due to storm activity in the South Pacific.
South – The Southern region of Chile, being exposed to cold Antarctic swells, is known for big waves especially during the winter months. However, be prepared for cold water, even in summer. The peak season down here is still April to May but prepare for blown-out days in the middle of that. The shoulders of spring and fall tend to perform best.