Surfing Pichilemu : A Guide to Chile’s Best Surf Town
Pichilemu is often called the surf capital of Chile, and for good reason. This charming coastal town is home to some of the best left-hand point breaks in South America, the iconic Punta de Lobos, considered one of the world’s best waves.
As one of the most consistent surfing destinations on the continent, Pichilemu is a paradise for goofy-footers, offering near-endless walls of water, powered by long-period southern swells from the South Pacific.
In winter, waves can reach more than 20 feet on a regular basis. With a coastline as long as 2,600 miles, many surf spots are still to discover, even more so in the southern part of the country which is still very raw and untouched. Most of the crowd and friendly surf towns are located from the center of Chile, around Santiago, all the way to the north.
When to go
The best time to surf Pichilemu, Chile is from December to February for warm weather and smaller waves. Rest of the year will be way bigger, peaking in June-July where tow-in is sometimes the only option.
| January-February | March-April | May-June | July-August | September-October | November-December | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Suitable for: | All surfers | All surfers | Intermediate Advanced | Intermediate Advanced | Intermediate Advanced | All surfers |
| Air temperature | 22°C 72°F | 17°C 63°F | 13°C 55°F | 11°C 52°F | 15°C 59°F | 20°C 68°F |
| Water temperature | 17°C 63°F | 15°C 59°F | 14°C 57°F | 13°C 55°F | 13°C 55°F | 15°C 59°F |
| Crowd | Few people | Few people | Few people | Few people | Few people | Few people |
| Swell Consistency | 90% | 95% | 97% | 98% | 95% | 90% |
| Swell height | 7 ft | 8 ft | 10 ft | 12 ft | 10 ft | 8 ft |
Where to stay in Pichilemu
You can stay in Pichilemu if you want a better access to Infiernillo or La Puntilla while having a good balance of social life. Pichilemu is a charming little town with walking distance to great surf spots!
You can also stay in Punta de Lobos at places like Alaia (higher-end) or at Sirena Insolente (budget). Staying on this side of the bay will give you better access to Punta de Lobos. Either way, taxis run all the time from Pichilemu to Punta de Lobos and cost around $3.
Best surf hotels in Pichilemu
Getting there
The best way to get to Pichilemu is to take the bus from Santiago. It is about 3 or 4 hours from Chile’s capital city. You can also rent a car which will be helpful to hit some surf spots a bit outside of town.
Safety/things to know
- Water ranges between 13 and 17 degrees Celcius. Wetsuits are necessary all year round.
- Big swells push through the Chilean coastline over the winter months.
Surf spots in Pichilemu
Punta de Lobos
Nothing less than one of the best lefts in the world, Punta de Lobos is Pichilemu’s main attraction. Whether it is on a big winter day or on a smooth summer swell, this point is extremely consistent and produces some of the continent’s best waves.
- Wave direction : Left
- Bottom : Reef
- Best tide : Any
- Skill level : Intermediate and advanced
- Optimal swell direction : SW
- Optimal wind direction : E
Infiernillo
Not as long as Punta de Lobos, Infiernillo is another nice option for a left-hand wave in Pichilemu. It is also much closer to town. This fast and hollow wave is very challenging and should not be attacked by novice surfers.
- Wave direction : Left
- Bottom : Reef
- Best tide : Any
- Skill level : Advanced
- Optimal swell direction : SW
- Optimal wind direction : E
La Puntilla
Chile’s longest wave, La Puntilla is a fairly inconsistent break as the sandbar is unpredictable and very “shifty”. However, it offers a nice and accessible break for surfers of all skill levels.
- Wave direction : Left
- Bottom : Sand
- Best tide : Any
- Skill level : Any
- Optimal swell direction : SW
- Optimal wind direction : E
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