South America is blessed with a great coastline exposed to both the Pacific Ocean on the west side and Atlantic Ocean on the east side. No matter the time of the year, there is certainly a place with perfect waves somewhere in South America. Here a the 4 best countries to visit on a surf trip to South America…

Chile

Chile is a great country to visit on a surf trip to South America with surf towns like Pichilemu which can rival with some of the world’s greatest surfing destinations. With a long, rugged coastline, Chile has several uncrowded point breaks that will please any type of surfers.

Surfing in Chile can also get pretty wild, specially during winter season, as enormous south swells come from the Pacific. Tow-in surfing is sometimes the only way to conquer some of those giant waves…

Another gem that could be considered as part of Chile is the mysterious Easter Island, located several hundred miles off the coast. Easter Island has some awesome waves with barely anyone out.

Peru

Peru not only is a great country to surf in South America, it also is home of the world’s longest wave! In fact, Chicama (pictured above) is a point break that can run for several miles when conditions line up perfectly. The best time to surf Peru is from April to October as south swells make their way up the Peruvian coast.

Read our complete surfing guide to Chicama, Peru

Ecuador

Ecuador is a wonderful surfing destination with great weather, consistent waves and cheap cost of traveling. Montanita is probably the country’s best surf town and many surf camps and surf schools can be found in the area. For the most adventurous surfers, Galapagos Islands also have great waves and remain a very special place to surf in South America.

Brazil

Brazil has the longest coastline in South America, making it a prime surfing destination on the continent. The country is exposed to south and north swells coming from the Atlantic Ocean with two distinct surfing seasons.

From May to October, swells come from the south, making the whole southern end of the country turn into a wave machine. From November to April, north swells roll into the northern coast, including the Fernando de Noronha archipelago. 

With so many surf spots and year round swells, it’s easy to see how surfing legends such as Gabriel Medina, Filipe Toledo and Adriano de Sousa all come from Brazil.

Read our complete surfing guide to Rio de Janeiro

The post 4 Best Countries to Surf in South America appeared first on My Wave Finder.

• Summary

• When to go

• Surf Camps

• Where to stay

• Getting there

• Safety/things to know

• Surf spots

   

Summary

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.

You may also want to read: Our Surfing Guide to Popoyo, Nicaragua

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.

Surf Camps in Pichilemu

Find a Surf Camp in Pichilemu, Starts at US$375

5-day Surf Camp in Pichilemu

• 3 days of surfing
• An energetic picnic
• A guided tour around La Punta
• Services of surf instructor
• 4 nights’ accommodation
• Breakfast and dinner

Where to stay in Pichilemu

Browse our interactive map to find the best accommodation deals in Pichilemu!

Best surf hotels in Pichilemu

Hotel Mar y Vino 

Cuarzo Lodge

Getting there

Fly into Santiago and you will be a 4-hour bus ride away from Pichilemu. 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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