Solid glassy lefts, dirt roads, minimal crowds, and beautiful scenery. Just a handful of ways to describe surfing in southern Chile. With hundreds of miles of coastline, the potential for surf is infinite.
Drive along this wild and rugged coast, and you’ll pass numerous coves and headlands, hosting all with potential for epic surf on the right swell. Southern Chile is also never short of swell, and during winter, 8-10ft corduroy is not uncommon.
As long as you don’t mind putting the hours in on the road, pulling on a wet wetsuit, and the freezing temps, Chile is the adventure surf trip of a lifetime. So let’s dive in and find out everything you need to know about the area…
Table of Contents
Southern Chile - Surf Overview
- Consistency - Always something
- Wave Types - Left-hand points and beach breaks
- Crowds - Minimal (Excluding well-known spots like Pichilemu)
- Wetsuit - 4/3, boots & hood
- Hazards - Rocks, cold, locals
Where in Southern Chile Exactly?
How To Get Around Southern Chile
A car is the only way to maximize your trip to southern chile. While there are buses between Santiago and various coastal towns, without a car, you’ll be stuck to these towns and be limited to where you can surf.
I’d highly recommend hiring a car for the airport in SANTIAGO and hitting the road from there. I hired my car from RentalCars.com (Europcar) and picked it up straight from the airport in Santiago.
Southern Chile Surf Spots
Southern Chile has a wealth of epic surf spots; you only need to open Google maps to discover the potential. I won’t name all the spots here as I’ll let you go on your adventure, but here are some of the more well-known spots…
Punta De Lobos
The most famous surf spot in Chile! Situated on the edge of Pichilemu, Punta De Lobos frequently receives solid swells, and the cliff is a safe and awesome spot to watch hard-charging 10ft board-toting chargers ride such waves.
On smaller days, things get more user-friendly, and the point transforms into a long, slopey left that meanders down the point. A super fun wave for all abilities.
Puertecillo
An hour north of Pichilemu lies the small town of Puertecillo, hosting a fun, playful sand-bottomed left point. Depending on the sand bank, the waves can get good here, and although I only surfed it 2-3ft, I was alone and still had a wicked time.
Constitucion
The city of Constitucion is 3 hours south of Pichilemu, and despite its lack of natural beauty, the coast here boasts a handful of epic waves. Head along the coastal road and you’ll pass a number of potential setups, all with their own little intricacies and personalities.
Buchupureo
Further south is one of the jewels in the crown of surfing southern Chile. A fast, powerful left point that frequently pumps out amazing waves. When I arrived at Buchupureo, the waves were cooking and reminiscent of what I imagined Chile to be like. Glassy 4-6ft lefts, reeling down a black sand point. It was like something outta the movies. (I’m looking at you, Psychic Migrations).
Tips For Surfing Southern Chile
The Cold
For any surf trip in Chile, be prepared for the cold, because for the lack of a better description, it’s fucking freezing. As you head south from Santiago, things get steadily colder in and out of the water. Bring plenty of rubber (meaning wetsuits and accessories), not of the latex kind, a warm coat, thick socks, and anything to keep you warm while getting changed in cold car parks during dawn sessions.
Driving
If you’re serious about chasing waves in the region, you’ll be doing a tonne of driving. While most of the roads are good, there are plenty of potholes and areas where the road abruptly turns to dirt.
Hire a good car, make sure you’re favorite music is downloaded, and be ready to burn some petrol. You’ll be rewarded with epic waves somewhere along the coast.
Private Roads
Turning up at some spots, you’ll be greeted with a private road sign. This only happened to me once, and I don’t speak Spanish, so I turned around. But if your heart is set on a particular spot, it might be worth asking the local farmer if you can check the surf.
Secret Spots/Locals
Due to its remoteness, many spots in the area are uncrowded, so be respectful of the locals. While surfing at one spot, I was filming using my GoPro and was told I wasn’t allowed to film. Which is understandable, as who wants a random foreigner turning up at their favorite spot with a GoPro hanging out their mouth?
Where to Stay for Surfing in Southern Chile?
There are several small coastal towns you could base yourself during this cold water surf adventure. But by far, the best base is Pichilemu.
A relatively large surf town famed for hosting the renowned big wave spot Punta De Lobos, a wave that regularly exceeds 8-10ft but in between these days, it just adds itself to the list of other user-friendly long left-hand points in the region.
You’ll want to base yourself there, and the town offers everything you need, from great cafes and restaurants and a variety of accommodations to suit all budgets–check out the best Pichilemu hostels here.
Sirene Insolente
This is where I stayed on my tip in September 2022! Sirene Insolente hostel, just a few hundred meters back from the point at Punta De Lobos.
The hostel is epic with super friendly and helpful staff, clean, comfortable beds, a co-working space (perfect for surfing digital nomads), and even a surf school and surf shop on site. Couldn’t recommend the place enough.
Kom Hostal
Another wicked, budget-friendly surf hostel located in the heart of Pichilemu. Warm, comfy beds, friendly staff, solid location, and buffet breakfast. Just a ten-minute drive from the waves at Lobos with both private and dorms available. Learn more about Kom Hostal here.
Sudeste Hostal
For great views and a re-designed space, this newly renovated hostel is another epic place to stay when surfing in southern Chile. Located at Infernillo, Sudeste Hostal also has a workspace, pool, and terrace area to check the waves. Prices start around $23usd per night.
Digital Nomad Surfing in Chile?
As a digital nomad surfing base, Pichilemu can serve as a great place to score waves and work remotely. While the town isn’t as established on the digital nomad surfing map as other Latin American destinations, the town does have a handful of cool hostels and cafes to get work done between surf sessions.
Surfing Southern Chile - Summary
If you’re looking for a true cold water surf trip, Chile is somewhere you’re guaranteed to score solid waves. Surfing in southern Chile is a cold treat and a must-do surf trip for any keen surf adventurer.
The swells are solid, the water is cold, and there are enough epic setups and potential for surf to last a lifetime, let alone one trip.
Fly to Santiago, hire a rental car, and hit the open road. If you’ve got camping equipment, there are plenty of places to camp along the coast, but if you’re looking for a great base with hot showers, a cool vibe, and somewhere to get some work done, check out the Insolente hostel in Pichilemu.
For information on surfing in Chile, check out my guide to surfing in Arica or the complete guide to surfing in South America. If you have any questions about the area, please let me know if the comments. Happy surfing!
