Global Surf Project: Chile

By Elizabeth Kilcourse & Laura Markey

Surfing in ChileChile has quality wave breaks.

There is over 2700 miles of coastline.

The beaches are uncroweded, and multiple types of surf breaks can be found.

The water is cold all year.

Chile can be divided into three zones: North, Central, and Southern.

Northern Chile Surf Zone

There is an abundance of reef, rock, and point breaks in Northern Chile.

The best time of year to surf here is from September-November, because of consistent south swells.

During the summer months there are consistent swells from the North, causing stronger and harsher waves.

The North is the warmest of the three regions.

El Gringo

Located in Tarapaca, Chile.

El Gringo is an expert spot in the Northern zone of Chile.

Also known as the Chilean pipeline.

Surfing El Gringo

Video

Central Chile Surf Zone

This region has the capitol city of Santiago which has a population of about 10 million.

Because of that, this zone has the largest surf population in Chile.

The surf is very consistent here.

The water temperature is cooler than that of the Northern region.

Pichilemu is considered Chile’s Surf City, which contains

many surf shops and other surf related things.

Punta De Los LobosKnown as the crown jewel among the central region. Located in Santiago.

There are exposed reefs and point breaks.

It is best to surf during the winter here.

Ideal winds are from theeast and south east

Clean groundswells, and southwest swell angles.

This area can get busy in the water. Surfers must be aware of urchins, rips, and rocks

Punta De Los Lobos

Video 2

Southern Chile Surf Zone

Long empty beaches with big waves, ideal for the pioneer surfer.

Most remote region of all Chile. Waves are enourmous here compared to the other regions

The snowcapped Andes are always visible here while surfing.

The population is very small and spread out among ancient fishing villages and pastoral ranches.

The water is cold here, ranging from 55 to 61 degrees farenheit.

Consistent southerly winds, winds shift to the north during their winter months of May to July

Far from tourist areas, won’t be able to find modern surf shops.

El Puerto MaguillinesBest surf spot in the Southern Region

Located in Atacama, Chile

waves range from 4-10 feet on average

there is an ideal swell for surfers 96% of the time

It is a left ride with a rock break

Length of ride is about 50-100 meters

El Puerto Maguillines

Video 3

Chile FactsFrigid waters all year due to the Humbolt current

Location: Southern South America, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean and South

Pacific Ocean, between Argentina and Peru

Geographic coordinates: 30 00 S, 71 00 W

Coastline: 6,435 km

Terrain: low coastal mountains; fertile central valley; rugged Andes in east

Natural hazards: severe earthquakes; active volcanism; tsunamis

The north is characterized by arid and dry conditions. The central region of Chile has

a Mediterranean climate with mild wet winters and long dry summers, and the south

is cold and wet with prevailing winds of gale intensity.

Rainfall increases from almost nothing in the Atacama Desert in the north to 5,080

mm (200 inches) in the south.

Animal LifeAnimal migration is restricted by the Andes

mountains being a barrier to them, and the

northern desert being an obstacle to the

southward migration of tropical Andean fauna.

The most abundant animal are the rodents.

Some include- chinchilla, the dengu, the

mountain viscacha (those 3 farmed for their

furs), the monito de monte, and the nutria, or

coyupu ( a water rodent common in streams.

There are an abundance of deer, llamas,

alpacas and vicuña (used for their high-quality

wool).

There are few carnivores- Pumas, Andean

Wolves, Long-tailed Fox.

Animal LifeSome exotic birds like parrots and

flamingos appear over northern and

central Chile during migration periods.

The Condor lives throughout the Chilean

Andes, a large scavenger. In Patagonia

the carancha is a bird that attacks

lambs.

There are many amphibians, the most

known being the Darwin’s frog,

discovered by Charles Darwin in south

central Chile.

Chile’s geographic isolation accounts

for the absence of poisonous reptiles

and spiders.

Travel Information

A roundtrip plane ticket to Santiago, is about $1300-1500 for a week in November

You will need a 4/3mm wetsuit with booties and a hood, and how ever many surfboards you would like to bring

If you’re on a budget a hostel would be your best place to stay, there are many offered for surfers.

Chile Culture

Currency: Chilean peso (CLP)

People in Chile speak spanish.

Dance and music are very important

to this culture.

Pickpocketing and mugging are

on the increase and travelers

should take care of their

belongings, especially around

tourist areas and bus stations.

Also, avoid walking alone late

at night.

Chile is known to have a land mine problem

Sources

http://www.wannasurf.com/spot/South_America/Chile/Tarapaca/el_gringo/

http://www.thesurfingsite.com/Surf-Spots-Chile.html

http://ns.surfertoday.com/bodyboarding/5556-el-gringo-waits-for-the-best-pro-bodyboarders

http://www.surfingatlas.com/spot/2232

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X7F1IXoAjtE&feature=player_embedded#

!

http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/111326/Chile/24682/Plant-and-animal-life

Sources Continued

http://www.surf-forecast.com/breaks/Puntade-Lobos

http://magicseaweed.com/Chile-South-Surf-Forecast/34/

http://www.wannasurf.com/spot/South_America/Chile/

http://www.globalsurfers.com/country_details.cfm?land=Chile

http://traveltips.usatoday.com/surfing-chile-18186.html

http://www.surf-forecast.com/breaks/El-Puerto/reliability_by_month

http://www.globalsurfers.com/spot.cfm?land=Chile&surfing=4138&travel=Puerto%20maguillines