Atacama and Coquimbo
- j
- f
- m
- a
- m
- j
- j
- a
- s
- o
- n
- d
Positives
- Very consistent swells
- Clean turquoise waters
- Quality left & right points
- Atacama desert beauty
- Cultural & happening La Serena
Negatives
- Heavy waves
- Cold water year-round
- Some tricky spot access
- Exposed to winds
- Rocks and boulders
Atacama and Coquimbo surf travel guide
Distances are so vast, Chile has a numerical naming system and this ‘Norte Chico’ zone straddles the regions of Atacama (Region 3) and Coquimbo (Region 4), relatively close to Chile’s capital, Santiago. Totoralillo has sprung up as a popular summer resort and crowds flock to the beach hotels overlooking a hammerhead peninsula that bends lefts and rights down both sides with impressive regularity. The outside sections are fast and hollow while the inside gets easier plus there are plenty of adjacent beachbreaks that make this area actually suitable for beginners and rippers alike. The fancy La Serena resort town has a golf course and a rare right pointbreak north at Teatinos, plus 12 exposed, pounding, A-frame beachies running along the Avenida del Mar down to the city of Coquimbo.
Surf spots in Atacama and Coquimbo
Research the 12 surf breaks in Atacama and Coquimbo and discover what spots suit the current conditions.
Break lowdown
We’ve collated the wave data giving you a unique insight into the 12 breaks in Atacama and Coquimbo.
When to go
Surf and weather statistics to help plan your surf trip to Atacama and Coquimbo
- jan
- feb
- mar
- apr
- may
- jun
- jul
- aug
- sep
- oct
- nov
- dec
Travel Information
General
- Current Time
- Tourists
- 5,723,000
- Population
- 19,116,201
- Tourist Info
- Tourist Info
Security
Health
Money
- Currency
- CLP
- Exchange rate
- $1 = 538.75 CLP CLP
Cost of living
Communication
- Dialing in
- +56
- Dialing out
- 00
- Emergencies
- 911
- Language
- Spanish
Electricity
- Plug Type
- cl
Visas
For most countries in the world no visa is needed for stays of up to 90 days.
Getting There
No visa required. Santiago (SCL) is well connected with North America, Europe and Australasia. National airline is LAN Chile. From Peru, Bolivia or Argentina, it’s much cheaper to get there by bus. From Santiago, there are buses departing twice an hour, sometimes every 15 minutes to La Serena, 6h away.
Getting Around
Car hire is ideal (base model $50/d; United). Be ready for long Pan American Highway drives. Real exploration requires a 4WD. Double cab pickups will cost $80/d while a minibus for 8 people will be $135/d. Public transport with long distance bus and local taxis can work fine for individuals.
Accommodation
Try Hotel Nomade in Barrio Inglés at Coquimbo for $32/dble. Luxury Jardim del Mar in La Serena is $91-160/dble. In Totoralillo, Polynesian style Tiki Tano has 10 cabins ($15-25/room) and Thai food restaurant (often fully booked and expensive). Expect $3-5 for a basic meal; lots of cheap seafood. Plenty of people free-camp Tres Playitas.
Activities
Chile's second-oldest city, La Serena is blessed with beautiful stone architecture, 29 churches, shady avenues and pretty plazas. Check the astronomical observatories of La Silla, European Southern Observatory and El Tololo. Visit Elqui Valley or the villages of Pisco Elqui and Vicuña, the birthplaces of pisco and the poet Gabriela Mistral respectively.
Hazards & hassles
Water gets cold and mornings can be gloomy; pack booties and maybe a hood too. Don’t get caught inside, some boulders and rocks are nasty plus there’s urchins. Most of the spots are very uncrowded, more seals than surfers. Surf can get big, be prepared. Chile is generally safe but keep a low profile and valuables locked away.
Handy Hints
There are surf shops in la Serena but better bring everything, including a gun and a second wetsuit so you can always put on a dry one. Chile Safari is based in La Serena; 2 nt package with lessons staying at Tiki Tano cabin and 4WD jeep transport is $280. Lots of killer videos on youtube.com
Due to global pandemic, Visas, Getting There, Getting Around or Accommodation information and pricing may have changed. Always check Government Travel Advice before travelling.