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Global Surf Project: Chile. By Elizabeth Kilcourse & Laura Markey. Surfing in Chile. Chile 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.
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Global Surf Project: Chile • By Elizabeth Kilcourse & Laura Markey
Surfing in Chile • Chile 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 Lobos • Known 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 Maguillines • Best 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 Facts • Frigid waters all year due to the Humbolt current • Location: Southern South America, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean and South Pacific Ocean, between Argentina and PeruGeographic coordinates: 30 00 S, 71 00 WCoastline: 6,435 kmTerrain: low coastal mountains; fertile central valley; rugged Andes in eastNatural 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 Life • Animal 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 Life • Some 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