The Surf Window

Iquique

Tarapacá, Chile

Beach breakIntermediate

A desert city perched between the Atacama and the Pacific, Iquique delivers consistent right-hand beach break waves with a unique, stark beauty found nowhere else in South American surfing.

Typical Conditions

The Surf Window

Swell Window

N
OptimalW (270°)
WindowSSW–NNW (210°–330°)
Size4-8ft

Wind

S

Offshore

Tide

Any

LowMidHigh

Season

March–October

JFMAMJJASOND

The Wave

Type

Both

Bottom

Sand

Shape

Solid, punchy beach break peaks, the Humboldt Current keeps the water cold and the swells powerful

Length

30–80m

Skill Level

  • •Who it's for: Intermediate
  • •Why: The beach break has real punch and the cold Humboldt Current adds a physical challenge beyond the waves themselves.

Hazards

  • •Cold Humboldt Current (15–17°C despite the desert latitude, full wetsuit required)
  • •Strong currents near the harbour entrance
  • •Very remote relative to other surf destinations

Local Tips

  • •Iquique is a duty-free city and has a strong local surf culture, board rental and wetsuits are available in town.
  • •Playa Cavancha (the main city beach) and Huayquique (north of town) are the two main surf areas.

Location

Map showing the location of Iquique in Tarapacá, Chile

-20.2141, -70.1525