Pichilemu and Punta de Lobos

Chile'S Surf Capital On The Pacific Coast Of O'Higgins, Home Of The Big Wave Point Break Of Punta De Lobos · Pichilemu, O'Higgins

Pichilemu is a laid-back beach town on the Pacific coast of O'Higgins, about three hours from Santiago, and it is the surf capital of Chile. Its waves break year-round, and six kilometres south of town lies Punta de Lobos, a long, powerful left-hand point break off a headland of rock stacks, which on big swells produces waves of enormous size and has hosted international big-wave competitions. Surfers of every level come here: beginners learn in the gentler waves of the main beach, La Puntilla, while experts paddle out at Lobos, and watching from the cliffs on a big day is a spectacle in itself. The town began as an elegant resort in the late nineteenth century, and the Agustin Ross park and old casino survive from that era. South of town, at Cahuil, salt is still harvested by hand from shallow pans beside a lagoon. The water is cold all year, thanks to the Humboldt Current, so wetsuits are essential. It is crowded in January and February and quiet and a little windswept the rest of the year, with cheap hostels and good seafood.

Costanera, Pichilemu, O'Higgins, Pichilemu, O'Higgins, Chile

The beaches are open at all times. Surf schools and board rentals run all year, most in summer. The Cahuil salt pans are worked mainly in the warmer months. Many restaurants and hostels reduce hours out of season.

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