Pichilemu • Surf Spot Statistics

Best Surf Season (October - March)

Pichilemu is at its finest from October through March. The South Pacific subtropical high settles in, locking in the offshore S/SSW/SW flow while the baroclinic storm track stays far enough south to keep waves pulsing instead of chaotic. Swell averaging 1.6m (5.2ft) and 12.4-13.0s periods arrives mainly from the WSW/SW quadrant, producing powerful, rippable faces at the north-facing breaks. Ideal wind percentages peak between 68% and 75%, precipitation is at its lowest, and water temperatures climb to 13-14°C (55-57°F). This is the window when the combination of clean, lined-up groundswell, offshore wind and reliable weather makes Pichilemu truly world-class.

Fair Surf Season (April - May & September)

The shoulder months of April, May and September offer a mix of winter energy and spring/summer wind. April still carries 13.0s swell and 74% ideal wind, but the first signs of wetter, chillier weather appear. May is the transition into winter: average swell nudges up to 1.7m (5.6ft), but onshore N/NNE winds begin to invade, dropping the ideal-wind rate to 64% and making lineups less consistent. September, on the other hand, is the spring comeback month, with ideal winds rebounding to 71% and the SW swell component rising to nearly 39%. These months reward the surfer willing to chase the days when the synoptic wind switches offshore.

Low Surf Season (June - August)

June through August marks the heart of the Chilean winter. The South Pacific storm track is at its most active, and average swell heights hold at a healthy 1.7m (5.6ft) with 12.5s periods. However, the wind pattern turns against the north-facing coast. N, NNE and NNW winds become much more frequent, with ideal wind falling to 59-64%, and June in particular sees the lowest clean-surf percentage of the year. Rain and cold air peak, with air temperatures in the 9.5-10.5°C (49-51°F) range and water temps bottoming out near 12.2-12.9°C (54-55°F). When the wind does blow from the south on the backside of a winter low, Pichilemu can be heavy and hollow - but it is far more of a gamble than the summer months.