Punta de Lobos • Surf Spot Statistics

Best Surf Season (April - October)

The Southeast Pacific storm track turns toward the subtropics during the austral autumn, and Punta de Lobos enters its most reliable, most powerful stretch of the year. From April through October, average surf heights run 5-6ft (1.5-1.8m) on powerful 12.5-13.0s periods and, crucially, the swell window rotates west and northwest, delivering more direct WNW-NW-W energy to the NNW-facing beach alongside the dominant WSW-SW groundswell. This is the famous Mar de Fondo season, when deep-water South Pacific storms in the Roaring Forties send organized, heavy lines thousands of kilometres to the Chilean coast. Between frontal passages, the S-SSW-SW offshore wind regime shapes the faces beautifully. Cooler, wetter weather is part of the deal, but the size, consistency and power on offer are unmatched; when a strong mid-latitude cyclone aligns with a negative Southern Annular Mode, Punta de Lobos can go absolutely huge.

Fair Surf Season (November & February - March)

These shoulder months deliver a mix of summer and winter characteristics. The ocean remains full of long-period groundswell at around 5ft (1.6m) on average, but the swell directions tighten back into the WSW/SW quadrant, leaving the spot with more refracted, less explosive waves. What they lack in directional variety, they make up for in clean wind: ideal surfing wind percentages climb to 67-72 percent in February, March and November, producing some of the most consistently groomed conditions of the entire year. Air and water temperatures are also pleasant, especially in February and March, when the sea peaks near 14°C (57°F). Expect solid, fun, rippable surf with plenty of clean open faces - just a step below the winter heavyweights.

Low Surf Season (December - January)

Deep summer sees the South Pacific High strengthen and the mid-latitude storm track retreat poleward, pushing the Chilean coastline into a relative lull. Average heights settle at about 5ft (1.6m) and periods dip to 12.4-12.7s - still far from flat, but with over 72 percent of all swell energy in December and January racing in from the WSW, the waves arrive with less westerly variety and a great deal more refraction. The onshore N-NNW winds are scarce and generally light, yet ideal offshore wind frequencies slip to 61-62 percent, so you do not get the endless groomed days of spring. For the casual surfer it is still waist-to-head-high perfection; for those chasing the XL winter slabs that made Punta de Lobos world-famous, it is a time to be patient.