Chile El Gringo, Arica
up 7:26am down 7:38pm
1.3m 8 kts 10s WSW Reef
The day. 20.9° water 22.5° air UV 2 43 km vis 2% cloud
Waves.
No forecast data for this spot.
Wind.
No wind forecast for this spot.
Stay for the culture.
The break.
ReefExpertLocal heavy
Isla Alacrán, El Buey next door
A thick reef off Isla Alacrán, Arica. El Gringo is the Chilean barrel people mean when they say the north is heavy. El Buey is the neighbour. The water is Humboldt-cold. The town is a port at the edge of the desert.
When.
April to August
South Pacific swell in the Chilean winter. The reef needs a real pulse.
The lineup.
El GringoEl Buey
Worth knowing.
- 1. Watch a set from the peninsula. The takeoff is closer to the rock than it looks.
- 2. El Buey is the other reef on the same lump. Do not mix them up in your head.
- 3. The water is cold year round. A spring suit is not a California spring suit.
- 4. Winter is the window. A small day is still a sharp reef.
Go.
Before you paddle.
- 1. Check local conditions before entering
- 2. Always surf with a buddy
- 3. Know your limits and skill level
- 4. Watch for rip currents
- 5. Respect local surfers and rules