El Loa 86.3
#1237 of 5753 surf spots in the world · 🇨🇱 Chile · Tarapacá · near Lagunas
Works almost every day, clean mornings are the norm, no off season.
Works all yearIntermediate
Surf score86.3 /100
Surfable days100% of the year
Clean days91% groundswell + friendly wind
Groundswell91% period 11 s+
Typical size1.2 m 3.8 ft median
Water17°C a 3/2 wetsuit
Best time to surf El Loa
The best time to surf El Loa is February, March, April. The season runs all year. In April the water sits around 17°C, so pack a 3/2 wetsuit, and the typical wave is 1.1 m. The nearest airport is IQQ (99 km) and the nearest town is Lagunas (63 km).
| Month | Surfable | Clean | Size | Water | Suit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 100% | 90% | 1.1 m | 18°C | 3/2 |
| Feb | 100% | 95% | 1.0 m | 19°C | 3/2 |
| Mar | 100% | 95% | 1.1 m | 17°C | 3/2 |
| Apr | 100% | 96% | 1.1 m | 17°C | 3/2 |
| May | 100% | 94% | 1.2 m | 18°C | 3/2 |
| Jun | 100% | 89% | 1.3 m | 17°C | 3/2 |
| Jul | 100% | 86% | 1.3 m | 16°C | 3/2 |
| Aug | 100% | 90% | 1.3 m | 16°C | 3/2 |
| Sep | 100% | 87% | 1.3 m | 15°C | 4/3 |
| Oct | 100% | 91% | 1.2 m | 15°C | 4/3 |
| Nov | 100% | 93% | 1.1 m | 17°C | 3/2 |
| Dec | 100% | 88% | 1.0 m | 17°C | 3/2 |
Why 86.3
Seven parts, each normalised 0 to 1 and weighted; the sum is scaled so the best spot in the world is 100.
Consistency 26%
26.0
Clean days 24%
24.0
Groundswell 12%
12.0
Season spread 10%
10.0
Wave size 8%
2.8
Water comfort 10%
2.6
Access 10%
6.7
The detail
Faces 265° with 36% open water around it. Friendly morning wind 100% of days. Mean peak period 13.6 s. Days over 3 m: 0%. Mellow days (0.4 to 1.2 m): 57%. Months that work: 12 of 12. Coordinates -21.431, -70.060 (OpenStreetMap).
Spots nearby
Barrancon🇨🇱 Chile · score 84.9Baul🇨🇱 Chile · score 90.9La Bestia🇨🇱 Chile · score 91.0Cavancha🇨🇱 Chile · score 90.9
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