Surfing Los Vilos: The Complete Guide

Los Vilos is a point break located in Los Vilos, Chile, offering a right-hander along South America's vast coastline. Los Vilos is a well-known right-hand point break at a small fishing port on the Panamericana.. Rated as intermediate difficulty with lightly crowded conditions, this point break is a worthy destination for surfers looking beyond the usual suspects.

Best Conditions

Swell Direction: The ideal swell direction is SW (225°), with workable conditions from SSW to W (195°–265°). Swells outside this window will either miss the break or produce disorganized waves.

Swell Size: Los Vilos needs a minimum of 0.8m / 3ft to start working and handles swells up to 3m / 10ft before conditions deteriorate.

Swell Period: Look for a swell period of at least 10 seconds, with 14 seconds being the sweet spot. Longer periods deliver more organized, powerful waves with better shape.

Wind: True offshore here blows from the E (90°). The full offshore range spans NE to SE (50°–130°). Glassy conditions under 4km/h from any direction also produce excellent surf. Plan for early morning dawn patrol sessions.

Tide: This spot works best at mid to high tide. Optimal tide range is 0.4m–1.5m.

When to Go

Primary Season: The prime window at Los Vilos runs March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October (Mar–Oct). This is when swell consistency and direction align most reliably with the break.

Secondary Season: A secondary window opens November, December, January, February (Nov–Feb). While not as consistent, patient surfers can still score quality sessions during this period.

Season Notes: Year-round surf. Best autumn to spring.

Water Temperature: Expect water temperatures around 14°C / 57°F. A 4/3mm or 5/4mm wetsuit is essential, with boots and gloves for extended sessions.

Getting There

The nearest airport is SCL, approximately 3 hours by road.

Access: Fishing town on Panamericana highway.

Hazards & Tips

Known Hazards:

🪨 Rocks — Rocky entry/exit or in lineup
🌀 Strong rips — Dangerous currents

Rocky point. Currents on bigger days.

Safety Tips:

Study the currents before paddling out. Know your exit strategy

Skill Level: This spot is rated intermediate (5/10). Crowd Level: Typically lightly crowded (4/10).

Check the Live Forecast

Planning a session at Los Vilos? Check the live forecast on Strike Mission to see today's conditions and the 10-day outlook. Our Strike Score algorithm rates this spot from 0 to 100 every day, factoring in swell direction, size, period, wind, and tide — so you know exactly when to paddle out.

Don't leave your next surf trip to chance. Let the data tell you when Los Vilos is firing.

*Conditions data sourced from Strike Mission's verified spot database.*