🇨🇱 Bahía Inglesa / Caldera
Chile · South America · All Chile spots →
Best directionSW
Wind speed18–28kt
SeasonSep – Apr
Skill levelIntermediate to advanced
WaterFlat + waves
A striking turquoise-water bay in the Atacama region — powerful, gusty thermal wind, cold Humboldt Current water needing a full wetsuit year-round, and both flat-water bay sections and exposed ocean beaches for wave riding nearby.
View live 5-day wind forecast →Good to know
Getting there25 minutes west of Copiapó Airport (CPO) via the Pan-American Highway and Route C-302. A car is needed for the various sandy inlets; free parking along the beach dirt roads or at the public lots near the main bay promenade. The wide sandy bay contours give the primary, unobstructed launch.
HazardsHighly variable water depth with extensive hidden rocky reef structures and sharp shell beds close to shore. Check local conditions carefully to avoid tearing gear on shallow stone hazards — this is fully open-sea tracking with no organized rescue support if a malfunction occurs.
Best time of dayAfternoon, September-March, when regional SSW winds get thermally accelerated across the flat desert plains. Most reliable strength inside the outer rocky spits, maximizing the flat-water character there.