Surf: In the summer of 1983, the first Arica surf championship, maybe the first in the country, was held in playa Las Machas. This long stretch of beach is super-consistent and peaks abound. The waves are usually better around high tide and although the sandbanks shift a lot a lot with the rips, it’s usually worth checking the Rio Lluta mouth which marks the northern end of the beach. Many Ariqueños and tourists will set up their tents here in the summertime. Playa Chinchorro is the natural southerly extension of Las Machas. Environment: Sometimes crowded on summer weekends. Can get big and rippy.