Surf: General: Papagayo is a pretty popular, quirky left reef break, smack out in the middle of the bay fronting the town of Quintero. It's one of the few true reef breaks in central Chile. It's not located in the lee of a headland or point and can be a bit sensitive to wind. Swells stack on the outer bit of the reef and feel their way along into a few speedy sections, tubing when it all comes together, and usually maintaining size as it goes down the line. There's a convenient paddling channel that runs next to the break, and when it's super huge, which is often, especially in winter, there's a way inside section that many of the local kids like to surf. As it's right in Quintero, careful with your stuff; the parking area on top of the cliff is a hang out zone and you can't really see your car from the water. Tides: Medium-low Size: Head high-double overhead Wind: E/SE Swell: SW Bottom: Rock reef Paddling: A workout when it's on, take advantage of the paddling channel. Spot Rating: Can get good, but requires cooperative wind since it lacks the protection of a headland. Access: Park on top of the hill and hoof it on down Crowds: Crowd Factor: Yep Local Vibe: Can be a bit intense at times, but if you're mellow you'll be fine. Environment: Not bad, can get dirty when it rains. Hazards: Bouncing off the reef. Season: March-May