Playa Cavancha is the main city beach in Iquique, Chile. It's a popular spot, but it's known for its big closeouts most of the time. If you hit it during the winter or when windswells come from the west or north, you might find some corners that work well for beginners and cruisers. The beach is pretty straightforward, drawing a mix of locals and visitors looking to enjoy some time on the water.

The surf here is mainly a beach break with waves breaking over uneven reef and sand. It tends to handle swell sizes starting from 2 feet (about 0.6 meters) and can work best with swells coming from the west, along with some activity from the south and northwest. When conditions line up, you can ride both left and right. For the easiest surf, it's recommended to check it out during low to mid tides and with easterly winds. However, be mindful that these beaches often have strong rips that can catch you off guard, especially when the swells are larger.

Near Playa Cavancha, you have Punta Cavancha with some reef breaks, but also the smaller beach breaks of Playa Brava and Huayquique. These spots tend to get crowded when the conditions are right, but they can easily be too big or blown out, so keep that in mind. If you're a beginner, sticking to Playa Cavancha when it’s smaller and cleaner is definitely your best bet.