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Playa Chilca is a long beach located on the southwest coast, leading up to Punta Lobos and the headland at Pucusana. It’s a spot that can get a bit tricky due to its inconsistent conditions, but when the right swell comes through, it has its moments. It’s not the most reliable place, as the local swell doesn't always show up, so surfers often have to wait for the ideal conditions.
The surf here can really come alive with a decent W-NW swell, producing some fun A-Frames on the sandbars. These waves can provide some fast and makeable tubes, which you can ride as either lefts or rights. Playa Chilca handles swells starting from about 1 meter (3 ft) and can ramp up significantly. However, the beach isn't the best with south swells; they create strong currents that can make it tough, and in those cases, you might see wave faces hitting around 6-8 meters (20-25 ft). Surfing here is generally for experts, especially since conditions can get gnarly. The best time to catch the waves is during low to mid to high tide, and if the wind is coming from the northeast, you'll have a better experience out there.
Interestingly, this spot gained a bit of fame when Quicksilver ran a contest here back in February 2012, famously dubbing the area 'UFOs' due to all the sightings. This highlights not only the area's charm but also reminds us that the consistency is low. If you’re heading out here, consider driving up to the northern corner for some potentially better conditions.