Surf: Proclaimed "The best left pointbreak in Chile" by local big-wave maestro Ramon Navarro and few could argue when witnessing a monster SW swell detonating way outside the iconic rocks that guard the entrance to the bay. Lobos is not just for XXL days either, with a ripable, sand-bottomed section known as Diamante on the inside for the groms and the pilots. Further up the point, the El Mirador section has summer peelers rotating past the shoreline rock clusters, or muscle-bound walls linking from the rocks all the way to the beach sections in a lined-up SW-W swell. Too much S swell will ramp up the current, while W will shut down the outside barrels so SW @ 235º should be perfect. Prefers lower tides, but will break right through. The paddle-out from the island rocks (Los Morros) has achieved legendary status for sketchiness - dashing across the slippery shelf from a hiding place in the rocks when there is a lull has caught many out. Experts only when it gets above double-overhead. Environment: Summer beach party scene, surf shop on point and skate ramp on the beach for flat days, which are pretty rare. Punta Lobos is one of the most consistent spots in the southern hemisphere, let alone Chile so don't expect to get it to yourself. Surf: General: The lefts that march in down the line are consistent, varied and often excellent. Not to mention it's the closest high-quality pointbreak to Santiago. And as an added bonus, the cliffs protect the break from the dreaded -- and almost daily -- SW wind. Lobos itself has many sections and moods, depending on the swell and tide. When it's giant (rideable up to solid 20-foot), the lineup is way outside off the further big rock. The experienced big wave riders take off right in front of the rock, while the rest of the mortals tend to stay just wide of it. When it's double-overhead-plus, the wave just kinda rolls into the bay -- other than sheer size, it's not a super intimidating big wave, as there's no gnarly bowl section. It would actually be good training for any aspiring big-wave riders, as it's pretty deep out there and your chances for utter death are minimal.

When it gets under double-overhead is when things start cooking. The lineup moves further in, and the wave walls and tubes through the whole middle part of the point -- 200-yard-long rides are not unheard of. It's not super fast, so you actually have time to set up the bowl sections, and it's glassy 90% of the time. As it gets underhead, it becomes more sectiony, breaking mainly towards the top of the point in a series of shorter (50-yard) walls. Tides: Low Size: Head high-double overhead Wind: SE Swell: SW Bottom: Sand and rocks Paddling: A workout to get to the top of the point on a big SW. Spot Rating: Proximity to the Southern Ocean and protection from predominantly SW winds means it doesn't take much for it to get good. Access: Park right at the tip of the point Crowds: Crowd Factor: After Renaca, Lobos is the most crowded spot in Chile. Fortunately, there are a few different take off zones. Local Vibe: There are a few expats who've moved here from other parts in the world as well as a dozen or so super hot local Chileans who'll get more waves than you. Relax. You're on vacation. Environment: Pretty good Hazards: Burned out arms just getting to the wave. Season: March-April