Surf Forecast  Punta Una

Punta Una surfspot characteristics

More about Punta Una surfspot

Punta Una is another barrelling wave that sucks hard off the reef with the end section going almost dry, especially at high tide. The left on the other side of the peak is called Mauro and is shorter, but just as intense. Another booger wave with room for only the best air-drop to tube stand-ups. Works well in smaller swells hence the crowding problems.

General: One of the best waves in Iquique, El Colegio is a powerful right-hander that breaks in shallow waters on a hard rock bottom. It can handle good size, up to 15 feet and bigger, and the bigger, the better. It only starts breaking at six to ten feet.</br></br>It is situated between two other waves: the easier and mellow Punta 1 to the left, and Las Urracas, which is almost to the left of Colegio, but Colegio is definitely the best and most difficult wave of the three and requires more skill than the other adjacent waves. On good days and with the right swell, you can surf barreling 12-foot walls for 100 yards before kicking out.</br></br>It can get pretty crowded with surfers and bodyboarders with quite some skill, and can get tense when drop-ins happen. When it gets bigger, you may want to wear a helmet just in case. And look out for closeout sets. You have two channels to enter: the left channel through Urracas, or the right channel going between Colegio and Punta 1. On big days, look way out in the direction of the Bestia, on the point of the peninsula with the buildings, to see incoming big sets. Tides: Low tide filling up Size: Double overhead-triple overhead Wind: NE Swell: N Bottom: Rock Paddling: Can be a workout when it's pumping...and you're trying to get under a cleanup set. Spot Rating: Needs a proper swell, but produces quality barrels that can handle some size.

Advanced to expert

There is a parking lot just in front, on the right side of the wave.

May-July, October

Crowd Factor: When it's good, it gets pretty tense with good surfers in the water. Local Vibe: Cool vibe. Mostly locals, but nice toward strangers. Just be cool too.

Gets the biggest crowd on the Arturo Prat stretch, so expect some vibe, plus the urchins and rocks are only a mistake away.

Not bad, can get dirty when it rains.

Hitting the bottom as the wave breaks over a shallow rock surface.