Located in Antofagasta, Chile, Isla Santa Maria is a small island 1.6km (1mi) offshore, that has three different breaks. Two are good left reefs that offer generally decent walls over rock bottoms for about 100 meters (328 feet). The last is a deep-water big wave A-frame best left to experts and those with more volume.
What are the best surf conditions for Isla Santa Maria?
It gets good between chest-high and triple overhead. We recommend riding a shortboard, and then a step up as the size picks up here. These breaks are generally suited for intermediate and advanced-level surfers. The surf here is consistent (7/10) and empty (1/10). The best winds are usually from the Southeast. The best swells are from the Northwest, South, Southwest, and West. It works on all tides.
We recommend wearing a springsuit, in summer with the warmest water temperature at a pleasant 21°C (69°F) in January. In winter, we recommend wearing a 4/3 wetsuit, with temperatures being a brisk 15°C (59°F)! See the temperature chart below for more data on this.
