Destination

Valle del Elqui

Chile, South America

It gets Strong winds Either direction From $15/day
Updated:29 April 2021

Kitesurf Season

J F M A M J J A S O N D

Destination Summary

Valle del Elqui

Puclaro: ever blowing!
This is a spot that has wind all year round, yes you hear me, all year! The strong season is from end of august to may, from june to july few windy days. The average wind strenght is around 20-25 knots. The spot is a dam located in the feet of the Elqui Valley which is a very dry and hot place that receives the venturi effect from the mountains and starts blowing early in the morning because of the change of temperature coming from the cold Pacific Ocean.
The little town around the dam is called Gualliguaica and it has a few hostels to stay. You can also go to Vicuña 15’ minutes away from the spot for a nice dinner or to find supplies at a supermarket. You can also visit several observatories like Mamalluca staying at Campo de Cielo Mamalluca, this area has such a dry atmosphere that is perfect for stars gazing. Another option is to go to Pisco Elqui and try our booze there, all this if you manage to stop kiting in this amazing place!!!! All the area has a lot of quartz in the land which is a mood lifter!!!!

Kite Info

Kite shop

Has a Kite Shop

Kite spots

Puclaro Dam

Best months

january, february, march, april, may, june, july, august, september, october, november, december

Dominant boosting direction

Either direction

Wind Strength, Consistency, Wind Quality, Density

It gets Strong (Up to 30 knots) It's windy Every day Pretty steady Warm and Cold wind

Water temp

Cold (You need a wetsuit)

Water conditions

Choppy

Local riders

Ian Warner; Ariel Blaschke;

Crowd factor

Some waters users around

Woo Record

21 by Man Giorgio Caiozzi Woman Margarita Hartwig

Travel and life info

How easy is it to get there?

Takes time to get there

How do you get there?

Fly to Santiago: then fly to La Serena and take a taxi to the spot. Or take a bus to La Serena and then to Gualliguaica or Vicuña

Daily cost

Super cheap (~$20 /day)

Party Destination

Not a party destination

Do you need a car?

Yes

Family friendly?

Yes

Other fun and activities

Observatory
mountain bike
trekking

How easy is it to find cuddle company?

Sorry, no cuddles here

Internet Connectivity

Good (video calls and streaming)

Development

Low development (few or no accommodations; hotels; health services or shops)

Thanks to Margarita Hartwig for submiting the destination

Questions & Answers

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