Matanzas

Matanzas is a small bay on the O'Higgins coast where the thermal gradient between the cold ocean and the warm interior produces a reliable onshore wind through the afternoon, most days, for months on end - which is exactly what kitesurfing and windsurfing need, and which turned a fishing hamlet into a centre for both from the 2000s. Competitions are held here and schools operate on the beach. The wind that makes it work also makes it unsuitable for anything else: swimming in the afternoon chop is unpleasant and the shore is exposed. The village has grown accordingly, with the usual consequences for property prices.

What you actually see

• Wind almost every afternoon - the thermal gradient off the cold ocean.
• A kitesurf and windsurf centre - schools and competitions on the bay.
• A former fishing hamlet - changed since the 2000s.
• Exposed shore - the same wind that makes the sport possible.

When to go

October to March, when the wind pattern is most reliable. A full day.

Honest expectations

Mornings are often calm and the wind builds after midday, so timing matters. The water is cold and a wetsuit is required. It is not a swimming or lounging beach. Accommodation is limited and books out.

Nearby

Navidad is inland; Pichilemu and Punta de Lobos are south.