Pichilemu

Pichilemu was developed as a seaside resort at the end of the nineteenth century by Agustin Ross Edwards, who built a hotel, a casino and a terraced park in a European idiom, parts of which survive. What the town runs on now is surf: Punta de Lobos, a few kilometres south, is a long left-hand point break that works consistently and is one of the recognised big-wave spots in South America, hosting international competitions. The water is cold all year and wetsuits are not optional. The town has grown around the sport, with schools, board hire and a permanent surfing population.

History

The Promaucaes lived here before the Spanish conquest, and the name comes from the Mapudungun pichi, little, and lemu, forest. The Ortúzar family, heirs of the San Antonio de Petrel hacienda, built a dock in 1875, and in 1885 Agustín Ross Edwards bought 300 hectares and made the place a summer resort for wealthy families from Santiago, with the Gran Hotel Pichilemu, a park laid out in 1885 and a casino of 1905, both now historic monuments; the commune was created on 22 December 1891 (Wikipedia, Pichilemu).

Highlights

• A Victorian resort layout - Ross Edwards's park and buildings.
• Punta de Lobos - a long left point break south of town.
• International competitions - held on the big-wave days.
• Cold water year round - wetsuits in every season.

When to go

Year round for waves; December to March for the warmest air. A full day.

Good to know

The water is genuinely cold and the currents at the point are strong - Punta de Lobos is not a beginners' break. The town is busy in January and February. Wind picks up most afternoons. Development pressure at Punta de Lobos has been a local fight.

Nearby

Punta de Lobos is south; Colchagua and Santa Cruz are inland.

Key facts