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Chile has 6,435 km of coastline, which means beaches galore – white sand, dark sand, surf beaches, beaches with cliffs, beaches with dunes....the list goes on.
With the chilly Humboldt Current sweeping up the coast from Antarctica, however, taking a dip can be a somewhat frigid (or wetsuit-worthy) experience.
It doesn't have to be that way. Beach bums who love nothing more than a gentle, warm swim before sprawling out on the sand with a sunhat can find their own patch of Chilean beach paradise just by heading north.
Here is the first in a series on Chile's warm and spectacular northern beaches.
Arica, beach weather perfection
Start your Chilean beach-hop in the tidy city of Arica, just 18km south of the Peruvian border and a perfect rejuvenation spot after a hot bus journey down from Tacna or Arequipa.
Arica is one of Chile's best beach-bum resorts, with some of the warmest waters and whitest sands in Chile. Although it's close to a tropical latitude, the Humboldt current in the Pacific and the Atacama Desert at its back keep the climate dry and comfortable, with cooler nights and virtually no risk of rain. And it stays warm year-round, making it a perfect destination for travelers in Chile during the autumn-winter months (May to September).
The easy-to-find Playa El Laucho
Arica has several gorgeous spots to choose from. South of the city, Playa El Laucho is the closest to the town center, approximately 1km south along Avenida Comandante San Martín. The broad cove offers calm, clear waters that are perfect for swimming and pale, fine sand, with restaurants and cafes lining the avenue above. It's an easy taxi or bus ride from downtown; buses leave from the north-east corner of General Velasquez and Chacabuco, just one block in from the coastal road.
Snorkeling and sunbathing at Playa La Lisera
Less than 1km further south is Playa La Lisera, named for the little lisa or Golden Grey Mullet that swim in the shallow waters. The sheltered, semi-circular white sand cove is lined with attractive mature gardens, and the calm waters are perfect for paddling, snorkeling, shore-fishing and swimming. The cafés and restaurants of Comandante San Martín are within easy reach when hunger strikes.
Sunset at Playa Brava
Just around the little headland on the southern end of La Lisera is the tiny but aptly-named Playa Brava, or "Fierce Beach." The currents make it too rough for swimming, but it's said that the best sunsets in Arica can be seen from its sandy shores, and it's a quiet spot for those who want to sunbathe uninterrupted and enjoy the roar of the ocean.
Surf and cave paintings at Playa La Capilla
La Capilla, some 4km south of Arica along Comandante San Martín, is a must-see during your Arica beach tour. As well as towering surf spot (surfistas will enjoy taming the 6-meter left and right breaks) it's the site of some beautiful pre-Columbian cave paintings. Surfers can hire gear in Arica from surf shops such as El Gringo, Solari and Huntington.
North of Arica at Playa Chinchorro
Expansive Playa Chinchorro, 2km north of the city along Avenida Las Dunas, is one of Arica's most popular beaches and offers all kinds of beach and water sports: swimming, diving, windsurfing and gentle surfing, as well as some pretty hikes and good bird-watching opportunities. It's also a great spot for photographers, with a vista of the shipwrecked Wateree, which went down in the bay during a tsunami in the 19th century. Buses to the beach also leave from General Valasquez and Chacabuco.
