La Rinconada has no other spot on this map within 40 km of it. straight-line distance
On the clock
11:00 · 14:00 · 15:00 · 18:00 · 20:00
The wind window runs roughly 11:00 to 20:00. It starts at 6-8 kt late morning, reaches 20-25 kt between 14:00 and 15:00, holds the peak for three to four hours, then fades between 18:00 and 20:00. A dawn start buys nothing here.
The marks are the clock times the record names, laid on a 24-hour day. The bar between the first and the last covers those hours; it is not a promise of wind.
The wind
locals call it Garúa (southwesterly)
Direction
Kite sizes
metres · typical quiver highlighted
Character
thermal
fills in: The wind window runs roughly 11:00 to 20:00. It starts at 6-8 kt late morning, reaches 20-25 kt between 14:00 and 15:00, holds the peak for three to four hours, then fades between 18:00 and 20:00. A dawn start buys nothing here.
Typical strength
20-25 kt at the afternoon peak on summer days; the Antofagasta coast in general is a strong-wind coast.
Also on record
6-8 kt late morning, building to 20-25 kt around 14:00-15:00. Model averages of about 5-6 kt exclude the thermal and are useless here.
The quiver, in words
No local rider count exists, so these are indicative, read off the recorded wind rather than measured. For 75-85 kg on a twintip, a 9 m covers the 20-25 kt afternoon window from October to April and a 7 m handles the days the peak sits at the top of that range.Mornings are 6-8 kt and nothing flies properly, so a 12 m is only worth the space if you want to be on the water while the thermal fills. May to July there is often nothing to rig at all.
Direction to shore
Onshore at the Antofagasta beach. The side/side-onshore figure in some listings belongs to a different Arica placement.
Dominant direction
S, SSW and SW reported; monthly data clusters near 193-201 degrees
Forecast
Month by month
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
riding season from the spot record · no wind series here is trusted enough to name a season
- Jan, riders' month0
- Feb, riders' month0
- Mar, riders' month0
- Apr, riders' month0
- May0
- Jun0
- Jul0
- Aug2
- Sep2
- Oct, riders' month2
- Nov, riders' month0
- Dec, riders' month0
windy days per month (3 h+ at 12 kn+)
Ringed months are the ones riders and schools name: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, Oct, Nov, Dec.
The model is wrong here
The model reads 2% of days at its best month, which does not sit with the season and the wind strength this record states. The figures are kept and drawn as hatching so no wind colour can be read off them, and the ringed months are the ones riders name.
| Month | Windy days | Force 4+ | 12 kn or more | Knots | From | Peaks at | Air | Water | Readings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 0% | 10% | 0% | 9.1 kt | SSW | 15:00 | 22.2°C | 19.9°C | 62 |
| Feb | 0% | 2% | 0% | 8.5 kt | SSW | 15:00 | 22.9°C | 21.9°C | 57 |
| Mar | 0% | 0% | 0% | 7.9 kt | SSW | 15:00 | 22.3°C | 21.7°C | 62 |
| Apr | 0% | 0% | 0% | 8.3 kt | SSW | 15:00 | 19.9°C | 21.1°C | 60 |
| May | 0% | 5% | 0% | 7.7 kt | SSW | 14:00 | 17.3°C | 19.2°C | 62 |
| Jun | 0% | 7% | 0% | 7.3 kt | SSW | 15:00 | 15.9°C | 18.2°C | 60 |
| Jul | 0% | 11% | 3% | 8.3 kt | SSW | 15:00 | 14.9°C | 17.5°C | 62 |
| Aug | 2% | 15% | 8% | 8.7 kt | SSW | 15:00 | 15°C | 17.7°C | 62 |
| Sep | 2% | 17% | 5% | 9.5 kt | SSW | 15:00 | 15.6°C | 18.1°C | 60 |
| Oct | 2% | 13% | 6% | 9.6 kt | SSW | 16:00 | 16.6°C | 18.5°C | 62 |
| Nov | 0% | 15% | 7% | 9.8 kt | SSW | 15:00 | 18.4°C | 19.2°C | 60 |
| Dec | 0% | 26% | 0% | 9.9 kt | SSW | 16:00 | 20.5°C | 19.5°C | 62 |
riders' months
Riders and schools name these months. The model reads lower here, and both are shown rather than averaged.
Modelled from the operational forecast archive at 1.5–7 km (2023-2024), daylight hours only, not a ground station: it resolves thermal, lake and valley winds far better than coarse reanalysis but still tends to understate a strong local thermal. A windy day has at least three consecutive daylight hours at 12 knots or more. The typical daily max and the direction are columns of the table above, month by month. Highlighted months are the riding season from the spot record.
High-resolution weather model (modelled) · Open-Meteo historical forecast archive — best-match operational model (ICON-D2 / AROME / ICON-EU / GFS by region), not a ground station · 2023-2024
The water
Type
Open Pacific sand beach. Chop, no waves recorded; some descriptions call it calm and tranquil.
Tides
Tide independent; the beach is calm at most tide states.
Temperature
Summer 20-24 C near La Portada in the seasonal peak range; also reported as 16-18 C without a seasonal split.
Winter 15-18 C near La Portada in the cold-season range; also reported as 16-18 C without a seasonal split.
Wetsuit
Shorty or light summer suit can work in warm periods; full wetsuit is a must in winter.
Your level
The scene
What riders come here for
Launch and rules
three ways on to the water, and what each one asks of you
With a school or a boat
No school names this spot
Nobody has been recorded teaching or running a boat here.
On your own
Room to launch: medium beach, enough space for launch and landing
Somewhere else
No neighbour on record
No other spot in the atlas sits within reach of this one.
Rescue
Launch
Sand launch with room to lay out lines and land. Parking and camping/day-use space behind the beach.
Space
medium beach, enough space for launch and landing
Rules & access
Access rules drift faster than anything else we hold — check locally, and propose an edit if this has changed.
Rider tips
- Bring water, sunscreen and a first-aid kit: there are no toilets, showers or restaurants on the beach.
- Do not count on rescue. Line up a school or a local in Antofagasta before you ride alone here; DesertWind Kiteboarding is the only name on record and its status is unconfirmed.
- Arrive for a 13:00 rig. The thermal is 6-8 kt late morning and only reaches 20-25 kt around 14:00-15:00.
- Pack a shorty even in summer; the water is 20-24 C at best and 15-18 C in winter.
- If a guide sends you to Arica, it is the wrong La Rinconada. This one is north of Antofagasta, about 18 km out by one count, farther by others.
- Put 137 in your phone before you drive out. It is the Armada's maritime rescue line and it is the only help this beach has.
Getting there
Airport
Andres Sabella Galvez / Cerro Moreno Airport, Antofagasta (ANF)
Route
Drive or taxi north out of Antofagasta toward La Portada and the La Rinconada coast. One count puts Playa La Rinconada about 18 km north of Antofagasta; other descriptions put it farther out, so check the distance before you commit to a taxi.
Cost level
medium
Staying
Stay in Antofagasta city. There is no kite lodging at the beach that anyone has confirmed.
No-wind days
Monumento Natural La Portada, Antofagasta city waterfront, Juan Lopez, photography and desert/coast sightseeing.
Photos
FAQ
When is the best time to kite La Rinconada?
The best summer season runs roughly mid-October through April, with January-March and September-December rated the strongest months.
Is La Rinconada suitable for beginners?
Yes; local guides call it a special beginner spot because the wind is onshore and conditions are generally calm.
What is the wind like at La Rinconada?
A southwesterly thermal builds from around 11am, reaching 20-25 knots by early-to-mid afternoon before easing in the evening.
What hazards should I know about at La Rinconada?
The beach has limited amenities and uncertain rescue provision, so bring your own water, sun protection and first-aid supplies.
Last updated: August 2026