Kitesoul Magazine #27 Iternational Edition

78
KITETRIPS
Chile Buena Onda, Good Vibes in Chile
USEFUL FACTS & INFORMATION
KITETRIPS
CLIMATE & BEST TIME TO GO
Hot and dry in the North, cold and wet in
the far South, the regions in between have a
pleasant, Mediterranean climate, however, a
warm hoody or jacket and a pair of jeans is
recommended for the evenings, particularly
on the coast. When the coastal fog hits, it
can get pretty chilly even during daytime.
Water temperature: around Matanzas chilly
all year round (12-15°C), peaking in late summer
at around 18°C. Bring a good 5/4mm
and booties. The more neoprene the better,
gloves and hood are optional, for surfing the
hood is definitely a great idea!
Wind: Surazo (strong southerly winds) blow
fairly consistently with 20-25 knots (often
more!) between September – April, with the
greatest wind probability in November and
December.
Swell: The Humboldt current and the Roaring
40s deliver swell all year round, however, at
the height of summer (Jan + Feb) it’s usually
the smallest.
Coastal fog can always throw a spanner
in the works. It usually occurs during the
warmer months due to cool air from the Pacific
(cold Humboldt current) colliding with
hot air over the land. Due to the topography
and without any prevailing wind, this highly
moist fog gets stuck along the coast, sometimes
for several days, as the coastal mountains
(Cordillera de la Costa) block it like a
wall from moving and disappearing. That’s
when winter hits in summer, grey in grey
and with zero chance to kite, even though it’s
sunny and over 30°C only a few kilometers
inland.
TRANSPORT
Generally you could do Chile by public transport
due to a good bus network, however, you
would need a lot of patience and time, plus
you would miss out on seeing/kiting a large
number of spots. A rental car is definitely
the way to go. I suggest CHILEAN RENT A CAR,
with a wide range of different vehicles in
their fleet, several depots and in my opinion
the best prices:
www.chileanrentacar.cl
THE ULTIMATE & ALL ESSENTIAL KITE CON-
TACT
KITE CHILE organizes packages for wave-kiters
incl. accommodation, transfer and spot
guiding. An experienced guide takes guests
to the best kite spots around Matanzas and
ensures unforgettable experiences along the
pristine, wild coast of Chile. Activities on nowind
days and for couples, where only one
partner kites: www.kite-chile.com
ACCOMMODATION
Directly at the spot of Roca Cuadrada with
private access to the beach:
www.centineladematanzas.cl
And for the ones who make it to Patagonia,
Guillermo of RENTAL NATALES is your man for
advice, guidance, resources and all the best
gear for trekking & camping for rent:
www.rentalnatales.com
WWW.KITE