Not looking for the powerful barrelling waves on offer in South America? Don’t worry! There are tons of amazing beginner surf spots in South America. So get ready to plan an amazing surf trip with these solid beginner waves.

Huanchaco, Peru

I feel like I write about Huanchaco constantly. There’s nowhere in the world quite like Huanchaco when it comes to surf history. Local groups have been riding their caballito de totora on waves for over three thousand years! Today, this rich connection with the waves lives on through a vibrant surf community. It’s one of the best beginner surf spots in Peru for both the town and culture as well as the waves.

There are several solid waves to be found in this part of Peru. Most notably, La Curvita is the beginner spot. It’s a mellow left that is great for learners and people progressing onto green waves. The surf season is really May to October, or the winter here in Peru. The waves can get big at some spots, but the beginner-friendly spots will see incredible consistency during this time. In the offseason, waves will be smaller but much less consistent.

For surf lessons or surf camps in the area, check out Urcia Surf School. They’re one of our favorite surf camps in South America! They have been running surf camps here for over twenty years, and are run by professional surfer Juninho Urcia (and his family). Their love for the surf and the sea is absolutely contagious. They have camps for everyone, including 3 day camps, 6 day camps, monthlong camps, and many more!

Mancora, Peru

Staying in Peru, Mancora is probably the most popular beach town in northern Peru. The water here is warm year-round, and it’s got good vibes. It’s an active town. I’m not sure if I’d call it a true party town, but it is on the cusp. There are a ton of surf hotels, pumping reef breaks, and lovely mellow lefts and beach breaks for beginners. It’s on our list of the best places to learn to surf. You’re also just an hour or so to places like Lobitos for the more advanced surfers.

The main wave in the area is Mancora Main Point, a pretty mellow left-hand point break. It rarely gets very big, and is a great place for beginner/intermediates. You won’t find tons of crowds here, but you will find surf schools and classes on the inside. Pocitas Beach just to the south also offers super mellow beginner waves, as well as some loggers. Again, the Peruvian winter is generally the best time as the south swells roll in, but there are waves all year long.

As far as surf camps go here, we recommend Algae Surf Camp. One of our favorite surf camps in Peru, they really excel with certified teachers and a true community vibe. Formerly known as La Maison Eco House, Algae has been in the area for years. They offer 5 day surf camps for around $500 and 7 day surf and yoga camps for around $700. They also offer the opportunity to build your own camp! There’s delicious food, local kombucha, yoga classes, massages, kitesurfing, whale watching, and more!

Pichilemu, Chile

Down to Pichilemu in north-central Chile. Home to one of the best longboard waves in South America, Pichilemu is a fantastic place to learn to surf. It’s perhaps the surf capital of Chile, and its iconic spot Punta de Lobos draws international travelers from all over. The town itself is relatively small, fairly chill, and a fun place to travel and meet people from around the world.

Although the focus here is often Punta de Lobos, we’re talking beginner surfing here! La Puntilla is the place to be for beginner surfers. It’s super accessible from town, and can get rather crowded at times. There are steeper takeoffs out back, but longboarders and beginner surfers find lovely rolling waves on the inside. It’s also super consistent, so you’ll almost always find beginner waves here!

The way to go here is with Punta de Lobos Surfcamp. They have 4 day and 7 day surf camps, including private options! All of their instructors are ISA-certified, they include two surf lessons a day, and have additional amenities like a sauna.

Florianópolis, Brazil

Let’s move over to Brazil, home to some incredible surfing. It’s a huge country with a ton of coast, but we’re going to talk about one place: Florianópolis, or Floripa. Floripa is a rad tourist hotspot that is bustling but also has island vibes. You’ll find tons of active tourists here, coming to surf, kitesurf, hike, snorkel, and more. The big sell for surfing is that there are over forty beaches here! If you want to party, it’s also a great place as it really gets going when the sun goes down.

As there are dozens of beaches in the area, you’ll basically always find something worth surfing. Places like Barra da Lagoa are solid beginner-friendly spots, while some spots like Joaquina absolutely pump. Whatever the conditions are, you can always find a beginner-friendly wave in the area. And when you’re not surfing, it’s a lively and fun place to explore.

Brazil Surfing Adventure is a rad surf camp just steps from the beach. They have private studios, or you can rent a little private house with a full kitchen. They include things like airport transfers, massages, and outside tours, all with certified instructors. You can do 8 day private camps with them to learn how to surf or improve from whitewater.

Montañita, Ecuador

Finally, let’s head back west to Ecuador. Montañita is a solid right-hand point break. The town itself gets popping at night. It’s a small town that is super laid-back, but it gets going at night with the backpackers and travelers. You’ll see fire dancing, hear live music, and pass little pop-up cocktail bars. It’s relatively affordable and there are tons of small hotels and surf camps everywhere.

The beginner-friendly wave here is known as La Punta, or the point. It’s super consistent, and the waves can get overhead from April to September. However, the inside is full of whitewater opportunities for true beginners. Once you’ve progressed to green waves, La Punta offers amazing slow peelers to practice getting down the line or turning. There’s also more aggressive (and more peaky) waves over at the main beach, but it isn’t the most beginner-friendly.

We recommend checking out Brothers of the Wave Surf School in the area. They have 3 day, 6 day, and 6 day camps. It’s a quiet spot, rather relaxing, but you can still get into town. They offer private lessons, a pool and jacuzzi, photo and videos, and free bikes to use!