La Serena o Vicuña
Puclaro (Gualliguaica town)
La Serena airport is 30 min away from the spot.
You can take a bus from santiago and the rent a car.
local buses can take you to the lagoon, and then hitch hike to the other side of it. Or you can take a cheap taxicab from la serena to the spot. A town called Gualliguaica.
In the spot you can rent houses/rooms from locals... No tourist but riders...
In the valley there are several cabins, and nice facilities, close by.. (10 min away). The town itself is new, due to a Dam made 3 years ago.
Vicuña has good fullfiling places... nicer places more touristic, you have to go inside the valley.
Valle del Elqui is recognized to be a very mistic place in Chile. And also is where our national liquor is produce out of grape, so you have several vineyards.
Biking, Ecotourism, horsback riding, trekking are other activities in the area. As well as Astronomic Observatories (some worlwide known!). Valle del Elqui is known for having a micro climate and clear skies everyday!...
Very cheap. If you stay in the town with the locals...you pay not more than 5.000 pesos (8 dolars) a night.
A nice room in a town close by (if you go with the girl)... around 16 dolars per night.
Food is cheap.
THE BEST THING.... IS A ALL YEAR ROUND SPOT!!!! World Class! - but not for beginners
Spring and summer: from 18 to 35+ knots.
Autum and Winter: from 13 to 20 knots.
99% wind!!!!!! I'd say it is one of the best places in the world...
Wintertime can get a bit cold, but sunny. Summertime and spring is the best...(Sep through March)
Flat and Choppy (when windy, you get pretty good chops)
The beach is not safe. Is getting better all the time, but need to look out for rocks... Wind on the shore is gusty so waterstart is with body in the water and have to bring the kite rapidly to the other side... That makes it a place not good for begginers..
contact most riders through the Chilean Comunity page:
www.kiteboarding.cl
or email me at uke@kiteboarding.cl
Not for first day learning!!
Believe me...is a place like no other...
Besides 30 minutes away you have the beach...and an excelent spot for high season called Puerto Aldea
At the moment The beach area is divided Windsurfers from Kiters (downwards and more open).
Some rocks, no facilities on the beach itself...is actually a rather "rustic" spot in general... it hasnt been exploited yet!! very very soul and mistic...