Best Time to Ride · Surfing · December · South America

Where to go surfing in South America in December

The 15 best surfing spots in South America in December, ranked by wave height.

Find the best time to goTap a spot to see when to go: wind, waves, water temperature, sun and rain in every month, from years of weather statistics.

Updated October 2026 · weather data 2022–2026

In short

Best for surfing in South America in December: Montañita (Ecuador), São Miguel do Gostoso (Brazil) & Taíba (Brazil).
Water at the top 10: 13–29°C.
Warm enough for no wetsuit: Montañita, São Miguel do Gostoso & Taíba.
For beginners: Montañita, São Miguel do Gostoso & La Pedrera.

By continent

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1

MontañitaEcuador · water 25°C · air 27°C1.2 m wavesBeginner-friendly · no wetsuit · ✈ SNC 50 km 2

São Miguel do GostosoBrazil · water 28°C · air 31°C1.6 m wavesBeginner-friendly · no wetsuit · ✈ NAT 78 km 3

TaíbaBrazil · water 29°C · air 31°C1.5 m wavesIntermediate and up · no wetsuit · ✈ FOR 51 km 4

La PedreraUruguay · water 21°C · air 25°C1.8 m wavesBeginner-friendly · 3/2 wetsuit · ✈ PDP 93 km 5

MáncoraPeru · water 22°C · air 29°C1.6 m wavesBeginner-friendly · shorty · ✈ TYL 56 km 6

Ilha do MelBrazil · water 27°C · air 28°C1.3 m wavesBeginner-friendly · no wetsuit · ✈ CWB 88 km 7

LobitosPeru · water 21°C · air 28°C1.5 m wavesIntermediate and up · 3/2 wetsuit · ✈ TYL 14 km 8

MatanzasChile · water 13°C · air 21°C1.9 m wavesAdvanced only · 5/4 wetsuit and boots · ✈ SCL 118 km 9

ItacaréBrazil · water 27°C · air 28°C1 m wavesBeginner-friendly · no wetsuit · ✈ IOS 59 km 10

Pichilemu – Punta de LobosChile · water 14°C · air 19°C1.7 m wavesAdvanced only · 5/4 wetsuit and boots · ✈ SCL 164 km 11

Punta HermosaPeru · water 19°C · air 22°C1.4 m wavesIntermediate and up · 3/2 wetsuit · ✈ LIM 46 km 12

Mar del PlataArgentina · water 18°C · air 24°C1.3 m wavesIntermediate and up · 4/3 wetsuit · ✈ MDQ 11 km 13

JericoacoaraBrazil · water 28°C · air 32°C0.7 m wavesIntermediate and up · no wetsuit · ✈ JJD 21 km 14

Florianópolis – JoaquinaBrazil · water 25°C · air 27°C1.4 m wavesIntermediate and up · no wetsuit · ✈ FLN 11 km 15

ChicamaPeru · water 18°C · air 23°C1 m wavesIntermediate and up · 4/3 wetsuit · ✈ TRU 56 km

The 15 spots with the best surfing conditions in December, from years of weather data, ranked by wave height and, a little, warm water. Wave height: average daily maximum.

Questions

Where is the best surfing in South America in December?

Montañita (Ecuador): 1.2 m waves; São Miguel do Gostoso (Brazil): 1.6 m waves; Taíba (Brazil): 1.5 m waves.

Where is the water warm in December?

Taíba: 29°C, no wetsuit; Jericoacoara: 28°C, no wetsuit; São Miguel do Gostoso: 28°C, no wetsuit.

Where can beginners go surfing in December?

Good spots for beginners this month: Montañita, São Miguel do Gostoso & La Pedrera.

Other months

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