Best Time to Ride · Surfing · January · South America

Where to go surfing in South America in January

The 15 best surfing spots in South America in January, 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 January: Montañita (Ecuador), Máncora (Peru) & São Miguel do Gostoso (Brazil).
Water at the top 10: 15–29°C.
Warm enough for no wetsuit: Montañita, São Miguel do Gostoso & Taíba.
For beginners: Montañita, Máncora & São Miguel do Gostoso.

By continent

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1

MontañitaEcuador · water 26°C · air 28°C1.3 m wavesBeginner-friendly · no wetsuit · ✈ SNC 50 km 2

MáncoraPeru · water 23°C · air 30°C1.6 m wavesBeginner-friendly · shorty · ✈ TYL 56 km 3

São Miguel do GostosoBrazil · water 29°C · air 31°C1.5 m wavesBeginner-friendly · no wetsuit · ✈ NAT 78 km 4

TaíbaBrazil · water 29°C · air 30°C1.4 m wavesIntermediate and up · no wetsuit · ✈ FOR 51 km 5

La PedreraUruguay · water 23°C · air 26°C1.6 m wavesBeginner-friendly · shorty · ✈ PDP 93 km 6

Ilha do MelBrazil · water 29°C · air 28°C1.3 m wavesBeginner-friendly · no wetsuit · ✈ CWB 88 km 7

LobitosPeru · water 22°C · air 30°C1.5 m wavesIntermediate and up · shorty · ✈ TYL 14 km 8

MatanzasChile · water 15°C · air 21°C1.9 m wavesAdvanced only · 5/4 wetsuit and boots · ✈ SCL 118 km 9

Punta HermosaPeru · water 20°C · air 24°C1.5 m wavesIntermediate and up · 3/2 wetsuit · ✈ LIM 46 km 10

Pichilemu – Punta de LobosChile · water 16°C · air 20°C1.7 m wavesAdvanced only · 4/3 wetsuit · ✈ SCL 164 km 11

ItacaréBrazil · water 28°C · air 29°C0.9 m wavesBeginner-friendly · no wetsuit · ✈ IOS 59 km 12

Mar del PlataArgentina · water 21°C · air 26°C1.2 m wavesIntermediate and up · 3/2 wetsuit · ✈ MDQ 11 km 13

Florianópolis – JoaquinaBrazil · water 27°C · air 28°C1.3 m wavesIntermediate and up · no wetsuit · ✈ FLN 11 km 14

JericoacoaraBrazil · water 29°C · air 30°C0.6 m wavesIntermediate and up · no wetsuit · ✈ JJD 21 km 15

ChicamaPeru · water 19°C · air 25°C1 m wavesIntermediate and up · 3/2 wetsuit · ✈ TRU 56 km

The 15 spots with the best surfing conditions in January, 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 January?

Montañita (Ecuador): 1.3 m waves; Máncora (Peru): 1.6 m waves; São Miguel do Gostoso (Brazil): 1.5 m waves.

Where is the water warm in January?

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

Where can beginners go surfing in January?

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

Other months

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