Playa Las Machas, Pacific Ocean beach in Arica, Chile.

Playa Las Machas is a beach on the Pacific Ocean in the Arica y Parinacota Region, Chile, stretching from Chinchorro Beach to the mouth of the Lluta River. It has strong sea currents at the shoreline, so it is not suitable for swimming. The beach is used for fishing, and at high tide it is good for surfing.

The beach takes its name from macha clams, a shellfish that once thrived in these waters and were harvested by local communities. Clam digging was for many years a key resource for people living along this coast.

Fishermen working along the shore use methods passed down through generations and shape local food culture with fresh seafood. These fishing traditions have been woven into the rhythm of northern Chile's coastal life for a long time.

Access is via Luis Beretta and Las Dunas avenues. The beach is dangerous because of strong currents at the shoreline, so swimming is not advisable. Fishing is practiced here, and surfing is possible at high tide. North of the beach, camping facing the sea is possible because few people go to that sector.

The beach's name comes from the macha, an edible mollusc once found here in large numbers; the species is the reason for the name rather than any feature of the sand. Camping is possible at the northern end, facing the sea, where few people go. Access is via Luis Beretta and Las Dunas avenues.