Hello,
I’m researching Peru as a place for a surf trip, with my wife who wants to do non-surf things. I was after recommendations for surfguide books (there is at leats one downloadable option) or actual surf guides. I e-mailed a couple of the latter in Peru and never heard back. I was thinking of the north and as my wife will be with me, I have to come up with a wife-friendly plan.
Pms welcome.
Thanks
Bob
For California human contact check with the fellow who does Boz wetsuits and lots of other surf gear out of his garage in San Diego, I think he's from Peru. 858 569 6786
Thanks - I’m in Oz. I’m narrowing the field a bit with some advice from a Swalockan. Transort options is the major issue presently.
Bob
did you try contacting these guys?
They are based near Lima, we had a good experience with them, I think it was back in 2005.
I’ve surfed North Peru and there isn’t a worse place to bring the wife on a surf trip.It’s like being on the moon with waves. I would suggest going up to Equador.
…hey Ekim, I was thinking the same…
but you need to think what s things the wife like, because if she likes shopping malls and the like, those small towns near Ecuador, or in Ecuador, do not have such stuff.
Why not go to Machu picchu, etc?
or go to Chile?
delete
Thanks,
Since a young guy, many moons ago, I’ve had images of Chicama burnt into my brain. Ecuador. sounds more appealing than Chile, as an overall destination, but there’s so much I could do - there are also places I mention as possible trips that don’t get much response, Peru sparked interest. I’d also rather pick a small area and spend time getting to know it well. Given I don’t want to drive somewhere with a few surf /swell options in reasonably close proximity is what I’m aiming for.
Crowds in the surf or out don’t appeal so I wanted to avoid MP also. Instead there is Chan Chan & Kuelap, which seem interesting places. My Spanish is very ordinary at present, which is also a factor. Working on that one.
I e-mailed two surf guide companies but never heard back. I didn’t have dates or anything and they were general enquiries, asking about day trips - a lone surfer probably isn’t high on the commercial agenda.
My wife is partial to malls, but with some care, and avoiding the more lunar/isolated locations I think it is doable - picking a couple of bases in the north with surfing /non-surfing options
Thanks all.
Bob
Here's the info from Harry at Boz wetsuits in San Diego for all to share and offer some international advertizing to the Peru crew. 2 web sites to check Olasperu.com and Peruazul.com The surf quide man to make contact with is Gino Bello, email him at feginobello@homail.com, his facebook name may be Braschi, his phone is 51 981 204763, he does it all in the way of guiding, day trips, long trips...? To make contact with Harry at Boz wetsuits in San Diego email bozwetsuits@hotmail.com , he is enthusiastic about offering info for Peru surfing.
If you are set on going to Peru and want to be near Chicama check out the small town north of there called Pacasmayo. There is an excellent left point there which generally receives more swell than Chicama. The town is quaint and close to Chan Chan and some other areas of historical interest. You may want to research flying into Trujillo. The landscape being lunar is an understatement.
bggreen:
Some tips from a local Peruvian:
Lets start with the seasons:
Summer (Dec - April) We get smallish south swells and some long period NorthWest Swells, those hit us about a week later than Hawaii.
Winter (May - November) Assortment of south swells, we usually get the bigger swells between june and september (same as Indo)
Keep those two in mind, and some breaks are very seasonal.
Peru has 3 major surf zones:
This is a beach town 40 km South from Lima on the Panam Highway. Here you will find an assortment of very good (rarely epic) breaks. Between Km 20. and KM.70 of the South Panam Highway you can find everything from long poinbreaks, to heavy double overhead waves, and nasty shorebreaks. Keep in mind most pointbreaks are over rock/boulder bottoms, so don’t expect down the line barrelling perfect waves, its more like slower, bit warbly, very bowly and a bit sectiony, still when its overhead (which it is during most of winter) the waves will be extremely fun, plenty of heavy lips to smash, although low on the barrelling potential. Wind wise, we always have a case of side/on shore winds, usually glassy early morning and late afternoon, summer has less wind (and less waves). In winter we can get pretty strong onshores but there will usually be something surfable.
Crowd wise: More people in the water during summer, than winter. Very Crowded on weekends, will be able to surf with a handful of brazilians on weekdays (empty compared to weekend crowds).
Most consistent breaks will be: Señoritas and Caballeros (Where the ISA championships were held both on Senior and Junior Level), La Isla, Punta Rocas, Puerto Viejo, El Huaico, Chilca (massive shorebreak - on its day as good as Puerto Escondido). Look for videos and pictures of those so you get an idea. Most of these work throghout the year, and some swell directios favor some breaks better than others, during winter ususally the more west the swell has in it, the better the surf gets (except for Caballeros - that place likes it dead south).
Around Punta Hermosa there won’t be much for your wife to do while you surf other than lounge on the beach. There are a couple of Pre-Incan Ruins nearby but thats about it. However if you like good (and I mean world class) dining definately go out in Lima a couple of nights (a taxi from Punta Hermosa to Lima and back from a decent taxi company should be about US$ 30-40). Don’t know about your budget, but in Lima you can eat at a top notch restarurant for US$ 100- 150, what in Europe / USA would be about US$ 300 - 400 (per couple). As far as restaurants check out La Mar Mercado (only lunch), and for fancier nighttime options La Gloria, Central, Malabar, most have a menu in english if you ask for it - I’m not saying go to all of them but if you like good food, try one of those…won’t forget about it anytime soon.
Weatherwise - During Summer, its sunny, air temp 25-30°C, water will be between 18-22°C.
Winter - Always cloudy, gloomy, air temp 12-20°C, however we have a very high relative humidity so it will feel much colder, water will be between 14 - 17°C.
2. Trujillo / Chicama / Pacasmayo Area:
650 KM North of Lima.
Its quite simple:
Weather and water temps same as lima, though sunnier.
Big ass south swell (over 12 feet on Surfline report): Go to Chichama, the more west in it, the better.
Medium SW swell: Pacasmayo (don’t plan on it being good if the swell direction is not at least 215°)
This area has Chan Chan and a couple of other Pre-Incan Archeological Sites. Windy as hell, so don’t plan on having your wife stay on the beach - she’ll be blown up all the way to Ecuador.
DONT GO TO CHICAMA IF THE CONDITIONS AREN’T RIGHT
Most tour operators want you to think it breaks 24/7 365 day a year…it gets good more like 3 or 4 days a month during winter. If its not at least chest-head high its pretty much a long ass longboard wave.
Pacasmayo will work with smaller swells however, the swell direction is critical…as I said 215° or higher at least.
3. Peruvian North Shore:
Now this is wold class.
Check google maps, look for Lobitos, Talara, Peru. It is exactly what it looks like from there, windy, deserted ghost town (although now there is a nice hotel right on the point). Here you will find an assortment of left hand breaks, which I won’t name - (Lobitos the best known one isn’t even close to the best waves in the area), all world class on the right tide. Think of it as a miniature version of the Bukit Peninsula in Bali but with sand bottom - unfortunately the crowds are about the same.
However what you can do is stay in Mancora which is a small resort town about 80 km north, where your wife will have a nice beach, somewhat protected from the wind and plenty of shopping for local artisan items. Check out www.vivamancora.com. If you stay in Mancora you will have to arrange daily transport to the surf. Mancora has a pretty fun wave, but the crowd has become hectic, think of 50 people on soft tops learning to surf, if it gets big the locals come out and catching a wave will be hard.
Swell wise. Lobitos - Talara area, all good with large south swells, also work on north swells, but smaller.
Water and weather: Tropical but dry. During winter will need a fullsuit in lobitos because of the wind.
Hope that gives you an idea.
and really, if you come to Peru…go check out Cuzco, 20 years from now you will probably remember it more than the surfing.
Mancora is a nice break and beautyful beach.Just south if your adveturous you can stay with César Aspíllaga near Los Organos. He’s very nice and owns lofts on the beach.Your wife can snorkle and fish while you surf reef. I didn’t mean Peru is not worth going .It has really good surf, the people are super nice but …the beaches are very barren. Pacismayo and the town is awesome. Have fun.
Ekim,
Why would I need to be adventurous to stay with César?
Bob
Well you have to walk about a mile into town for food and water.
Thanks - good to know.
Bob