I know this isn’t exactly what your looking for but going it alone isn’t the safest approach. I’m told the Shining Path has been dealt with and aren’t the problem they use to be, but there is still a lot of corruption.
I have heard great things about Rod and it looks like he’s got a good set up going. He’s a proficient shaper too. What ever you choose to do I’d think about going with a guide, at least for the first trip. Just my 2 cents.
I went several years ago w- a peruvian girlfriend who had lots of family down there. Without their kindness, etc., etc., I would have been a bit sketched on the place. The area around the airport in Lima is terrible, the outskirts of the city are filthy.
The waves are great though. LOTS of swell, and it feels good to see how much surf still goes unridden on this little planet of ours.
I heard it described once a La Jolla on steroids. I came back with the same take. I surfed aound the Pico Alto area.
The people from the small towns are really neat. I had others surfers actually waving me over to come surf with them.
Anyhow, have a good trip. I would echo the advice of hiring a guide. Find someone w- good references.
The way you do it is to wait until you see a big purple blob coming under new zealand and you hit it about 5 days later. If you don’t mind surfing with some mild crowds, and cool to cold water then it’s good. Never really blows offshore and the waves always seem to be bumpy/lumpy. But it can be good. The La Jolla on crack comparison is a good one. Same kinda waves but bigger and more power. You can get some incredible waves in punta hermosa etc…and I like both. But up north it blows offshore all day every day and the waves are groomed like indo. Lima can be a scary place if you don’t know what your doing and where your going. I stay in a place called the hotel doral in mira flores. Very traveler friendly and everything you need within walking distance. Never felt unsafe there or around there, but I don’t go walking around at nite. I decide where I’m going and I have the front desk call a cab that drops me off right where I’m going. Punta hermosa is mellow.
If you drive to the north your looking at 13 or 14 hours of straight up danger. Lot’s of head ons on that stretch because people fall asleep. Bus drivers are nuts and when they fall asleep it’s catastrophic. To quote MR. Magoo de la rosa…“I’d rather have 1.5 hours of danger then 14”. So we fly. it’s 200 bucks. No biggie. Once in Mancora it’s so kicked back you don’t worry about nothin’ . If your with Pulpo you really don’t worry about nothing. He’s smart. On his way back from dropping you off at the airport he’ll pull over and hand the cops on the side of the road some pepsi’s and some cookies. Every time we pass them we get the flash of the headlights…“Ola Pulpo” . Trips a milk run.
Chile is a great option.The safest of all SA countries.Bribe a cop go to jail .The food in Peru is the best not just the ceviche, causa etc .Both have great waves and people.Much more crime in Peru .There is no revolutionary movement in Chile ( Tupac Amaruh (sp)).The food is boring in Chile .You do not need a guide and the bus system works really well and you will not get robbed in the bus stations there.check out www,wannasurf.com it covers surf spots everywhere
I Reckon you could live decently there for less than say $500US a month.
Peru’s not cheap, not super expensive either, but most things cost about the same as they do in the U.S. Gas is about even with CA pump prices. Hotels and such, cheaper than the U.S. for the most part.
chile’s a whole nuther ball o wax… do peru. i’m sure you’ll dig. 3rd world insanities and good waves … you’ll have good mems and lots to talk about over a brew when y’re an old fart. go briddah.
the only reason im thinkingh baout chile is because i will be with my girlfriend. just her and I. if i was alone or with a gu yfriend it would be more of a who gives a fuck adventure, because im 24, so it would be all right.
so i gotta sleep on this one.
thanks all of you. the info here is always top knotch.
