Surfing Chicama - Malpaso: The Complete Guide

Chicama - Malpaso is a point break located in Puerto Malabrigo, La Libertad, Peru, offering a left-hander along South America's vast coastline. Malpaso is Chicama's barrel section - where the wave hits a shallower reef and throws perfect tubes at low tide. Rated as advanced difficulty with lightly crowded conditions, this point break is a worthy destination for surfers looking beyond the usual suspects.

Best Conditions

Swell Direction: The ideal swell direction is SSW (202°), with workable conditions from S to SW (180°–225°). Swells outside this window will either miss the break or produce disorganized waves.

Swell Size: Chicama - Malpaso needs a minimum of 1.8m / 6ft to start working and handles swells up to 3m / 10ft before conditions deteriorate.

Swell Period: Look for a swell period of at least 12 seconds, with 16 seconds being the sweet spot. Longer periods deliver more organized, powerful waves with better shape.

Wind: True offshore here blows from the SE (135°). The full offshore range spans ESE to SSE (110°–160°). Glassy conditions under 4km/h from any direction also produce excellent surf. Plan for early morning dawn patrol sessions.

Tide: This spot works best at low tide. Optimal tide range is 0.2m–1.2m.

When to Go

Primary Season: The prime window at Chicama - Malpaso runs April, May, June, July, August, September, October (Apr–Oct). This is when swell consistency and direction align most reliably with the break.

Secondary Season: A secondary window opens March, November (Mar–Nov). While not as consistent, patient surfers can still score quality sessions during this period.

Season Notes: Best at low tide. Barrel section.

Water Temperature: Expect water temperatures around 17°C / 63°F. Bring a 3/2mm wetsuit — 4/3mm in winter months.

Getting There

The nearest airport is TRU, approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes by road.

Access: Third section of Chicama.

Hazards & Tips

Known Hazards:

🪨 Rocks — Rocky entry/exit or in lineup
⚠️ Shallow — Very shallow at low tide

Shallow reef. Barrel section.

Safety Tips:

Wear reef booties to protect your feet from sharp coral and rock

Skill Level: This spot is rated advanced (7/10). Crowd Level: Typically lightly crowded (3/10).

Check the Live Forecast

Planning a session at Chicama - Malpaso? Check the live forecast on Strike Mission to see today's conditions and the 10-day outlook. Our Strike Score algorithm rates this spot from 0 to 100 every day, factoring in swell direction, size, period, wind, and tide — so you know exactly when to paddle out.

Don't leave your next surf trip to chance. Let the data tell you when Chicama - Malpaso is firing.

*Conditions data sourced from Strike Mission's verified spot database.*