Surfing Chicama - Keys: The Complete Guide

Chicama - Keys is a point break located in Puerto Malabrigo, La Libertad, Peru, offering a left-hander along South America's vast coastline. Chicama Keys is the final inside section near the old pier, where perfect walls peel to their conclusion. Rated as intermediate 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 - Keys needs a minimum of 1.5m / 5ft to start working and handles swells up to 2.4m / 8ft 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 to mid tide. Optimal tide range is 0.3m–1.4m.

When to Go

Primary Season: The prime window at Chicama - Keys 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: Final section. Perfect walls.

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: Final section of Chicama. Near pier.

Hazards & Tips

Known Hazards:

🪨 Rocks — Rocky entry/exit or in lineup

Rocky sections.

Skill Level: This spot is rated intermediate (5/10). Crowd Level: Typically lightly crowded (4/10).

Check the Live Forecast

Planning a session at Chicama - Keys? 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 - Keys is firing.

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