Surfing Peru

Lobitos is Peru's raw, untamed left point break paradise—a collection of world-class waves strung along a desolate coastline backed by the rusting infrastructure of abandoned oil...

Mancora is Peru's premier beach party destination with quality surf. The long left point offers forgiving waves in warm water, making it popular with beginners and the backpacker...

Cabo Blanco is Peru's heaviest wave - a powerful left point that produces thick, hollow barrels when solid SW swells hit. Made famous as Hemingway's marlin fishing spot, it now...

Los Organos is a right reef break in a fishing village famous for whale watching. The north-facing coastline picks up NW swells that miss most of Peru, offering a unique swell...

Negritos Point is a left point break in an oil industry town south of Lobitos. The wave offers consistent surf with fewer crowds, though the industrial backdrop is less...

Organitos is a beginner-friendly beach/reef break near Los Organos that picks up NW swells. The mellow waves make it a good alternative when the main reef is too challenging.

Panic Point is the heavier member of the Lobitos wave family - a powerful left that produces hollow barrels over a rocky bottom. The name says it all: this is a step up from the...

Lobitos Main Point is the centerpiece of this dusty oil-town-turned-surf-camp - a long, mechanical left that offers 200+ meter rides on good days. The wave has hosted...

El Hueco ("The Hole") is the hollow reef section of Lobitos - a slab-like left that throws barrels over a shallow rock shelf. When pure S swells hit, this is one of the most...

La Frontera is the connecting section between the main Lobitos points, where waves link up on bigger swells to create extended rides through the complex. A stepping stone between...

Baterias is a consistent left point break south of the main Lobitos wave, offering all-tide surfing with fewer crowds. Named after old military batteries, the wave provides a...

Piscinas ("Swimming Pools") is the mellow member of the Lobitos family - a forgiving left point perfect for intermediate surfers or when the main break is too powerful. Named for...

Pico Alto 2 is the everyday surf spot at Punta Hermosa, distinct from the famous big wave spot offshore. This left point offers consistent waves accessible to intermediate surfers.

Caballeros is the premier wave at Punta Hermosa - a reliable right reef that produces quality walls and barrels when solid S swells arrive. Competition venue for local events.

Senoritas is the mellow, beginner-friendly wave at Punta Hermosa. The protected beach break offers gentle waves perfect for learning, with numerous surf schools operating here.

Kon Tiki is one of Peru's premier right-hand waves, named after Thor Heyerdahl's famous raft expedition that departed from nearby Callao. The wave offers powerful, hollow rights...

Penascal is a quality left reef break within the Punta Hermosa complex, offering an alternative to the more crowded main breaks. The wave produces hollow sections over a rock reef...

La Isla is a left reef break near a distinctive rock formation at Punta Hermosa. The wave offers consistent walls when SW swells hit, with an easier paddle-out than some...

El Faro is the starting section of the legendary Chicama wave complex - when conditions align, you can catch waves here and ride all the way through to the inner sections for the...

Chicama - El Point is the iconic main section of the world's longest left-hand wave. On perfect days, riders connect from El Point through El Hombre, Malpaso, and Keys for rides...

El Hombre is the power section of Chicama - where the wave gains momentum after El Point and produces the longest, most perfect walls. Named 'The Man' for its size and power, this...

Malpaso is Chicama's barrel section - where the wave hits a shallower reef and throws perfect tubes at low tide. The name means 'bad pass' in Spanish, referring to the challenging...

Chicama Keys is the final inside section near the old pier, where perfect walls peel to their conclusion. Many surfers paddle out here for the more workable waves when the outer...

Pacasmayo is Chicama's slightly shorter but equally sublime cousin—a left point break that can offer rides of over a kilometer when the conditions conspire. Located just south of...

Huanchaco is where surfing's ancient and modern worlds collide—a charming Peruvian fishing village where local fishermen still paddle out on caballitos de totora, the reed...

Puemape is a left point break between the famous Chicama and Pacasmayo waves, offering a less crowded alternative when the main attractions are busy. The wave provides consistent,...

Punta Prieta ("Dark Point") is a left point break in the La Libertad region, offering uncrowded waves near the more famous Chicama and Pacasmayo. The dark volcanic rock gives the...

Makaha is the closest quality wave to central Lima, breaking below the cliffs of upscale Miraflores district. Urban surfing at its finest - grab a post-surf pisco sour within...

Redondo is the higher-quality alternative to nearby Makaha, producing longer and more shapely lefts when decent swell arrives. Still urban Lima surfing but with better wave...

Playa Waikiki is a historic beach break below the Miraflores cliffs, named in honor of Hawaii. One of Lima's original surf spots, it offers beginner-friendly waves with stunning...

La Rosa Nautica is a beach break adjacent to the famous pier restaurant of the same name - an iconic Lima landmark. The beginner-friendly waves offer convenient urban surfing with...

Camana is the beach escape for Peru's second city Arequipa. Consistent beach break waves and good tourist infrastructure make it the most accessible surf in southern Peru.

Mollendo is a historic Peruvian port town with several quality surf spots. The main left point offers consistent waves with a charming old-town backdrop.

Mejia offers the unique combination of surf and birdwatching - the beach break sits adjacent to Lagunas de Mejia, Peru's most important wetland sanctuary with over 200 bird...

El Elio is the main left point at Huanchaco, the ancient fishing village famous for its caballitos de totora (reed boats). The wave offers quality walls with a unique cultural...

El Boqueron is a right-hand beach break at the north end of Huanchaco that lights up during rare N swell events. When the rest of Peru is flat, this protected section can offer...

Sunkella is a left point break near the ancient Chan Chan ruins - the largest adobe city in the pre-Columbian Americas. Surf history meets archaeological history at this unique...

Punta Sal is Peru's northernmost surf destination, offering warm tropical waters near the Ecuador border. The mellow left point is perfect for beginners and longboarders seeking a...

Zorritos is a beach break near Peru's northern border with Ecuador, offering warm tropical waters and consistent waves. The relaxed fishing village provides an off-the-beaten-path...

Pimentel is a charming surf town with a historic wooden pier dating back to the late 1800s. The beach break offers consistent waves for beginners and intermediates, with the pier...

Eten offers a left point break alternative to nearby Pimentel, with fewer crowds and a more authentic fishing village atmosphere. The wave is consistent and workable for...

Punta Negra is a quality left reef break between the more famous Punta Hermosa and San Bartolo. When solid S swells arrive, it produces hollow barrels over a rock and coral reef.

Puerto Nuevo is a beach and point break near Cerro Azul, offering an alternative when the main break is crowded. The fishing village setting provides an authentic Peruvian coastal...

Boca del Rio is Tacna's main beach resort, located near the Chilean border. The river mouth beach break offers consistent waves in Peru's southernmost surfable region.

Los Palos is Peru's southernmost quality surf spot - a remote left point in the desert just north of the Chilean border. Complete isolation and consistent waves reward the...

Chicama is officially the world's longest wave—a left-hand point break in Peru that can deliver rides of 2+ kilometers when all four sections connect. The wave peels along the...

Cerro Azul is a classic Peruvian left point in a small fishing port south of Lima. The wave offers consistent, workable walls that make it a favorite weekend escape for Lima...

Playa Norte is San Bartolo's main beach break, offering consistent waves in a popular Lima beach resort setting. Good for intermediate surfers looking for uncomplicated waves.

La Boca is the inside, more forgiving section of the Pacasmayo wave system. Perfect for intermediate surfers or when the main point is too intense.

Pico Alto is Peru's premier big wave—a deepwater reef 1.5km offshore from Punta Hermosa that produces some of South America's largest rideable waves. The unique geography means...

La Herradura is Lima's premier pointbreak—a long left-hander that breaks in a horseshoe-shaped bay in the Chorrillos district. When solid South swells hit, the wave connects...

Punta Rocas is Peru's most famous competition venue—a powerful reef break that has hosted national championships for decades. The wave produces thick, hollow barrels reminiscent...

Punta Nunura is a remote left point break in the vast Sechura desert region. The isolation means empty waves for those willing to make the journey through barren landscapes.

Puerto Inca offers the unique experience of surfing beside ancient Inca ruins - a remote left point at what was once a major Inca fishing port. The isolation and archaeological...

Ilo is a southern Peruvian mining port with surprisingly good surf. The left point picks up consistent swell and sees few surfers due to its industrial setting.

Punta Ballenas ("Whale Point") is a left reef break near Mancora, offering a more challenging alternative to the town wave. The name refers to the humpback whales that migrate...

San Gallan Island is a remote right reef break in the Paracas National Reserve, accessible only by boat. The island is home to sea lions and seabirds, offering a true wilderness...