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SURFING PERU WITH PERU SURF
GUIDES
Peru has some of the longest waves on the planet (counted in miles...). It doesn't rain
in the coast of Peru and it's not too hot or too cold. All S-SW spots have very reliable swell from April to October. And from October to march North swell hit the coast.
Plus: Consistency, all levels of surf available, mostly uncrowded (this can mean quasi-desert), long waves, not too cold water temperature.
Minus: problems of access and safety, crowds around Lima.
Location: Western South America, bordering the South Pacific Ocean, between Chile and Ecuador
Geographic coordinates: 10 00 S, 76 00 W
Coastline: 2,414 km
Climate: varies from tropical in east to dry desert in west; temperate to frigid in Andes
Terrain: western coastal plain (costa), high and rugged Andes in center (sierra), eastern lowland jungle of Amazon Basin (selva)
Natural hazards: earthquakes, tsunamis, flooding, landslides, mild volcanic activity
Currency: Nuevo sol (PEN)
Crowds
Top spots are usually crowded, even though early morning sessions can be as perfect as uncrowded. We will guide you to the less crowded spots. It is pretty much possible we
get to surf solo sessions.
Locals
Locals are usually friendly, just show respect.
Breaks
The Lima and South areas are full of solid
waves, shore breaks, beach breaks, sandbars, rocky bottoms, point breaks, short waves, long waves, barrels…every type of wave you can imagine. Lima is a blessed place where
you find solid surf every day. The North offers like most of Peru more perfect lefts, point breaks and reef breaks peel endlessly from knee size to double plus overhead. It is
Solid stuff, all around. The North is Peru's surfing gem. These breaks gift us lefts of perfection from south or north swells. Be ready for an intense solid, fast, peeling
lefts experience.
Consistency of PERU it is world recognized, we have a privileged coast and position in the globe; we get south swells in winter and north ones in summer, we guaranteed surf
every day.
PERU = Loooong waves, we heard comments from many surfers saying like this "I surfed the longest waves of my life. Did you see that one…?"
Equipment
We recommend you to check the list of
beaches and descriptions and decide your quiver accordingly. Unless you plan on charging Pico Alto, nothing bigger than an 8 footer is needed. All the time feel free to
contact us, we will be glad to help you.
Wetsuits: during spring and fall, short sleeves are fine, although long sleeves will work for the early or late sessions. During winter time a 3/2mm rubber is OK.
Booties are a great help to keep feet warm and protect them from rocks and shelves. Water temperature is not as cold as northern California but cold enough. Check table:
Conditions
SOUTH AND LITTLE SOUTH CONDITIONS
If you are looking for consistency and big waves, here is where you want to be, any surf trip to Peru starts in Lima, you won't believe how many breaks are in a small
distance, so always you will find a place to surf by yourself and if you wake up early you will be surfing glassy. Be prepared to charge 10+ feet waves, but if you do not surf
this size, still there are many breaks with fun waves. South of Lima in summer is a party place, weekend are really busy and you will be dancing all night long, or waking up
early to surf while everyone is going back home.
Water temperature is not too cold, you will not get "ice cream head" symptoms, a fullsuit will be ok in winter time and a pair of boardshorts or springsuit in summer will be
enough.
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MONTHS
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Jan/Feb
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Mar/Apr
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May/Jun
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Jul/Aug
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Sep/Oct
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Nov/Dec
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Swell Force
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occasional
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regular
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best season
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best season
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regular
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occasional
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Swell Size
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1-1.5mts
3-5ft
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1.5-2mts
5-6ft
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2-3.5mts
6-15ft
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2-3.5mts
6-15ft
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2-3.0mts
6-8ft
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1-1.5m
3-5ft
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North Swell
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++++
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+++
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++
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++
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+++
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+++++
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South swell
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++
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+++
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++++++
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++++++
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++++
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+++
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Water Temperature
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21C°/70F°
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19C°/66F°
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18C°/64F°
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16C°/61F°
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18C°/64F°
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19C°/66F°
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Wetsuit
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Boardshorts
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Springsuit
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Fullsuit
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Fullsuit
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Springsuit
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Boardshorts
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Air Temperature
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25C°/77F°
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23C°/73F°
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20C°/68F°
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17C°/63F°
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20C°/68F°
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23C°/73F°
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NORTH CONDITIONS
North of Peru is one of the best places on earth to Surf, many of locals from Lima have moved literally to the North. There are plenty of waves with warm water, plenty of fish
and sea food and not many crowds, of course there are few beaches were crowd can be extreme like Cabo Blanco, and Máncora, but with many long waves around, crowds are almost
nothing, and if you avoid the high seasons, you will be surfing the longest waves and the barrels you wanted all your life.
Do not think only in Chicama, it is a good wave and needs a big swell to work properly, but there are many waves that you will need more time in your surf trip to surf
all. North of Peru is pure magic.
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MONTHS
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Jan/Feb
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Mar/Apr
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May/Jun
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Jul/Aug
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Sep/Oct
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Nov/Dec
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Swell Force
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best season
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regular
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occasional
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occasional
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regular
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best season
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Swell Size
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1.5-2.5mts
4-8ft
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1.5-2mts
4-6ft
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1-1.5mts
3-5ft
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1-1.5mts
3-5ft
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1.5-2mts
4-6ft
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1.5-2.5mts
4-8ft
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North Swell
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++++
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+++
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++
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++
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+++
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+++++
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South swell
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++
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+++
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++++++
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++++++
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++++
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+++
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Water Temperature
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21C°/70F°
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19C°/66F°
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18C°/64F°
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16C°/61F°
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18C°/64F°
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19C°/66F°
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Wetsuit
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Boardshorts
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Springsuit
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Springsuit/
Fullsuit
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Springsuit/
Fullsuit
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Springsuit
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Boardshorts
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Air Temperature
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29C°/84F°
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27C°/81F°
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24C°/75F°
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21C°/70F°
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21C°/70F°
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26C°/79F°
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Sharks
THERE ARE NO SHARKS; SHARK ATTACKS HAVE NOT BEEN REPORTED UNTIL NOW.
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