Surfing in Peru

Although surfing is related to the Hawaiian waves in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, since ancient times the inhabitants of northern Peru «surfed» the waves to be able to fish. The pre-Columbian Mochica culture shows in its huacos (ceramics where the daily activities of the inhabitants were represented), and the fishermen on the so-called Caballitos de totora. The Little Horses are very similar to a «long surf board» and are made with intertwined reed fibres.

In 1965, the First Official World Surfing Championship was held on the beach of Punta Rocas (Lima), whose winner was the Peruvian Felipe Pomar. Since then, surfing has been gaining strength to this day, with Sofía Mulanovich in 2004 being the second representative to reach the title of World Surfing Champion, as well as other representatives who have obtained various awards for Peru in their categories and modalities. Nowadays surfing is practised by adults and children, with the waves of the Peruvian coast excellent for learning and developing this sport to the maximum.

Peru has Chicama beach (La Libertad); the longest left wave in the world, more than 4 kilometers long and multiple sections. Nobody has been able to surf the whole wave but you can easily stay on it for about 2 minutes at a time. So we also have other beaches known as Pacasmayo, Huanchaco, Bermejo, Punta Hermosa, Zorritos, and Máncora, among others.

Where would you like to surf in Peru?

Write to us so you can live this Experience.