Welcome to our Huanchaco-dedicated surf page! ATMA welcomes surfers and likes to stimulate anybody to try it. We have been surfing the waves of Huanchaco for many years and will assist you if you are interested in trying yourself. We have a large boardrack, outside shower and place to dry your wetsuit. You can contact us with any question about surfing in Huanchaco or surfing in Peru and we will help you out with pleasure!
On this page we’ll give you as much information on surfing in Huanchaco as possible. It is a very special place to surf and our hostel has been finetuned to make your stay as pleasant as possible.
Why surf in Huanchaco?
Huanchaco is really an extraordinary surf destination. The main reason therefor is that in Huanchaco you will not only find quality waves, but Huanchaco is also a very pleasant and lively destination to visit and stay for a while. And when normally that would automatically mean that the waters get really crowded, for Huanchaco that is not the case at all.
Why surfing in Huanchaco is great
There are multiple reasons for that.
First of all, there are not just one, but at least three different breaks in Huanchaco. That means that for different levels of skills and different weather conditions there will always be a spot to surf at. Beginners have a perfect little wave to practice at (‘la curvita’), right in front of all the restaurants and surf schools. This wave never gets too big because it’s in the little ‘bay’ close to the jetty. Experienced surfers walk a hundred meters onwards and find the big point break (‘el elio’), that normally breaks at least at three or four different points along the shoreline. The third break (‘El Boqueron’) is a righthander right in front of our hostel and is a perfect second wave for beginners and is great for any surfer on bigger swells. You literally just cross the street and jump in!
This makes Huanchaco a great spot to learn to surf. There are always small waves and when you progress you can slowly continue to the other spots.
Huanchaco picks up a lot of swell, because of the orientation of the shore towards the south. It has one of the best consistency ratings of Peru. That means that days without any swell are basically non-existent, even in summer. There is always something to surf. The swells in Huanchaco are always considerably bigger than at nearby spots like Chicama. That means that Huanchaco is your best bet when the swells are small.
The next very important aspect is the crowd (other surfers) in the water. Considering the quality and consistency of the waves Huanchaco is surprisingly quiet. Only sometimes it gets busy and still this is nothing compared to crowds on popular spots at other places around the world. In the mornings especially you will often be with only a few others. The lack of crowds has to do with a couple of facts: Peru is still a remote destination for most people. There are not many locals that can afford surfing. Locals surf mainly in the late afternoon. Huanchaco has three different breaks to surf at. The pointbreak breaks at different spots which spreads the people out.
Huanchaco is considered as one of the best spots in the world for longboarding. That is proven by the fact that an offical WSL Qualifier is held here every year.
Huanchaco produces champions! Did you know that 2-time world champion of longboard surfing is from Huanchaco? (Piccolo Clemente) Second local hero is Juninho Urcia. He is the current national champion of Peru in shortboarding and has competed in some WSL World Junior Championships.
Last but not least it got to be mentioned how close the world famous Chicama wave is from Huanchaco. Chicama is only an hour drive away and from Huanchaco there are numerous trips to be arranged to go and surf there for a day.
Board rental and surf lessons
We will direct you to the best, trustworthy places to find your perfect board to rent. Prices for renting are around 35 soles per day for a board and wetsuit. Prices can get lower when renting for a longer period.
Surfing lessons should cost around 50 soles per lesson. There are multiple surf schools in Huanchaco and teachers speak basic english. Ask us which ones are best!
Buying a surfboard in Huanchaco
Huanchaco has many surf schools with secondhand boards for sale. There are also local shapers that make custom boards for around 350USD. If you are a serious surfer we strongly recommend to buy all your surf equipment in Lima! KLIMAX and Wayo Whilar are shapers that sell great boards and have plenty in stock. Also for wetsuits, boardbags, leashes, etc.. there is a lót more on offer in Lima. Don’t hesitate to contact us to give you some advice!
INTERESTED? Now find out why ATMA is a great place to stay when surfing in Huanchaco!
Great YouTube material about Huanchaco surfing
Probably the best video out there. Showing all of Huanchaco’s best surfers.
Great video of ISA world cup of longboarding, showing longboard potential of Huanchaco waves
The only video out there dedicated to the break in front, El Boqueron.
The video you háve to see. World record turns on one wave, set by Cristobal de Col in Chicama.
More information about Huanchaco on surf websites:
http://magicseaweed.com/Punta-Huanchaco-Surf-Report/417/
http://www.surf-forecast.com/breaks/Punta-Huanchaco
http://www.globalsurfers.com/spot.cfm?land=Peru&surfing=3840%20&travel=Huanchaco
https://www.wannasurf.com/spot/South_America/Peru/North/huanchaco/index.html
