Surfing in the north: fewer bases, more sessions

Indicative season, forecast for the day

Two different pieces of information, not to be confused:

• The indicative season, for choosing your dates: in Huanchaco, the wave is at its most consistent from April to October, with swells of 1 to 3 metres, according to Save The Waves; in Chicama, the best period runs from Holy Week to September, the southern winter. Out of season, these waves can stay flat for several days.
• The forecast for the day, for choosing the session: the height, period and direction of the swell, the wind, the tide, published by forecasting websites and read by the school or the local surfers. It decides in the morning what you do.

No published season guarantees a wave on a specific date. See five words to understand a wave.

The independent programme: Huanchaco, then Chicama

Total: eight nights. The water is cool at both bases, from 17 to 22 °C in Chicama: a full wetsuit is the rule. The port of Chicama is very quiet: a companion who does not surf soon gets bored there, hence the variants below.

When to change base, and when to stay. Stay if the wave at your base is working and suits you. Change if the forecast announces several days without swell for your spot, if your level lets you move on to a more demanding wave, or if a companion needs something else. Do not change just to “see one more beach”.

Days without waves

See Trujillo and the north coast.

The board: flight, road, accommodation

• By plane: sports baggage is often charged extra, at a price that varies depending on the airline; check it before buying the ticket, and bring a hard board bag.
• On the road: ask for a vehicle that accepts boards, on the roof or inside; do not put them in the hold of a bus without a bag.
• At the accommodation: lockable storage, a tap for rinsing.
• Without a board: the schools and rental shops at both bases offer them; check their condition before paying.

Budget: the items to add up

The entry fees for the archaeological sites are on the Trujillo page; lessons, guides and rental are compared by quote.

Beginner variant: a week in Huanchaco

A school chooses the beach that suits the swell and your level each morning. Ask how many students per instructor, how long you spend in the water, and what happens if the sea is not suitable. See school, rental or guide.

Mixed group variant: Los Órganos or Máncora

For a group where not everyone surfs, the warm water of northern Piura changes everything: you can swim, watch the wildlife, and the surfers have their waves.

The water there reaches 24 to 26 °C from December to May, 21 to 23 °C the rest of the year. See the beaches compared.