Northern Peru (within an approximately 100km radius of Mancora) contains Peru's best surf. Despite Chicama being Peru's most famous wave (which needs a big SW swell to turn on), Northern Peru has higher performance waves and much greater wave density numbering several dozen quality breaks that work on both N and S swells without substantial travel time required from your hotel. Northern Peru is more safe compared to either Central Peru or the Lima area. The water is significantly warmer due to the influence of Panama current with no wetsuit required for much of the year. Mancora is also Peru's and one of South America's best beaches.

The surf in Northern Peru consists primarily of lefthand rock reefs and points (rock and sand). There is a wide variety of waves here catering to different ability levels. Mancora point located within walking distance of your hotel is a party wave offering very long and cruisy walled-up lefts, while nearby Organos 15min. south of town offers a more challenging and hollow A-frame reef break that holds big swells, and also has a beginner friendly beachbreak. Cabo Blanco (30min. south of Mancora) is an experts only rock slab lefthander for serious tuberiders. Panic Point located at the south end of the same bay as Cabo Blanco is a very fast, hollow and powerful lefthander that cranks on SW swells (not NW like Cabo Blanco).

Lobitos main point is a more challenging wave offering punchy, hollow lefthand waves that reel off a rock/sand point for hundreds of meters. The Lobitos area (1.5 hours south of Mancora) offers many other alternative spots which are offshore in the dominant SE-S winds and fully exposed to both N and S swells that strike Northern Peru. The Zorritos area to the north offers several virtually unknown waves where you can surf alone with our surf guide and your friends. In general, Northern Peru is not crowded except at major Peruvian holidays (Christmas, New Years, Easter and Peruvian Independence day) when Lima surfers make their annual pilgrimage here. If you're looking for uncrowded waves it is best to avoid these periods and come during the other 45 weeks per year that are uncrowded. If you're looking for beaches packed with beautiful South Americans and want to party in the bars until sunrise, then by all means come during the holiday periods because this is when it is going off and many surfers are too hungover to surf much anyway so you can still catch some uncrowded waves if you're on it.

Located just south of the equator, exposed to north and south Pacific ground swells, Northern Peru receives world class surf year-round. Due to its geographic location, the states of Piura and Tumbes receive excellent swells from the north (November-March) and the south (March-November). The north swell season is when the breaks of Mancora, Organos and Cabo Blanco among others turn on. The north swell season coincides with Peruvian summer and enjoys generally sunnier conditions with less wind and warmer water temperatures that can reach the low 70s in the Mancora area, defying the stereotype of Peru as a cold water and wetsuits destination. Unlike Central and Southern Peru, most days here are surfed in trunks or a springsuit.

Just south of Cabo Blanco two currents crash, the Humboldt from the south and the Panamanian current from the north, producing significant differences in water temperatures between beaches only a few kilometers apart. For example, you can surf in Mancora in boardshorts and then surf the same morning in Lobitos (100km south) and the temperature drops to the point where a 3/2 fullsuit is required. In general, the waves in the area are practically perfect with fast walls and magic barrels that rarely exceed 2-3 meters (6-10 ft) in height as most of the waves are in protected bays and the swells are long period ground swells that have been groomed traveling over thousands of miles to get here.

The south swells are actually bigger and more consistent than the north swells. The peak south swell season is from March through November. However, while Southern Peru is thicker and woolier and often closed out, Northern Peru's many headlands and points groom these powerful swells to perfection. Spots like Panic Point and El Hueco break exclusively on South swells, while other spots such as Mancora point and Lobitos actually prefer a S or SW swell to a N swell and line up better with less closeouts. Predominant winds are from the S-SE, offshore to side-offshore for most of the left points. Afternoons often see a seabreeze develop at some spots. The strongest winds occur in the winter months from May-October, while the summer months from November-April have considerably lighter winds. Tidal ranges are up to 6ft with most spots breaking better at low tide. Northern Peru like most of the country favors lefts, with only a few token rights.

Octopus Surf Tours has one mission, to "follow the swell". State-of-the-art surf forecasting and wave-spotting technology is used including constant internet and cell phone access throughout the trip to keep in touch with current surf forecasts as well as spotters along the coast. This innovative use of surf forecasting and communications technologies allows Octopus Surf Tours to be "ON LOCATION" at the optimal moment of each and every swell event.

Octopus Surf Tours include Piura airport greeting and roundtrip transfers, bilingual Peruvian surf guide, w/full-day surf tours and transportation provided by new model air-conditioned 4x4s or vans (your choice), all fuel and highway tolls, the best accommodations available in our partner hotels, breakfast and lunch (Peruvian cuisine is legendary), and non-alcoholic beverages.

The tours are designed for surfers to experience the best surfing in Peru, as well as Peru's incredible history, people, and surfing culture. Hosted by one of the best surf guides in Peru, Pulpo, the tours are totally hassle free and yet fully flexible and geared for the surfer seeking a hardcore surfing experience while enjoying reliable, professional transportation and guiding, and first class standards of accommodation, food and service throughout. Surfers can expect a bit of variety throughout the Northern Peruvian coast in terms of the scenery. The northernmost regions around Mancora, Vichayto and Organos have evolved into respectable beach resorts with a bustling nightlife but once you get outside of town expect long desolate stretches of road through lunar desert landscapes.