Northern Peru

Trip Highlights:

• Warm water year-round
• Luxury beachfront hotel accommodations
• Break variety and density (over 25 different waves within 15-90min drive)
• Uncrowded surfbreak options
• Surf for all ability levels
• Surf school, surfboard rentals, and SUP available
• Mancora beaches, restaurants and nightlife
• Amazing Peruvian cultural, eco and adventure tour options

Intro

Wavehunters Northern Peru tour is based in Mancora, Northern Peru, where the water is warm year-round (in the low 70s/high 60s) due to the influence of the Panamanian current which only affects the extreme northern coast of Peru. (Just 100km to the south the water is about 5-10 degrees colder.) Sunny, hot dry weather prevails here most of the time (except in El Nino years when there are heavier rains) and the beaches are stunning with generally excellent blue-green water quality. Mancora itself has 2 left pointbreaks, and Northern Peru offers incredible break variety with multiple surfing zones each with numerous waves within a 15-75min drive of town.

Northern Peru breaks epic year-round! There are 2 distinct seasons. The North swell season from November to March, and the South swell season which is very consistent from March to November. Each of the 3 major surfing zones we focus on has spots that work on both North and South swells. Because of this there are always uncrowded and empty waves somewhere. In general waves in these zone are both heavily tide sensitive, direction sensitive, and size sensitive, so local knowledge is crucial.

Guided Trip

Wavehunters Northern Peru is managed by Magoo de la Rosa, who has a lifetime of experience surfing and guiding surfing tours throughout Peru. Magoo is a many times Peruvian national champion, professional surfer and surf industry staple in Peru. Magoo ran one of the largest surf schools in the Lima area for many years, and now lives full time in the Mancora area with his family, guiding surf tours for Wavehunters. Why do you need a surf guide for this area?

1) To find and access the surf spots at all. Most roads and surfbreaks are unmarked, and many spots are on property controlled by the military or oil companies.

2) To go to the right surf spots, at the right time, during the correct swell direction, tide, and wind conditions. Most spots are far off the highway, and time is priceless when you're dealing with small windows for optimal surf conditions at any given break

3) All transportation included, straight from the airport to the surf. No rental car hassles. 

4) Conceirge service including local knowledge of area restaurants, bars, attractions, tours, and people.
 

CROWDS?

In general, the Mancora area is not crowded except at major holidays (Christmas, New Years, Carnival, Easter and Peruvian Independence day). If you're looking for uncrowded waves it may be best to avoid these periods and come during the other 45 weeks per year that are uncrowded when most Peruvian surfers are at work and school 1000km away in Lima. 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, or willing to travel to the most remote breaks which are still uncrowded then.

The Surf - North

Some of the more well-known breaks in the area

Punta Mero

• Characteristics: The class act of several lesser known spots in this zone an hour north of Mancora with long barreling left tubes on N swells.
• Swell Direction: NW
• Experience required: Intermediate to Advanced.

Peña Redonda (Round Rock)

• Characteristics : Barreling beachbreak with short lefts and rights. It can be tricky to catch this place with good conditions. It is ideal to arrive very early before the wind picks up. When there are no waves at any other break you will find a little rideable wave here.
• Swell Direction : Mainly surfed with north or northeast but can be surprisingly good with strong south swells. Works all year round.
• Experience Required : Intermediate - Advanced.

Mancora

• Characteristics : Left-hand pointbreak with reef bottom. Occasional tubes. Breaks especially well with north swells and some south. Usually a short wait between sets.
• Swell Direction : All.
• Experience Required : Novice - Intermediate.

Punta Ballenas (Whale Point)

• Characteristics : Left-hand pointbreak with reef bottom. Shorter than Mancora but always bigger and more aggressive. Occasional tubes. Breaks especially well with north swells and some south. The wave is intense. There may be a longer wait between sets than in Mancora, but it's worth the wait. We recommend surfing it at higher tides and special care is to be taken on the inside section where jagged rocks wait for any mistake
• Swell Direction : Best with south swells (April- December).
• Experience Required : Intermediate- Advanced.

Organos, La Punta (The Point)

• Characteristics : Ideal for beginners. The wave is a lefts and not very dangerous. When the waves are big during summer, Casablanca, a wave that breaks slightly north, can be a fun, good sized, long wave.
• Swell Direction : The Point works with all swells but it has to have the right sand conditions (October-April). Casablanca works best with north swells (October- April).
• Experience Required : Novice - Intermediate.

Organos, La Vuelta (Around the Corner)

• Characteristics : Powerful tubing left reefbreak. One of the best waves in Peru. It holds up to two and a half meters (8ft.) with various tube sections. It is definitely a memorable wave when the conditions are correct.
• Swell Direction : North (October- April).
• Experience Required : Intermediate - Advanced.

El Ñuro

• Characteristics : Left tubular point break.
• Swell Direction : North or northwest (October- April).
• Experience Required : Intermediate - Advanced.

Cabo Blanco (White Cape)

• Characteristics : Left reefbreak that is strong, magical and tubular. Cabo Blanco is world famous for its long, perfect tubes. In a few words, it's a perfect wave with heights up to 3 meters (10 ft.). The best wave in all Peru.
• Swell Direction : North (October- April).
• Experience Required : Expert

Panic Point

• Characteristics : Lefthand reefbreak that is very strong and has excellent tube sections. A very long wave with sets up to 4 meters (Approx 13 ft.), just a little bit further south than Cabo Blanco. One of the waves most preferred by the best surfers from Lima.
• Swell Direction : South (April- October).
• Experience Required : Advanced.

The Surf - South

Piscinas (Pools)

• Characteristics : Left breaking wave with sand and reef bottom. A fun little wave with tubes that form best in the second section. It is a good option when Lobitos is too small to surf. You will need a good form of identification to get onto the beach because it is part of a military facility.
• Swell Direction : South. Works all year round.
• Experience Required : Novice - Advanced.

Lobitos, El Muelle (The Pier)

• Characteristics : Tubular beachbreak.
• Swell Direction : South. Works all year round.
• Experience Required : Intermediate - Advanced.

Lobitos, La Punta (Sea Lions, The Point) Location : Km. 1104 Panamerican North (Lobitos).

• Characteristics : Long powerful left that regularly forms tubes as it breaks over a bottom of sand and rock. An increasable wave that was discovered only a few years ago. Almost the whole bottom is composed of sand. You will encounter strong winds every afternoon that can either make the wave better or worse. The wind here is strong, especially in the afternoons.
• Swell Direction : South. Works all year round.
• Experience Required : Novice - Advanced.

Lobitos, La Frontera (The Frontier)

• Characteristics : When the conditions are right it's a beginning to end barrel, with the final section connecting with its neighbor wave (Lobitos). It is one of the best waves in the area with surf practically all winter. The bottom is sand and rock with some dangerous sections of pointy rocks. It is definitely a great left with a big tube.
• Swell Direction : South (April- October).
• Experience Required : Intermediate - Advanced.

Lobitos, El Hueco (The Hole)

• Characteristics : When the conditions are right it is a beginning to end barrel, with the final section connecting with its neighbor wave (La Frontera). It is one of the best waves in the area with surf practically all winter. The bottom is sand and rock with some dangerous sections of pointy rocks. It is definitely a great left with a big tube.
• Swell Direction : South (April- October).
• Experience Required : Intermediate - Advanced.

Baterias (Batteries)

• Characteristics : Left reefbreak. A good wave to surf when Lobitos and El Hueco are not working.
• Swell Direction : South and north. Works all year round.
• Experience Required : Intermediate - Advanced.

El Golf (The Golf)

• Characteristics : A sick beachbreak with big sets and magnificent A-frame tubes. There is almost never a crowd because the conditions are rarely perfect. The current here is strong.
• Swell Direction : South (April- December).
• Experience Required : Intermediate - Advanced.

Las Pocitas Boutique Beachfront Hotel

This upmarket hotel is located on the beach only ½ km to the south from Mancora point, and designed by architect Jordi Puig and Claudia Uccelli, with geometric features, very spacious rooms, clean lines and sophisticated details, all in white and khaki. The location of the hotel is very close to the town center (just 3 minutes), but has a unique tranquility.

The hotel has twelve ocean view rooms each with an area of approx. 50 m2 each. We have six double rooms with king, and six double rooms with twin beds. King and double rooms are paired with optional connecting doors for families. Our beds are dressed with 500 thread count sheets made from the finest cotton pyma, and the best down pillows, and down comforters. All our rooms are equipped with air conditioning, Direct TV and Wi-Fi.

How to Book:

1.  THERE ARE FOUR WAYS TO MAKE A RESERVATION

A. BOOK ONLINE: Click the "BOOK ONLINE" button on the right side or bottom fo your desired destination/option and follow the instructions to make a deposit using our secure online reservation system.

B. SUBMIT A TRIP INQUIRY: Fill out the "Trip Inquiry" form on the right side of the page or under the "Booking Info" section on the top menu. Wavehunters will get back to you as soon as possible, usually within 24 hours.

C. SEND US AN E-MAIL: Send your questions and trip inquiries to wavehunters@wavehunters.com.

D. GIVE US A CALL: We are located in Carlsbad, California, USA. 1-760-413-1513

2. CONFIRM DATES AND MAKE DEPOSIT: Before you book online please double check that the trip you want and the dates you need match up. If you make a reservation online you will pay the deposit by credit card. We can also process credit cards offline, take checks made out to "Wavehunters Surf Travel", and we accept wire transfers, cashier's checks, money orders, or direct deposits. 

3. SEND US YOUR INFORMATION: During the booking process we strive to make everything as simple and easy as possible. When you're ready to make your reservation please have your passport ready as we will need the number, expiration date, and country of issue. We will also need your flight itinerary (if we do not help set it up) as well as a few destination specific questions. If you are travleing with a group please specify the number of people in your group and their names.

4. MAKE FLIGHT RESERVATIONS (AS NEEDED): Wavehunters is a full service travel agency capable of handling all of our guest’s flight arrangements. Each destination typically requires a specific flight itinerary that needs to be confirmed by Wavehunters prior to departure. If you don’t have the time or inclination to deal with setting up your flight arrangements Wavehunters will be happy to coordinate them for you. 

5. MAKE FINAL PAYMENT: You final payment is due two to four months prior to your trip's departure depending on which trip you are on. Once that's in along with the requested information you're all set to go!

6. SHOW UP: Rule #1 is to remember to not miss your flight and remember to have a passport with at least 6 months left before the expiration date.

7. SURF: Once you're at your destination the only thing you should have to to worry about is what board you should ride and where to surf. Have fun!