About

You can choose to stay at the luxurious Chicama Surf Resort or you can stay at any of the cheaper hotels along the beach front. The Chicama Surf Resort has the benefit of the tow boat that only upsets those that are snaked by it. Personally, I like to paddle and walk, but blaming your lack of courtesy on the tow boat is justified since there are more than plenty of waves for everyone and the tow boat is a problem for everyone, while it is a lifeline for the unexperienced (kooks) and older surfers. Remember: someday you too might be unfit and want to throw money away to keep up with the good surfers , though unable to paddle such an amazing distance. Walking is for those that want to be blessed by the gods of Chicama, those brave souls willing to sacrifice like the legendary surfers that pioneered the place. Walking and paddling is also for the budget travelers that can't afford or refuse the laziness of the boat. Your best bet is to visit Chicama with Machapu Adventures, since we are the locals and we will make sure you have a great experience either walking or by boat. Good luck to those that still want to venture here on their own,

Atmosphere:
Chicama is one of the best waves in the world and visitors should be respectful towards the locals and the environment. We are serious about protecting the town's greatest natural resource and visiting surfers are always welcome when they arrive with good vibes and friendly, respectul intentions. Chicama has been populated by native peruvians for more than 6,000 years and it is the ancestors of the local people that first started surfing on reed surf-craft thousands of years ago! Among the best local surfers are Juan Arroyo, aka Pajarete, a good friend that owns one of the hotels in front of El Hombre. El Zorro is also a greatly respected surfer that was one of the first local chargers and a great photographer.

Additional Info:
Chicama is a natural wonder of the world and would be a mecca for the surfing world if more people remembered that it exists. Thankfully it remains off the high-profile surfing circuits thanks to its difficult access and the cultural barriers that foreign travelers often experience when visiting Peru unaccompanied.

The wave begins far from the town, some 2 kilometers out to the cape. The wave breaks along the cape and tends to hit its first reforming section at the point. The point is a large rock outcropping, where the wave tends to close-out as it arrives from the cape, but experienced surfers can often make the long barelling section in front of the point and begin the longest ride of their lives towards the pier. Taking off from the point, the ride takes you flying past the sand dunes and the hotels, arriving at the section known as El Hombre, which peels right in front of the infamous El Hombre motel/hostal. When the section from the point connects with the El Hombre section, you can ride the wave all the way into the town, right up to the pier! Most people don't have the legs to keep up with this fast rifeling wave for that entire distance.

Location

Access

Ground way: At Km 614 of the North Panamericana you'll find the town of Paiján, from here find a road to the Port of Chicama also known as Puerto Malabrigo - you may need to ask as its not signed. Access for all kind of vehicles - although the last 14km may take 40+ minutes...., also reachable by bus. By Air:Flights to the city of Trujillo.

Wave Characteristics

Ideal Conditions

Crowd

Dangers

Urchins, Rips / undertow, Rocks, Localism

Videos

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