Peru - Lima to Tumbes

[Dantastic1985]

Hi Guys,

Been flirting with a trip for a while now and am set on Peru in November as a starting point.

I wanted to ask any advice on timings, things to do/to avoid, stuff people loved/wished they had taken, food, places to stay, places to buy boards and all the usual rammel that we like to discuss.

Also if anybody can recommend a decent surf guiding book for Peru, Ecuador and maybe even a bit further north that would be mint. Got the Lonely planet book and its very 'inca trail' biased and focussed which is fine, if your not looking to surf everyday for 3 months...

Cheers.

Dan

[jaffa1949]

One of my favourite sources in books for surf information is the Low Pressure Stormrider series they come both as E books or books. Pretty much has everything and also quite a few of the local camps resorts etc advertise in the back section of the book.

[Dantastic1985]

Cheers Jaffa, they only do an e-book for Peru and I want to take one with me. Ill see what I can find on various websites like this in the 'wanted' sections.

[liveswell007]

Your going to have a blast....I went via bus up the coast...Mainly hit the "Lobitos" area where there are several great waves all w/in walking distance (If you ask for a guy named "nacho" when you get into town you should be able to score a home cooked meal every night and he has shared and private rooms.

Mancora is another ridiculous stop, in fact, there is a movie made about the journey from Lima to Mancora titled "Mancora." It will really showcase what the party town is all about. There is one main point break (which tends to be crowded, but a skillful cat can get waves) and another off a reef in the harbor.

Have fun this is an epic trip

[perusurf]

if you got 3 months, then maybe just play it by the ear, rather than using a book, move along depening on swells and locals recommendations, as for boards, check out local webpage http://vendotablasperu.com/ you'll probably find something there at a fair Price, or even get a custom made on for about $350US.
The far north needs northern swell to work, you'll be coming in october so save the northern part and ecuador for towards the end.you could go as far as lobitos for waves till then.

[suzy66q]

Head up to trujillo first and then you will find huanchaco, there are always waves there and its never onshore. Its a good base point to wait for chicama or pacasmayo. On the north you have lobitos, I stayed at la casona there, really nice hostel with excellent views. wake up and have a look at two surf points, lobitos and general. the other point break would be piscinas. can get really crowded. There are other point breaks around if you are an experienced surfer.

then you get organos which is beautiful beach, a lot better than mancora because mancora is just the one wave with like 30 ppl sharing it between intermediate and absolute beginners!! you also have zorritos. I think it works best with north swells.

From November to March the swells are mostly north. So look for places that are more sensitive to north swells.

Lobitos doesnt work all the time. You need a swell for it to work. Works with both South and North but bigger with south swells.

Huanchaco works all year round, then bigger with south swells which would be winter time in south america. water is really dirty. But in the summer its sunny and not overcast all the time.

Pacasmayo works only when there is a swell.. take a moto taxi to the point break and you can ask the guy to wait for you and say youll pay him.

[suzy66q]

december - april is the best season for ecuador. the water is warm and the wind stops at this time of the year. Start with Playas then head for montañita, ayampe, san mateo, canoa and mompiche. Goes in that order from south to north but gotta see the swells.

mompiche and san mateo only work with north swells...amazing long lefts.. if there are no waves anywhere ayampe is the most sensitive. montañita is a party town if you want peace and quiet and canoa has both parties and quiet.