Best Time to Surf Peru
The best time to surf Peru is April to September: that is when the most breaks are at their best — 22 of the 29 Peru breaks we map at the peak.
Last updated · Counted from the surf breaks we map — each break's own season, level and wave type
Surf in Peru month by month
How many of the 29 breaks we map in Peru are at their best in each month, and which ones. The busiest months are highlighted.
January
5 at their best · 8 in season
Cabo Blanco, Cabo Blanquillo, Mancora, Playa Norte, Punta Ballena
February
3 at their best · 7 in season
March
7 at their best · 10 in season
La Isla, Los Organos, Mancora, Peñascal, Playa Norte, Punta Ballena, Punta Sal
April
21 at their best · 25 in season
Caballeros, El Paso, El Silencio, Kon Tiki, La Isla, Oscar Point, Peña Rosa, Peñascal +13 more
May
20 at their best · 23 in season
Caballeros, El Paso, El Silencio, Kon Tiki, La Isla, Oscar Point, Peña Rosa, Peñascal +12 more
June
21 at their best · 24 in season
Caballeros, El Nuro, El Paso, El Silencio, Kon Tiki, La Isla, Oscar Point, Peña Rosa +13 more
July
21 at their best · 24 in season
Caballeros, El Nuro, El Paso, El Silencio, Kon Tiki, La Isla, Oscar Point, Peña Rosa +13 more
August
21 at their best · 24 in season
Caballeros, El Nuro, El Paso, El Silencio, Kon Tiki, La Isla, Oscar Point, Peña Rosa +13 more
September
22 at their best · 25 in season
Caballeros, El Nuro, El Paso, El Silencio, Kon Tiki, La Isla, Oscar Point, Peña Rosa +14 more
October
12 at their best · 15 in season
El Nuro, Peña Rosa, Peñascal, Punta Ballena, Punta Sal, Santa Maria, Chicama, Cabo Blanco +4 more
November
3 at their best · 6 in season
December
3 at their best · 7 in season
Lefts, rights and peaks in Peru
Every break we map here, by what the wave breaks over and which way it peels — a left peels to the surfer's left as they ride towards the beach.
| Break type | Lefts | Rights | Both ways / A-frames |
|---|---|---|---|
| Point | Cabo Blanco, Mancora, Peña Rosa, Punta Sal, San Bartolo - Izguierditas, Chicama, Máncora, Lobitos | — | Peñascal |
| Reef | El Nuro, Los Organos, Cabo Blanco | El Paso, El Silencio, La Isla, Oscar Point, Playa Norte, Puntilla, San Bartolo - Derechitas | Caballeros, Kon Tiki, Pulpos, Punta Rocas, Pico Alto |
| Beach | Cabo Blanquillo, Punta Huanchaco | — | Santa Maria |
Season at every Peru break
Each break's stated season, with its best months filled in.
- Cabo Blanco
Cabo Blanco
- Wave
- Point / Reef Break · Left
- Level
- Advanced / Expert
- Season
- November–March; January standout
- Tide
- All tides; low tide can produce the hollowest conditions
- Watch out
- Shallow reef and rocks, strong currents and fast barrels. Competitive crowds when it is on. For experienced surfers.
- Cabo Blanquillo
El Alto
- Wave
- Beach Break · Left
- Level
- Intermediate
- Season
- Spring & Summer; January Peak
- Tide
- Variable / Tide Dependent
- Watch out
- Rocks are the principal reported hazard. Swell dependent and can be too small between stronger swell events.
- Mancora
Máncora
- Wave
- Point Break · Left
- Level
- All Levels; best for intermediate surfers
- Season
- Year-Round; strongest NW swells typically Nov–Mar
- Tide
- All tides; low tide often best
- Watch out
- Rock-and-sand bottom, exposed rocks at lower tides. More powerful and challenging on larger swells.
- Punta Ballena
Máncora
- Wave
- Reef Break / Point Break · Left
- Level
- Intermediate to Advanced
- Season
- Spring & Summer (approximately Sep–Mar)
- Tide
- Mid Tide, Rising
- Watch out
- Rocky reef and sea urchins. Use caution around exposed rocks, particularly at lower tides. Best with NW groundswells, SE winds and a rising mid tide.
- Los Organos
Organos
- Wave
- Reef Break · Left
- Level
- Intermediate to Advanced
- Season
- December to April / Peak around March
- Tide
- Mid to High Tide
- Watch out
- Shallow rocky reef, exposed rocks and local surfers. Fast, powerful wave that can become hollow; greater caution required on larger swells and lower tides.
- La Isla
Playa Hermosa
- Wave
- Reef Point Break · Right
- Level
- Intermediate - Advanced
- Season
- March – September
- Tide
- Low Tide
- Watch out
- Shallow rock reef • sea urchins • exposed rocks • strong currents/rips • fast hollow sections • difficult entry/exit at size • heavy crowds • competitive/localized lineup • powerful surf on larger SW swells.
- Pulpos
Playa Pulpos
- Wave
- Reef break · Left / Right
- Level
- Intermediate - Advanced
- Season
- April–September
- Tide
- Tide dependent / shifting sandbars
- Watch out
- Dangerous Rips • Strong Currents • Shifting Peaks • Powerful Swell • Cool Water
- Caballeros
Punta Hermosa
- Wave
- Point break · Right / Secondary Left
- Level
- Intermediate / Advanced
- Season
- April – September
- Tide
- Mid / Incoming Tide
- Watch out
- Uneven reef • exposed rocks • sea urchins • rips • competitive lineup • colder Humboldt Current water • stronger consequences as swell increases.
- El Paso
Punta Hermosa
- Wave
- Reef break · Right
- Level
- ntermediate / Advanced
- Season
- April–September
- Tide
- Low to Mid Hight Tide
- Watch out
- Exposed rocks and boulders • sea urchins • strong currents/rips • tricky entry and exit • shallow sections at lower tide • powerful surf on larger S–SW swells • experienced/competitive lineup.
- El Silencio
Punta Hermosa
- Wave
- Point / Reef-Boulder Break · Right
- Level
- Intermediate / Advanced
- Season
- April - September
- Tide
- Mid Tide / Rising
- Watch out
- Rocks/Boulders • Urchins • Rips • Shorebreak • Shallow Sections • Fickle
- Kon Tiki
Punta Hermosa
- Wave
- Offshore Reef Break · Left / Right
- Level
- Advanced / Expert when large
- Season
- April–September
- Tide
- All Tides
- Watch out
- Long 500m+ paddle • offshore location • strong currents and rips • difficult positioning • powerful open-ocean surf • long hold-down potential • widely spaced sets • rocky reef • challenging rescue/exit • advanced experience required.
- Oscar Point
Punta Hermosa
- Wave
- Point / Reef Break · Right
- Level
- Advanced
- Season
- April–September
- Tide
- Mid to High Tide
- Watch out
- Rock/reef hazards • strong currents on larger swells • powerful surf at size • experienced surfers recommended when large • competitive Punta Hermosa lineup • cool Humboldt/Peru Current water • rapidly changing conditions with strong S–SW groundswell.
- Playa Norte
Punta Hermosa
- Wave
- Reef break · Right
- Level
- Intermediate - Advenced
- Season
- December – April
- Tide
- Mid to Hight Tide
- Watch out
- Large boulders • exposed rocks • sea urchins • fast hollow takeoffs • shorebreak • seasonal sand movement • closeouts when oversized. The changing sand level is particularly important here because the same beach can look and surf noticeably different between summer and winter.
- Puntilla
Punta Hermosa
- Wave
- Reef break · Right
- Level
- Intermediate - Advanced
- Season
- April–September
- Tide
- Mid to High Tide
- Watch out
- Rocks • Rips/Undertow • Hollow Sections • Powerful Surf • Crowds • Fickle Conditions
- Señoritas
Punta Hermosa
- Wave
- Left / Secondary Right
- Level
- Intermediate / Advanced
- Season
- April – September
- Tide
- Mid - High Tide
- Watch out
- Shallow reef • rocks • sea urchins • rips • competitive lineup • powerful surf when larger. Rocks, urchins and rips are all specifically identified hazards.
- Punta Rocas
Punta Negra
- Wave
- Reef break · Left / Right
- Level
- Intermediate - Advanced
- Season
- April–September
- Tide
- Low to Mid High Tide
- Watch out
- Rocks, rips and sea urchins, with a tricky entry and exit. Heavy surf at size. Crowded at weekends. Watch for fishing lines near the point.
- Punta Sal
Punta Sal
- Wave
- Point Break · Left Point
- Level
- Beginner to Advanced
- Season
- March - October. Still surf in Nov–Feb, but less consistent.
- Tide
- Low to Mid Tide
- Watch out
- Rocky point/reef. Watch for exposed and submerged rocks, particularly at lower tide. Best with clean NW groundswells and ESE offshore winds.
- Peña Rosa
San Bartolo
- Wave
- Point Break / Boulder Reef · Left
- Level
- Intermediate - Advanced
- Season
- April – October
- Tide
- Low - Mid / Rising Tide
- Watch out
- Boulders/Rocks • Rips • Hollow Sections • Powerful Surf • Challenging Takeoffs • Cool Water
- Peñascal
San Bartolo
- Wave
- Point / Reef Break · Right / Occasional Left
- Level
- Advanced
- Season
- March–October
- Tide
- Low to Mid Tide
- Watch out
- Peñascal is powerful and moves a lot of water. Surfers should be comfortable with shifting takeoffs, steep drops, rocks and boulders, strong currents/rips and getting caught inside on larger sets. The combination of shallow rock, substantial swell and a technical lineup makes this a poor choice for beginners.
- San Bartolo - Derechitas
San Bartolo
- Wave
- Reef / Point Brea · Right
- Level
- All Levels - Beginner - Pre-Intermediate - Intermediate - Advanced
- Season
- Year Round
- Tide
- Hight Tide
- Watch out
- The bottom is rocky, and sea urchins are a known hazard, so surfers should pay attention to entry and exit points. The preferred entry is on the right side of the Playa Norte pier. Peru’s cool Humboldt-influenced water also means wetsuit needs vary seasonally; local guidance suggests a short suit in summer and full suit during winter.
- San Bartolo - Izguierditas
San Bartolo
- Wave
- Reef / Point / Pier Break · Left
- Level
- Beginner - Pre-Intermediate - Intermediate - Advanced
- Season
- Year-Round
- Tide
- All tides, with Low Tide preferred
- Watch out
- Rocky bottom and sea urchins. Watch your footing when entering and exiting, and respect the established lineup when it's busy. The preferred access is from the left side of the Playa Norte pier. Water temperatures fluctuate seasonally; local guidance recommends lighter wetsuit protection in summer and a full suit during the cooler winter period.
- Santa Maria
Santa María del Mar
- Wave
- Beach break · Right / Left
- Level
- Beginner - Intermediate - Advanced
- Season
- April – October
- Tide
- Mid Tide — Rising
- Watch out
- Santa María's sand bottom is more forgiving than many of the rocky reef and point breaks nearby, but the ocean itself deserves respect. Local descriptions specifically note changing currents and unpredictable power, and the shallow beach can make smaller waves surprisingly hollow. Sandbars also move, so the best peak may change considerably from one season or major swell to another.
- Cabo Blanco
- Wave
- Reef break · Left-hand
- Level
- Advanced
- Season
- April to October (south swells)
- Tide
- Best on a mid-to-high tide
- Watch out
- Breaks over shallow coral or rock reef — booties are recommended and mind the take-off zone.
- Chicama
- Wave
- Point break · Left-hand
- Level
- Intermediate
- Season
- April to October (south swells)
- Tide
- All tides; best on a pushing tide
- Watch out
- Rocks and strong currents run around the point, so plan your entry and exit carefully.
- Lobitos
- Wave
- Point break · Left-hand
- Level
- Intermediate
- Season
- April to October (south swells)
- Tide
- All tides; best on a pushing tide
- Watch out
- Rocks and strong currents run around the point, so plan your entry and exit carefully.
- Máncora
- Wave
- Point break · Left-hand
- Level
- Beginner
- Season
- April to October (south swells)
- Tide
- All tides; best on a pushing tide
- Watch out
- Rocks and strong currents run around the point, so plan your entry and exit carefully.
- Pico Alto
- Wave
- Reef break · A-frame peaks (lefts and rights)
- Level
- Advanced
- Season
- April to October (south swells)
- Tide
- Best on a mid-to-high tide
- Watch out
- Breaks over shallow coral or rock reef — booties are recommended and mind the take-off zone.
- Punta Huanchaco
- Wave
- Beach break · Left-hand
- Level
- Beginner
- Season
- April to October (south swells)
- Tide
- All tides; sandbar-dependent
- Watch out
- Rip currents form between the sandbars — always check conditions before paddling out.
- El Nuro
Ñuro
- Wave
- Reef Break · Left
- Level
- Intermediate to Advanced
- Season
- June–November
- Tide
- Tide dependent; use caution at lower tides
- Watch out
- Rocky reef, submerged rocks and local surfers. Respect the local lineup and use additional caution at lower tides.
Surf spots in Peru by level
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to surf Peru?
The best time to surf Peru is April to September: that is when the most breaks are at their best — 22 of the 29 Peru breaks we map at the peak.
Can you surf Peru all year round?
Yes. At least one of the 29 breaks we map in Peru is in season in every month of the year, though the most are at their best in April to September.
When is the best time for beginners to surf Peru?
The 5 beginner-rated breaks we map in Peru (Mancora, Punta Sal, Santa Maria, Máncora and Punta Huanchaco) are mostly at their best in April to October. Smaller days in the shoulder months are easier to learn on.
Which surf breaks in Peru are lefts and which are rights?
Lefts: Cabo Blanco, Cabo Blanquillo, El Nuro, Los Organos, Mancora, Peña Rosa, Punta Ballena and Punta Sal. Rights: El Paso, El Silencio, La Isla, Oscar Point, Playa Norte, Puntilla and San Bartolo - Derechitas. The table below splits every break we map in Peru by type and direction.