If you're a surfing enthusiast, you've surely heard of Chicama, a wave known for being the longest wave in the world.
Chicama is one of the most popular breaks in the world. Located in northern Peru, it's one of those waves that makes you want to surf it as soon as you see a picture of it.
In this post, we'll explore its history, location, characteristics, the best time to surf it, and much more. Get ready to learn all about Chicama!
History and Location of Chicama
Chicama is located in a remote coastal area of the Ascope province, in the La Libertad region, about 70 kilometers from the city of Trujillo and approximately 600 kilometers north of Lima.
As with other perfect waves like G Land in Indonesia, this wave was first reported upon after being spotted from the air. Specifically, it was in 1966 when Hawaiian Chuck Shipman, flying over the Peruvian coast on his way home, was surprised to see a multitude of waves breaking perfectly in a corner of the coast.
Back in Peru, he gathered a group of local surfers and began a veritable "The Search" to locate that perfect wave Chuck had seen from the plane.
Not without much difficulty and, at times, despair, using the clues Chuck had and asking the locals, they finally found the spot, Puerto de Malabrigo. As they continued, no one spoke, until suddenly screams were heard, and euphoria gripped them all.
An endless series of waves up to two meters high broke in perfect harmony in the bay, something they had never seen before.
The six explorers surfed to exhaustion and, upon returning home, told the rest of the surfers about their discovery. It soon began to gain popularity and has remained one of the world's most beloved surfing destinations to this day.
Characteristics of the Chicama Wave
The Chicama wave isn't the largest or most powerful, but with a length that can reach 2.2 kilometers, it is the longest in the world, allowing for waves of up to 2 minutes.
It's a fairly fast wave that breaks on a sandy bottom and passes through different sections along its path, some flatter and others more hollow, making it an excellent option for all surfing levels.
In general, the more swell the waves come in, the higher the quality of the wave, but both intermediate and more experienced surfers will find a section where they can have fun, perform maneuvers, and catch the occasional barrel on the biggest days.
These are the different sections into which the Chicama wave is divided:
El Cabo: This is the section most exposed to the swell and operates almost every day, although it is also the most exposed to strong winds. It has a well-defined and constant peak, with a higher quality break during the summer with a northwest swell.
El Point: Located in front of the rocks and with a compact sandy bottom, this second section can reach a length of more than 1 kilometer. At low tide, it can offer good barrels, and at high tide, wide and maneuverable walls.
Las Dos Tetas: This section starts very fast, with some barrels emerging, and even though it seems like it's about to close, it suddenly slows down and allows for all kinds of maneuvers.
El Hotel: Located in front of the Chicama Surf Resort, this is a fast section where a poorly executed maneuver can cause you to miss the wave.
El Hombre and El Malecón are the last two sections and are considered the best part of the wave. This is the area with the most vertical waves, and days with a good swell and strong southwesterly winds can produce long, round barrels.
The best time to surf Chicama
To find the best conditions at Chicama, you need a powerful southwesterly swell, with long periods of around 15 seconds and a southeasterly wind. With these conditions, you can experience a classic Chicama day, with plenty of lines of waves breaking perfectly in the bay.
The best time to travel to Chicama is between April and October, when the chances of these sea conditions increase and the waves reach their largest and most consistent. During these months, storm systems in the Pacific generate the ideal swells for these endless waves.
If you're a surfing enthusiast, you've surely heard of Chicama, a wave known for being the longest wave in the world.
Chicama is one of the most popular breaks in the world. Located in northern Peru, it's one of those waves that makes you want to surf it as soon as you see a picture of it.
In this post, we'll explore its history, location, characteristics, the best time to surf it, and much more. Get ready to learn all about Chicama!
History and Location of Chicama
Chicama is located in a remote coastal area of the Ascope province, in the La Libertad region, about 70 kilometers from the city of Trujillo and approximately 600 kilometers north of Lima.
As with other perfect waves like G Land in Indonesia, this wave was first reported upon after being spotted from the air. Specifically, it was in 1966 when Hawaiian Chuck Shipman, flying over the Peruvian coast on his way home, was surprised to see a multitude of waves breaking perfectly in a corner of the coast.
Back in Peru, he gathered a group of local surfers and began a veritable "The Search" to locate that perfect wave Chuck had seen from the plane.
Not without much difficulty and, at times, despair, using the clues Chuck had and asking the locals, they finally found the spot, Puerto de Malabrigo. As they continued, no one spoke, until suddenly screams were heard, and euphoria gripped them all.
An endless series of waves up to two meters high broke in perfect harmony in the bay, something they had never seen before.
The six explorers surfed to exhaustion and, upon returning home, told the rest of the surfers about their discovery. It soon began to gain popularity and has remained one of the world's most beloved surfing destinations to this day.
Characteristics of the Chicama Wave
The Chicama wave isn't the largest or most powerful, but with a length that can reach 2.2 kilometers, it is the longest in the world, allowing for waves of up to 2 minutes.
It's a fairly fast wave that breaks on a sandy bottom and passes through different sections along its path, some flatter and others more hollow, making it an excellent option for all surfing levels.
In general, the more swell the waves come in, the higher the quality of the wave, but both intermediate and more experienced surfers will find a section where they can have fun, perform maneuvers, and catch the occasional barrel on the biggest days.
These are the different sections into which the Chicama wave is divided:
El Cabo: This is the section most exposed to the swell and operates almost every day, although it is also the most exposed to strong winds. It has a well-defined and constant peak, with a higher quality break during the summer with a northwest swell.
El Point: Located in front of the rocks and with a compact sandy bottom, this second section can reach a length of more than 1 kilometer. At low tide, it can offer good barrels, and at high tide, wide and maneuverable walls.
Las Dos Tetas: This section starts very fast, with some barrels emerging, and even though it seems like it's about to close, it suddenly slows down and allows for all kinds of maneuvers.
El Hotel: Located in front of the Chicama Surf Resort, this is a fast section where a poorly executed maneuver can cause you to miss the wave.
El Hombre and El Malecón are the last two sections and are considered the best part of the wave. This is the area with the most vertical waves, and days with a good swell and strong southwesterly winds can produce long, round barrels.
The best time to surf Chicama
To find the best conditions at Chicama, you need a powerful southwesterly swell, with long periods of around 15 seconds and a southeasterly wind. With these conditions, you can experience a classic Chicama day, with plenty of lines of waves breaking perfectly in the bay.
The best time to travel to Chicama is between April and October, when the chances of these sea conditions increase and the waves reach their largest and most consistent. During these months, storm systems in the Pacific generate the ideal swells for these endless waves.
Tips for Surfing in Chicama
If you're planning a trip to Chicama (or dreaming of it), there are a few things you should keep in mind:
The Backspin
If you add a long, long backspin to a strong current, you'll need to be in great shape to fully enjoy the wave. Although you can count on a little extra help...
For about $30 a day, you can hire a boat to take you back to the peak so you can focus all your energy on surfing.
The Weather
The weather in Chicama is warm, with temperatures ranging from 15 to 28 degrees. Strong winds can lower the temperature, so a light jacket is always a good idea.
As for the water temperature, it's cooler than a little further north due to the Humboldt Current, and varies between 17 and 22 degrees, so it's recommended to wear a 3/2 wetsuit or a very stretchy 4/3 wetsuit like the O'Neill Hyperfreak.
The Boards
The wave's fast, multi-section characteristics make it necessary to surf with fast boards with a certain volume.
For the best quality days, a performance board will be ideal. Both a mid-length and a performance shortboard will allow you to perform well and fit into the most vertical sections to get some tubes.
