Each location is refreshed once every three hours. The hourly view, 7-day forecast, luck factor and packing notes come from the same stored update.
We compare the 7-day forecast with the version-matched historical observations available for the same time of year at Chicama. The delta shows whether conditions look better, worse or about the same as a typical late July.
We score each day of the 7-day forecast using the same algorithm as the leaderboard, and highlight the highest scorer.
Open-Meteo's Marine API (swell height, period, water temperature) and Weather API (wind and conditions).
Decent swell running. Plenty to work with. Reasonable period putting some grunt behind each wave. Onshore wind making a mess of the surface. Best conditions early morning before the sea breeze arrives.
PeakWave scores are planning signals, not safety clearance. Check local authorities, official bulletins and on-site conditions before you go. Read our editorial policy.
Chicama is a legendary, world-class left-hand point break located on the arid northern coastline of Peru, globally recognised as one of the longest surfable waves on the planet. The geomorphology involves a prominent rocky headland leading into an exceptionally long, uniform sandy bay. This specific bathymetric alignment perfectly captures deep-water south-westerly groundswells travelling across the Pacific. The wave energy refracts seamlessly along the sandbank, creating an endlessly peeling wall. A south-easterly offshore wind grooms the face, ensuring a pristine surface. While the wave breaks for over a kilometre when the sections connect, it does not possess intense hydraulic power or heavy, plunging barrels. Instead, it offers a fast, continuous, workable face, making it an idyllic canvas for intermediate surfers. The true challenge of Chicama is maintaining down-the-line speed and possessing the severe leg endurance required to carve continually for several minutes. Following a successful ride, surfers face an exhausting walk back up the point to repeat the process.
Heads up: jellyfish: peak season, and rocks exposed at low tide.
Indicators derived from forecast data, not official warnings. Always check local lifeguard or official advice.
The air here is 55% cleaner than the average comparison city right now.
Noticeably cleaner air than a typical city. Good conditions for prolonged outdoor activity.
Not a pollutant. Ozone is naturally higher at altitude and near the coast, and lower in cities where traffic exhaust breaks it down. High readings here typically indicate clean air. Can cause short-term airway irritation during intense exercise but is not linked to the long-term health risks of particulate pollution.
Additive health score: each pollutant contributes points relative to its WHO 2021 guideline and long-term health impact (PM2.5 9, NO₂ 5, O₃ 3, PM10 2, SO₂ 1 at WHO limits). Data via Open-Meteo. City markers show live readings. Red line marks the WHO guideline. Updated 09:01
Reduced water clarity: ~3m visibility
Elevated phytoplankton detected, possible algal bloom
Daily scores over the last 12 months at Chicama
Historical quality only. Safety is not reconstructed for this view.
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Create Profile →Partly. The model uses stored spot geometry, swell ranges and tide preferences where configured. It cannot see changing banks, crowds, access, closures or everything visible on a local cam, so treat it as a starting point.
The best week for surf at Chicama is the week of 9 November (score 3/5) with low crowds.
This guide was generated from conditions data. Know this spot? Submit your own tips below.
Chicama holds the title of the longest left in the world, a seemingly endless point break on Peru's arid northern coast that can offer rides exceeding a kilometre when the stars align. The wave peels along a uniform sandy bay backed by desert cliffs, with four connecting sections: El Cape, El Point, Keys, and El Hombre. The landscape is stark and beautiful, utterly dry and wind-sculpted, and the wave has an almost meditative quality as it reels endlessly down the line.
The prime season runs from March through October when south-westerly groundswells generated in the Southern Ocean push up the Peruvian coast. April and May often deliver the most consistent large swells before the winter fog sets in. The wave needs at least 4-6ft of swell to connect through all four sections. South-easterly winds blow offshore and are most reliable in the early morning. By midday, the onshore thermal usually compromises conditions.
El Point is the most popular take-off zone, offering the longest connected rides when the swell is adequate. On smaller days, only Keys and El Hombre on the inside work properly. On larger swells, El Cape on the far outside activates and the potential for a ride connecting all the way through becomes real. Position yourself at the top of whichever section is breaking cleanest and commit to riding as far down the line as your legs allow.
The main hazard is exhaustion. Rides can last several minutes, demanding continuous leg work and concentration. The walk back up the point after each wave takes 15-20 minutes over rocky ground. Sea urchins inhabit the rocks near the take-off zones. The current can be strong on bigger days, sweeping riders further down the point than intended. The desert sun is intense and dehydration is a real risk during extended sessions.
The town of Puerto Malabrigo sits at the end of the point. A rough dirt road leads to informal parking areas near the various take-off spots. Access to the water requires scrambling over rocks at most sections. There are no formal facilities at the surf spots themselves. The town has basic accommodation and a handful of restaurants.
Chicama receives far fewer visitors than its reputation might suggest, largely because of its remote location and the physical demands of surfing it. On a good day, expect 10-20 surfers spread across the four sections. The vibe is relaxed and friendly, with a small but welcoming local crew. The length of the point naturally disperses surfers along the line.
Bring a mid-length board or a longboard. The wave does not demand aggressive shortboarding; it rewards smooth, flowing surfing with drawn-out turns. Your legs will burn. Stretch thoroughly and bring glucose supplements. The walk back is the limiting factor in your wave count, so some surfers hire a local tuk-tuk driver to ferry them back up the point between rides. The water is cold year-round due to the Humboldt Current, hovering around 16-18C, so a 3/2mm wetsuit is essential despite the desert heat.
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Combining historical conditions with school holiday crowd pressure to find the sweet spot.
The timing score combines two signals: historical conditions quality (how good the skiing or surfing typically is in a given week, based on 5 years of weather data) and crowd pressure (how many of this destination's feeder markets have school holidays that week).
Crowd pressure is weighted by each feeder country's share of visitors. If 40% of a resort's visitors come from France and France is on holiday, that contributes 0.40 to the crowd pressure score. Crowds can reduce the timing score by up to 35%, ensuring conditions still matter most.
Scores: 5 = great conditions with low crowds (the sweet spot). 4 = great conditions with moderate crowds, or good conditions with low crowds. 3 = average. 2 = below average conditions or very crowded. 1 = poor conditions or peak holiday chaos.
Last 30 days of logged conditions.
Based on historical weekly averages
Conditions at Chicama tend to be best between 07:00 to 10:00 in July.
Average score during this window: 62/100
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