Huanchaco
Peru · South America
Right now
ClearWind and swell direction
Swell: 1.7m S
Wind: 10 km/h SE (offshore)
Beach faces: W
Offshore wind (blowing from land to sea). Ideal conditions, holding up wave faces for cleaner surf.
Swell direction is not well aligned with this beach. Expect reduced wave quality.
Today hour by hour
Updated 08:38Expected crowds
Prediction model v16amDawn patrol territory
7amMidweek quiet
Next 7 days
Forecast via Open-MeteoWhat to pack
- 3/2mm wetsuit or spring suit for 20°C water.
- Sunny days ahead. Sun cream and a rashie.
- Standard shortboard conditions.
Today's briefing
1.9m swell at 10s. Light winds keeping things clean. Water temperature 20°C.
AI-generated summary for Huanchaco. Always check local reports before heading out.
Forecast accuracy at Huanchaco
Not enough data yet. Log a session to help build the accuracy score.
Best time to go
No great windows in the next 2 days
Best available option is Today around 7am (score: 39). Conditions are below the Good threshold but may still be surfable.
Crowd report
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Session journal
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Approximate modelSwell forecast
7-day forecastDaily score breakdown
This week is looking about average for late April.
Comparing the 7-day forecast to the last 5 years of marine data for the same week at Huanchaco.
What's driving it
Recent form
Last 3 days of logged conditions.
About Huanchaco
Huanchaco is a historically significant, incredibly long left-hand point break situated on the arid northern coastline of Peru. The geomorphology involves a prominent headland leading into an exceptionally long, uniform sandy bay interspersed with rounded cobblestones. This specific bathymetric alignment perfectly captures deep-water south-westerly groundswells travelling across the Pacific Ocean. The wave energy refracts seamlessly along the bank, 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 Huanchaco is maintaining down-the-line speed and possessing the severe leg endurance required to carve continually for several minutes. Following a successful ride, surfers frequently face an exhausting walk back up the point.
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Create Profile →Frequently asked questions
How often is this page updated?
Current conditions refresh every 6 hours when the cron runs. Hourly data updates every 30 minutes. The 7-day forecast, luck factor, and packing notes are all pre-computed at the same time.
What is the luck factor?
We compare the 7-day forecast to the last 5 years of marine data for the same week at Huanchaco. The delta tells you whether conditions are shaping up better, worse, or about the same as a typical late April.
How is 'best session' picked?
We score each day of the 7-day forecast using the same algorithm as the leaderboard, and highlight the highest scorer.
Where does the data come from?
Open-Meteo's Marine API (swell height, period, water temperature) and Weather API (wind and conditions).
Does the score capture local knowledge?
Honestly, no. Every break has tide windows, swell directions and reef contours that a global model cannot see. Treat the score as a starting point, then check a local cam.
When is the best time to surf Huanchaco?
Check our timing score heatmap above for a week-by-week breakdown combining surf conditions with crowd pressure.