My partner and I are planning a trip to Peru for next year, hoping to combine some trekking and surfing. I mostly have questions about surf spots, water and air temperatures. Questions further below.
The very vague plan at the moment is something like this, over around 6 weeks:
- Fly in to Lima, spend a few days there
- Bus to Huaraz (maybe stopping at some other towns along the way if there's somewhere interesting?)
- Some acclimatisation hikes around Huaraz (possibly some short ones and Santa Cruz) before doing the Huayhuash Circuit. All hiking done independently.
- Travel to the North Coast for two weeks or so of surfing and relaxing.
- Head back to Lima to fly home.
One other thing we might like to do is the Ausangate Circuit hike, but having been to Macchu Picchu and Cuzco before we probably wouldn't otherwise go to that part of Peru (although I am a little curious to see Cuzco and the Sacred Valley again given it's almost 17 years since I was there!), so it seems a bit out of the way.
We'd like to get both good trekking weather and not-too-cold water and air temperatures for beach, so we're thinking of going around May-June or June-July. Any earlier and the likelihood of rain and poor visibility increases a lot. And I'm hoping the water temps aren't too cold yet at that time.
I'm an intermediate surfer and my partner is a beginner (can stand up but not much experience surfing green waves and not good at paddling, duck diving etc). Ideal for me would be 3-4 foot waves. Ideal for her would be gentle 2-3 foot. She feels the cold a lot though, so water temperature is a big factor. It looks like at that time of year it's only the Mancora area that will still be warm. Of course warm weather would be nice too! Huanchaco sounds nice (and was recommended by a friend) but I wonder if it will be a bit cold?
So, questions:
- Any suggestions for surf destinations that could be beginner and intermediate friendly? Any places where my partner could have lessons perhaps?
- Can anyone tell me what sort of water and air temperatures I should expect in June/July in Huanchaco and Mancora (and in-between)? I've googled it of course but found mixed answers - hard to know what's right.
- I'm not planning to take my own surfboard or wetsuit with me - it's just too much stuff along with hiking gear. I'm guessing that (apart from Lima) Mancora would be the best place to pick up a decent second hand (or possibly new) board? Would I have much chance of finding a board in Huanchaco or other smaller towns? If it's cold enough to need wetsuits would we be able to hire decent wetsuits?
- What would the best way be to get from Huaraz to Mancora? Bus to Trujillo or somewhere else and then another to the far north?
- If there are any good resources for Peru surf info out there I'd love to know about them. Magic Seaweed isn't bad for descriptions of individual surf spots, but not much general info.
Thanks very much.
