Best time to surf Huanchaco

The best time to surf at Huanchaco is June–September, with waves of about 1.3 m and water around 20°C.

Huanchaco, La Libertad, Peru

Sports: Surfing

Best time to go: June–September

Huanchaco is a fishing and surf town on the north coast of Peru, about 12 km north-west of Trujillo and next to its airport. Its main wave breaks off the point in front of the town and runs past the long pier, and fishermen still launch the caballitos de totora, small reed boats used here for some 3,000 years, from the beach at dawn. Surf schools and board rentals line the seafront.

The wave is a long left over a mix of reef and sand, of medium power, which suits turns and intermediate surfers; on small days the inside is good for learning. The main season runs from about March to October, when south and south-west swells reach the coast. The Trujillo airport weather station, 1.4 km away, records 15 knots or more on almost no days: the wind is usually light in the morning and blows from the south in the afternoon.

Keep clear of the reed boats and fishing lines, and watch for the pier pilings. The water is cool for the latitude because of the Humboldt current: about 17 to 19 °C from July to January and 22 °C in February and March, so a 3/2 or spring suit most of the year.

Month by month at Huanchaco

January: 0 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 6 knots, waves 0.9 m, water 19°C, air 24°C (nights 20°C), sun (6+ hours) on about 30 days, rain (1+ mm) on about 5; a day can have both
February: 0 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 5 knots, waves 0.9 m, water 22°C, air 26°C (nights 22°C), sun (6+ hours) on about 27 days, rain (1+ mm) on about 6; a day can have both
March: 0 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 5 knots, waves 0.9 m, water 23°C, air 26°C (nights 22°C), sun (6+ hours) on about 29 days, rain (1+ mm) on about 7; a day can have both
April: 0 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 7 knots, waves 1 m, water 21°C, air 25°C (nights 21°C), sun (6+ hours) on about 29 days, rain (1+ mm) on about 4; a day can have both
May: 0 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 8 knots, waves 1.1 m, water 20°C, air 23°C (nights 19°C), sun (6+ hours) on about 31 days, rain (1+ mm) on about 1; a day can have both
June: 0 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 8 knots, waves 1.2 m, water 20°C, air 23°C (nights 18°C), sun (6+ hours) on about 30 days, almost no rain
July: 0 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 8 knots, waves 1.3 m, water 20°C, air 22°C (nights 18°C), sun (6+ hours) on about 31 days, almost no rain
August: 0 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 8 knots, waves 1.3 m, water 19°C, air 22°C (nights 17°C), sun (6+ hours) on about 31 days, almost no rain
September: 0 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 8 knots, waves 1.3 m, water 19°C, air 22°C (nights 17°C), sun (6+ hours) on about 30 days, almost no rain
October: 0 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 8 knots, waves 1.1 m, water 19°C, air 22°C (nights 18°C), sun (6+ hours) on about 31 days, rain (1+ mm) on about 2; a day can have both
November: 0 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 7 knots, waves 1.1 m, water 17°C, air 22°C (nights 17°C), sun (6+ hours) on about 30 days, rain (1+ mm) on about 1; a day can have both
December: 0 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 7 knots, waves 1 m, water 18°C, air 23°C (nights 19°C), sun (6+ hours) on about 31 days, rain (1+ mm) on about 3; a day can have both

Surfing in Peru: June, July, August, September

When is the best time to go surfing at Huanchaco?

June–September, when the waves are biggest.

How warm is the water at Huanchaco?

17°C to 23°C over the year: a shorty or lycra in the warmest month, a 4/3 full suit in the coolest.

How windy is Huanchaco?

About 0 days a year with at least 2 hours of 15+ knots in the daytime, most in January.

Figures from 5 years of weather data (Open-Meteo).

Spots near Huanchaco

Chicama (55 km)
Pacasmayo (90 km)

More: All spots in Peru · Surfing in Peru

Compare with: Chicama vs Huanchaco · Huanchaco vs Punta Hermosa · Huanchaco vs Pacasmayo

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