This Under-the-radar Surf Destination Has World-class Waves and Humpback Whales Swimming Just Offshore—and No, It’s Not Hawaii and Costa Rica
On Peru’s northern coast, peak surf season overlaps with humpback whale season, creating a rare chance to spot the giants between waves.
Credit: Daniel Balbuena/Getty Images
Many surfers skip over Peru in favor of famous breaks in Hawaii, Indonesia, or Costa Rica, but the Peru surf towns of Órganos and Máncora offer something few destinations can: world-class waves that peak alongside humpback whale season.
Órganos and Máncora are both located along the far northern coast of Peru, not far from the Galápagos Islands, a destination world-renowned for its unique wildlife. The flora and fauna that make the Galápagos a bucket list destination spill into coastal Peru, where creatures like green turtles and blue footed boobies are sighted regularly. And from July to October, the waters also welcome humpback whales who arrive from Antarctica to mate and give birth in the warm waters.
The whales' arrival in northern Peru aligns perfectly with peak surf season at surf destinations like Órganos and Máncora, which tend to see reliable waves from May to October. During that special window in time, surfers at Órganos and Máncora may spot humpback whales while riding the year's best waves . Plus, since humpback whale mothers tend to stay close to shore while giving birth and nursing their young, the giant creatures are often in the waters not far from the surf lineup.
Humpback whale season may be the primary reason to visit this stretch of Peruvian coast, but hardcore surfers won't want to leave Peru without a stop in the quiet coastal town of Puerto Malabrigo (often called Puerto Chicama). The unassuming town is home to Chicama , the world's longest surfable wave. At its peak, surfers can ride Chicama for up to 2.5 consecutive miles, cruising from the top of the cape all the way to the pier. Plus, like Órganos and Máncora, Chicama tends to peak between April and October—right when the humpbacks whales arrive.
It's worth noting that Chicama is slightly farther south than most humpback whales tend to migrate, but even with fewer sightings, it's a worthy destination for its legendary left-hand point break—especially if you time it right.
To reach Órganos and Máncora, it is best to fly from Lima to Talara, Peru (Capitán FAP Víctor Montes Arias International Airport, TYL) and make the one hour drive to Órganos. Máncora is just around 10 miles further north, making visiting the two surf towns doable in a single day or over the course of a weekend.
Surfers looking to ride Chicama, should fly into Trujillo, Peru (Capitán FAP Carlos Martínez de Pinillos International Airport, TRU) and make the 1.5- to two-hour drive north to the surf village of Puerto Malabrigo.
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