Surfing is maybe the best alternative for the traveller regarding adventure sports. The coastal fringe of the Region of Lima offers excellent possibilities for the practice of this sport.

These are some options:

COSTA VERDE (GREEN COAST)
At the foot of the cliff that extends West of the City, appear before the eyes of the visitor a group of beaches going across a series of districts, mainly at Miraflores with the La Pampilla, Makaha, Waikiki and Redondo Beaches. Suitable for all kinds of surfers with incoming waves all year round.

LA HERRADURA (THE HORSESHOE)
Lima's classical point. One of the most notable beaches of the Costa Verde's circuit. Its lefties reach five metre heights during its best days. It has three sections: the closest to the beach being the hardest and most tubular one.
It is a well attended beach in which up to 100 surfers can be counted on a single day; and additional difficulty if it is taken into account that each series carries about five waves only.
Reserved for experienced surfers only.
Access: Located only a few minutes away from the centre, in the district of Chorrillos, in the southernmost part of the city of Lima.
Weather: Annual average temperature of 19º C (with a maximum of 25º C and a minimum of 13º C).

Services: In Lima you can find, besides a great variety of hotels and restaurants, stores offering the necessary equipment for the practice of this sport.

EL PARAISO (THE PARADISE)
The peninsula and the beaches of El Paraíso (El Palmero, Tilca, Tocoy, and others) fulfil all the requisites to honour its name: numerous beaches with no human presence, calm and always clean sea, good fishing and an intense sunshine during the Southern hemisphere's summer. In the course of this season they are well attended by campers and holiday makers looking for some peace and an extremely beautiful natural scenario.
Nearby, to the north, is located the Playa Chica Lagoon, a place of refuge for an abundant wild fauna. It is usually very windy in the afternoons.
Access and Services: It is located between Las Salinas of Huacho and the homonymous city. It is necessary to take a detour at the kilometre 135 of the North Pan American Highway in order to access them. The services, very good by the way, are located at the city proper. They are suitable for all kinds of vehicles.

PICO ALTO (HIGH PEAK)
The largest and most spectacular wave of Peru. It is a point break with lefts and rights, though the latter are more frequently rode. Its waves, long and perfect, can reach 10 metres heights. They are not suitable for beginners. The connoisseurs compare them to the waves of Waimea (Hawaii) and Todos los Santos (Baja California). A long paddling out is involved for it breaks one kilometre offshore.
The annual average temperature is of 19° C (with a maximum of 25° C and a minimum of 13° C). The zone offers a variety of hotels and restaurants, especially during the months of January through March. It is suitable for all kinds of vehicles.
Access: At only 43 kilometres south of Lima going through the South Pan American Highway.

PUNTA ROCAS (ROCK'S POINT)
It is the most famous surfing point of Peru and site of international surfing championships which take place every year in the month of February. It offers a large wave that can reach five metre heights. According to surfers, this beach is a "wave maker machine": rights and lefts, not necessarily perfect but constant.
Annual average temperature of 19° C (with a maximum of 25° and a minimum of 13° C). The zone offers a variety of hotels and restaurants. Suitable for all kinds of vehicles.
Access: It is located at the kilometre 45 of the South Pan American Highway.

SEÑORITAS (MISSES)
Between Punta Hermosa and Caballeros, at only 44 kilometres south of Lima going through the Pan American Highway. Well attended by surfers. One of the most popular during the summer, season in which restaurants facing the Ocean shore proliferate.

PUERTO VIEJO (OLD SEAPORT)
At 70 kilometres south of Lima going through the Pan American Highway, and at the beginning of the valley of the Cañete River. Restaurants specialised on fish and seafood operate during the summer.

CERRO AZUL (BLUE HILL)
At 131 kilometres south of Lima going through the Pan American Highway. It has numerous hostels and restaurants and, above all, beautiful and pretty long waves.

RECOMMENDATIONS

• Never ride the waves alone.
• Keep the beaches clean carrying with you all the litter, and avoid bothering the marine animals sharing the waters with you (dolphins, sea lions and aquatic birds).
• Find out about the presence of currents and about the presence of reefs, or rocky zones at the sea bottom, as well.
• Bear in mind that, depending on the zone, the flux of tides intensifies, the waves swell up and the risk increases during March or April (around Easter).