Punta Hermosa
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Positives
- Consistent swells
- Great density of spots
- Big wave potential
- Cheap and easy living
- Peruvian culture
Negatives
- Lack of perfect conditions
- Cold water
- Coastal fog
- Barren, rocky coastline
- Weekend crowds
Punta Hermosa surf travel guide
Peru's capital Lima sits on the shores of the Pacific and has become Peru’s surf city. There are good waves in the districts of both Miraflores and neighbouring Costa Verde, where the world class Herradura left point can go off. However, due to both crowds and pollution most travellers prefer to keep away from the city, and instead head 1hr drive to the south, to the Punta Hermosa area. This is a great area for a surfer to find himself in, as there are ample consistent spots within walking distance of each other. In the Southern Hemisphere winter, some of the waves around Punta Hermosa are typically big mushy rights with less than perfect shape that can be suited for longboarding and intermediate cruising. On the other hand, the better set-ups have plenty of speed and power over rocky reefs, catering to the many talented surfers that live in the area. While a lot of the headlands favour the rights, there are also hollow lefts, plus a few offshore bomboras that handle serious size and power.
Surf spots in Punta Hermosa
Research the 13 surf breaks in Punta Hermosa and discover what spots suit the current conditions.
Break lowdown
We’ve collated the wave data giving you a unique insight into the 13 breaks in Punta Hermosa.
When to go
Surf and weather statistics to help plan your surf trip to Punta Hermosa
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Travel Information
General
- Current Time
- Tourists
- 4,419,000
- Population
- 32,971,854
- Tourist Info
- Tourist Info
Security
Health
Money
- Currency
- PEN
- Exchange rate
- $1 = 3.18 PEN PEN
Cost of living
Communication
- Dialing in
- +51
- Dialing out
- 00
- Language
- Spanish, Quechua
Electricity
- Plug Type
- ac
Visas
Visa free travel for nearly all nationalities for stays of up to 183 days. EU countries get 90 days.
Getting There
See Costa Verde. Punta Hermosa is ±1hr away from Lima by taxi and there are buses. Traffic is getting worse and many people have weekend homes in PH, commuting on Fridays and Mondays.
Getting Around
Punta Hermosa and San Bartolo are small enough to taxi, bus, bike or walk around. A rental car is more useful here than in downtown Lima with parking available at most beaches. Airport rentals from $236/wk (Budget, Hertz), but note that 1400km/wk mileage limits usually apply and the excess charge is expensive.
Accommodation
There are places to stay nearly everywhere, with several cheap lodging possibilities in Punta Hermosa or San Bartolo starting from $20/dbl. Food is reasonably cheap, but prices have been rising recently (allow $10 a meal in restaurants). Fast food (Bembos) or the excellent seafood (ceviche) and local beer (Pilsen Callao), should all be sampled.
Activities
It’s a cool place to hang out, with plenty of nightlife and some interesting wildlife. Take some time out from the surf and take a flight over the mysterious Nazca lines. The cemeteries in Arequipa are worth a visit, as is the stunning Macchu Picchu site high in the Andes.
Hazards & hassles
Buses are safe to use. Lima has a high crime rate - take care. There is the hassle of kids using razor blades to steal things from pockets or backpacks. Be especially vigilant in the popular tourist areas of the bigger towns.
Handy Hints
Lima has the bulk of the surf shops. Take booties for protection from urchins and picos de loros and a light fullsuit (Boz is a good local wetsuit brand). Try to combine this trip with a visit to the Chicama/Mancora area.
Due to global pandemic, Visas, Getting There, Getting Around or Accommodation information and pricing may have changed. Always check Government Travel Advice before travelling.