Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
More Adventures
Beyond hiking, biking and trekking, Peru offers various other activities for the adventurous:
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Sandboarding
This sport is rising in popularity at spots such as Huacachina, where boarders fly down dunes
made of silky sand.
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Paragliding
Popular paragliding sites include the coastal clifftops in Miraflores, Lima. There are few operators
in Peru, so book ahead.
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Horseback riding
Rides can be arranged in many destinations, but for a real splurge take a ride on a graceful
Peruvian paso horse. Supposedly the descendants of horses with Spanish and Moorish lineage, they are reputed to
have the world's smoothest gait.
Suring
With consistent waves and plenty of breaks, Peru attracts dedicated locals and internation-
al diehards alike.
These can be found the moment you land. Along the southern part of Lima, you'll see
surfers riding curls at Miraflores (known as Waikiki), Barranquito and La Herradura.
(This latter spot has an outstanding left point break, but gets busy during strong swells.)
In-the-know surfers, however, prefer the less-crowded breaks to the south, near the areas
of Punta Hermosa, Punta Rocas and Pico Alto, the latter of which is known as a 'kami-
kaze' reef break. (It boasts one of the largest waves in Peru.)
Peru's north coast is also blessed with a string of excellent breaks, including Huanchaco
and Máncora. The most famous of these is at Puerto Chicama, where rides of more than
2km are possible on a wave considered to be the longest left hand in the world.
The water is cold from April to mid-December (as low as 15°C/60°F), when wet suits
are generally needed. Indeed, many surfers wear wet suits year-round, even though the
water is a little warmer (around 20°C/68°F, in the Lima area) from January to March. The
far north coast (north of Talara) stays above 21°C (70°F) most of the year.
Note that equipment rental is limited and expensive, so it's advisable to bring your own
board.
For a detailed list of just about every break in Peru, logon to
www.wannasurf.com
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