Herradurra • Surf Spot Statistics

Best Surf Season (November - April)

Herradurra is a year-round wave, but the true high-consistency window runs from November through April. During these months the South Pacific High keeps a persistent S to SSW flow established along the Peruvian coast, which translates into offshore wind reliability of 90-96 percent. Average wave heights sit around 4-5ft (1.2-1.5m) with powerful long periods between 12.8 and 13.7s, and the water is at its warmest, climbing from 17.3°C in November to 21.0°C in February. The dominant SSW/SW groundswell is not the classic N-NW window that a northwest-facing bay would prefer, but the long-period energy wraps well into the cove, and the nearly nonexistent N/NW wind quadrant keeps the faces clean. This is the most rewarding stretch of the year for surfing Herradurra.

Fair Surf Season (May - October)

From May through October, the Southern Ocean and South Pacific storm track become more active, and Herradurra sees its biggest average swell heights of the year at 1.5m (5ft). Periods remain long and powerful, peaking at 13.7s in May, and the SSW swell component dominates up to 93-95 percent of the total energy. The trade-off is the wind. As the subtropical high strengthens, the S wind becomes stronger and more regular, with 20-30kph winds becoming a frequent feature in July and August. Ideal offshore wind reliability drops to 75-89 percent, which means more surface texture and more challenging conditions. Still, there is plenty of quality to be found, especially during the lighter S wind windows in late autumn and early spring.

Low Surf Season (July - September)

There is no flat season at Herradurra, but July through September is the low point of the year in terms of overall rideability. The swell is still solid-1.5m (5ft) on average with healthy 13.0-13.2s periods-yet the wind becomes the limiting factor. Ideal conditions drop to 75 percent, and the usually clean S flow is punctuated by more frequent 20-30kph pulses that put chop on the faces. Water temperature also bottoms out at 16.2-16.7°C under the full strength of the Humboldt Current. The raw ingredients are there, but surfers need to pick their windows carefully to find the best waves.