Pacasmayo • Surf Spot Statistics

Although the absolute best swell direction for the WNW-facing point at Pacasmayo is W through NW, the observed wave climate is overwhelmingly driven by long-period SSW groundswell. Refraction of that deep Southern Ocean energy is what keeps the famous lefts alive, and the year-round dominance of south and south-southeast winds keeps the spot cleaner than most of the Peruvian coast. The result is a climate with two better windows, a solid middle season, and a small but fun summer lull.

Best Surf Season (April - May and October - November)

The best all-round quality appears in April and May. The Southern Ocean storm track is still in full swing, feeding 3.9ft (1.2m) of long-period SSW swell with periods up to 12.8s, while ideal wind percentages reach 80-84%. October and November are nearly as good: slightly smaller at 3.6-3.9ft (1.1-1.2m), but with the wind and water both on the turn and the swell direction tightening back to a cleaner SSW. These are the months when Pacasmayo feels properly alive - lined-up, grindable and consistent.

Fair Surf Season (March and June - September)

June, July and August are the largest months of the year, with average heights of 4.3ft (1.3m) and more frequent pulses in the 4.9-6.6ft (1.5-2m) range. The tradeoff is wind: the south flow cranks harder, putting the ideal-wind percentage down in the 71-77% range and adding cross-chop to the lineup. Mixed in with the SSW swell is a greater share of straight S and SSE energy, which is less effectively refracted and can make the wave less lined-up. March and September are transition months - March is filling in from the summer lull, September is coming out of winter with the lowest wind reliability of the year (71%).

Low Surf Season (December - February)

The austral summer months are the smallest but still far from flat. Average heights drop to 3.3ft (1.0m), periods ease to 11.8-12.1s, and the distribution tilts heavily toward the 1.6-3.3ft (0.5-1m) band. The retreat of the winter storm track means less arrival energy, but the water is still a comfortable 19-22°C, the winds stay mostly light and favorable 75-81% of the time, and the waves remain manageable and rippable - a perfect window for longboarders and grovelers before the autumn pulse returns.