Chicama - surf spot statistics

Best Surf Season (March - September)

The heart of the surfing year at Chicama is driven by the relentless pulse of the Southern Ocean. From March through September, the South Pacific roars to life, sending consistent, long-period SSW groundswell hurtling toward the Peruvian coast. This is when the world-famous left-hand point break truly shines, wrapping around the headlands with power and grace. Average wave heights climb from 1.5m in March to a meaty 1.8m from May through September, with periods frequently exceeding 13 seconds. The trade-off, however, lies in the wind regime. While March and April still enjoy a high percentage of ideal offshore winds (S to SSW), the core winter months see a shift to stronger SSE breezes. These winds, though often still offshore for the NW-facing coast, are less predictable and can introduce a touch of texture. Still, when the combination aligns—a solid SSW swell and a morning glass-off—the waves at Chicama are nothing short of epic.

Fair Surf Season (October - February)

As austral spring turns to summer, the size and consistency of the south swell begin to wane. October through December still produce rideable swell, with average heights around 1.4-1.6m and periods in the 12-13 second range, but the most powerful pulses become less frequent. January and February see the smallest average heights of the year (1.3-1.4m), yet this is compensated by the most reliable offshore wind conditions. The percentage of ideal wind (S to SSW) peaks at 88-90% during these months, meaning the waves that do arrive are often glassy, lined-up, and perfect for longboard cruises or groveling on a high-performance shortboard. This is the 'fair' season: smaller but cleaner, offering fun-sized waves when the swell angle is right. November and December can also serve as transition months with decent swell and improving wind.

Low Surf Season (No true low season, but weakest months: November - February)

Chicama rarely goes flat, but the period from November through February represents the seasonal lull in terms of swell energy. The average wave height dips below 1.5m, and the longer-period swells (15s+) become scarce. While the southerly wind flow remains mostly favorable (especially from December through February), the lack of consistent, powerful groundswell means you will be chasing smaller, weaker lines. A good low-pressure system in the South Pacific can still fire up a few days of fun surf, but overall, this is the time to expect a lower chance of truly pumping, firing conditions. Don't let the 'low' label fool you—if you time it right with a passing swell, the offshore breeze can make for some silky-smooth sessions on the smaller waves.

April: Winter Swell Builds, Wind Shifts

April sees a significant jump in wave size as the southern winter approaches. The average swell height reaches 1.7m, with an average period of 13.4 seconds. The swell direction is heavily dominated by SSW (89.2%), but now the bulk of the energy is in the 1.5-2m range (54.1%), with a notable 8.8% in the 2-2.5m class. This is when the point starts to really fire. The trade-off is that the ideal wind percentage drops to 80%. The wind pattern shifts toward stronger SSE flows (41.7% from SSE at 10-20 kph, and 6% at 20-30 kph). While SSE is still offshore for the NW coast, it is not as perfectly aligned as the S/SSW breeze, and can become gusty, creating a windswell component that sometimes messes with the primary groundswell. Early morning sessions are often glassy, but by midday the seabreeze picks up. Still, the power of the swell often outweighs the minor wind issues, making April a stellar month for experienced surfers chasing bigger waves.