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.

December: Summer Returns, Small but Clean

December brings the Peruvian summer and a shift to smaller, cleaner conditions. The average swell height is 1.4m with a period of 12.1 seconds. As in the early summer months, the SSW direction dominates (87.9%), with a notable increase in smaller 0.5-1m waves. Over 60% of waves are in the 1-1.5m range, but there are still some 1.5-2m sets (21.1%). The wind is excellent again, with 82% ideal conditions. The SSE wind is present (49.3%), but the S wind (44.4%) and SSW (5.1%) combine to give a high percentage of true offshore flow. Wind speeds are mostly in the 10-20 kph range, perfect for grooming the waves. December is a fantastic month for a longboard or a mid-length board. The waves may lack the raw power of winter, but the consistency of clean, lined-up walls is hard to beat. If you are looking for a vacation with guaranteed small, fun waves and glassy mornings, December is your month.