Surf the Longest Left in the World: Chicama, Peru Surf Progression Camp

Chicama is a left-hand point break in central Peru near Trujillo, and it is the reason this trip exists. One ride typically runs 45 seconds to a minute, sometimes longer, with distinct sections: a takeoff at the main peak, one or more barrel sections, a long wall where you can link turns for around 25 seconds, and a final racetrack barrel to finish. The wave changes with the tide, so the same spot offers different manoeuvres across the week. Offshore wind blows all day, which means you can surf morning and afternoon without the usual onshore afternoon chop. The guides run sessions at the main peak plus nearby waves such as La Punta and the Cape, depending on conditions.

A typical day: wake around 6 am, eat a light breakfast with organic coffee, and get in the water for three hours. Coaches film everything by drone, and after the session you head back to the hotel to eat and rest. The second session goes out in the later afternoon. Dinner is around 7:30 pm, and while you eat, the coaches put up the day's footage and break down your surfing, then talk through the forecast for tomorrow. Because the wave is so long, there's little in-water coaching out at the peak — feedback happens on the boat ride back to the point or during the video review. If you're an experienced surfer who just wants to be put on the best waves of the day, that's what you'll get.

What sets this camp apart from other Peru surf trips is the boat shuttle. Zodiacs with local captains are hired for every session to take surfers back to the top of the point, so you aren't paddling or walking back after each ride. That single detail roughly doubles how many waves you catch in a day. The camp also includes a dedicated videographer filming every session, and unlimited digital downloads of your footage are included — the page values this at $500. The midweek lay day isn't a rest day exactly: there's an hour-long massage booked, plus a two-to-three-hour Tuk Tuk tour of Chicama town and the surrounding desert mountains.

The coaches are the camp's own professional surf staff, running a 3:1 surfer-to-coach ratio. They handle video analysis, daily condition briefings and, where needed, boat-side coaching. The trip is concierge-level in its logistics: travel planning assistance before you go, airport transfers from Trujillo on arrival and departure, and a departure timed late enough on the last day that you still get a full morning session in before packing up.

The hotel sits on the cliff directly above the wave — a boutique property with an infinity pool, spa, pool-sized jacuzzi, and a terrace where you can watch the swell while eating Peruvian food and watching the sunset over the desert. Rooms have ocean views. There is no nightlife in Chicama town; evenings are for the hot tub, dinner, and video review. Internet is workable for email and messages but not streaming. Water at the hotel isn't drinkable from the tap (fine for brushing teeth); filtered drinking water is provided, and you're encouraged to bring a refillable bottle.

What's included

- 7 days / 6 nights at a boutique hotel and spa above the wave in Chicama - Concierge-level travel trip planning assistance - Professional surf coaching with a 3:1 surfer-to-coach ratio - Two guided surf sessions per day with professional coaches - Zodiac boat tow service back to the point after every ride - Drone filming of every session by a dedicated videographer - Unlimited digital photo/video downloads of your surf experience (value $500) - All meals: daily breakfast, lunch and dinner - One-hour midweek massage - Tuk Tuk tour of Chicama town and the desert mountains - Airport transfers to/from Trujillo Airport (TRU) on arrival and departure day - Personalized picture/video analysis with the surf coaches - Full morning surf session on departure day before afternoon transfer

What's not included

- International and domestic airfare to/from Trujillo (TRU) - Travel insurance with medical coverage (required) - Surfboard rental (available at additional daily cost) - Gratuities for instructors, hotel staff and boat captains - Personal expenses, including meals outside the included plan - Airport transfers and expenses if you extend your stay before or after the trip - Any costs related to single-use plastic alternatives — bring a refillable bottle