A short, punchy right at the northern end of a small beach near Punta Hermosa, about 43 km south of Lima, Playa Norte delivers fast hollow slammers over a boulder-sand bottom that bodyboarders and shortboarders both target. S to SW swell from 3 to 8ft activates the wave best, with easterly winds keeping faces clean, push tide tends to improve shape on the rights. Intermediates and above will find it manageable in smaller surf, but when size builds the wave gets heavy and closes out quickly, punishing anyone out of position. Bottom: mixed boulder-sand. Season: December through April. Consistency: medium. All rocks carry sharp shells and urchins in the cracks, so a solid wetsuit and booties are strongly advised even in warm water, time your entry carefully from the shore as the shoreline is rock-littered and the paddle-out can be brutal in any real swell.
Weekend crowds from Lima fill Playa Norte in summer, particularly December through April. The lineup is manageable on weekdays but can get competitive on Saturday and Sunday mornings. No serious localism reported, though the wave is short enough that priority matters. Dawn sessions on weekdays offer the most breathing room.
From Punta Hermosa, navigate toward La Isla then head north along the coast to the small beach. Parking is available nearby. No facilities on-site, so bring water and food. Water quality shows no current concerns. Hazards are primarily the rocks: boulder-strewn shore, shells on every surface, and urchins in crevices. Booties are non-negotiable.
El Paso sits just south of the headland and offers a powerful right-hander over boulders for stronger S-SW swells. Punta Rocas, a short drive away, is the area's most consistent wave but draws the heaviest crowds in the region.
Forecast by Windy.app
