• Gear
  • Features
  • Photography
  • Interviews
  • Videos
  • Environment
  • Travel
  • WSL
  • Win
  • Surf Reports
Drift Surfing
IMG_6113
Mark Sankey 2

Punta Huanchaco

By Mark · On May 2, 2013

Punta Huanchaco became a World Surfing Reserve in October last year due to the two thousand year old wave riding and seafaring history. Here’s an insight into this fascinating little town drawn from when we stopped there on a road trip recently.



The wave riding reed boats of Huanchaco, called Caballito de totora, have been used here for fishing since around 100AD. The coast receives so much swell that it was necessary for the early fisherman to create a surf craft that allowed them launch from the beach then ride the waves back to shore with the catch. Today, local fisherman still paddle out daily on there reed boats and there is a thriving local surf community.

The point at Huanchco does not have the quality of the nearby points at Pacasmayo and Chicama, but it picks up more swell and always has some fun waves; even when they are too small. On the other hand, Pacasmayo and Chicama are quite bleak but Huanchaco is one of the most interesting and nicest places to stop on the the North coast of Peru. So, it is a good place to recharge and chill out when the other points are not quite doing their thing. There is a lot of history and culture to explore around here too, such as the Moche Sol Y Luna temples or the ruins from the ancient Chimu city of Chan_Chan. Huanchaco also has great places to eat and is home to Peru’s national dish of Ceviche.

The point at Huanchaco

Whilst in Huanchaco we stayed at Casa Amelia. For about £12 a night we had a split level thatched roof room with our own private bathroom. The whole place is stylish, unique and charming. There is a garden, two sun terraces, a communal kitchen and a lounge. It is one of the best value places I have ever stayed. It is Peruvian owned and run by a Dutch couple, Paul and Renee. They work really hard to keep the place nice and do everything they can to help. Paul is a surfer too and can help arrange trips up the coast. He also loves to go for a surf with anyone staying there.

Got the bug

Photography: Alexa Poppe.
alexapoppephotography.co.uk/
alexapoppeweddingphotography.com/

PeruPunta Huanchco
Share Tweet Share on Facebook Share on Google+ Share on Pinterest

Mark

You Might Also Like

  • Pikerust Art

    Pikerust

  • Alex Rowse Mark Sankey

    Hulls, Hulls, Hulls

  • alaia Mark Sankey

    Rumbles from the woodshed

2 Comments

  • Hostel Casa Amelia Huanchaco says: May 3, 2013 at 9:27 pm

    Beautiful little article which makes us happy and proud.

    Reply
  • Roberto Borrell Ortiz says: May 6, 2013 at 6:13 pm

    niti

    Reply
  • Leave a reply Cancel reply

    Drift-a-gram

    • sallymcgee driftervisual Some joyful North East action on a 58hellip
    • Keeping with the Mr Roach on the left birthday postshellip
    • Another shot of birthday boy amp style master harrisonsan fromhellip
    • Happy Birthday to Harrison Roach harrisonsan We had the pleasurehellip
    • Some calm after the boardmasters storm Sweet ride thomassurfboards xhellip
    • Surfers of Siargao Cloud 9 is one of the besthellip
    • Regram from sunsetsons amp we had so much fun interviewinghellip
    • Thanks boardmasters for an amazing few days thanks to allhellip

    Most Popular

    • New York sinks subway trains to make artificial reefNew York sinks subway trains to make artificial… The New York City Transit department has been involved with…
    • Things you should probably know about good surfboards…Things you should probably know about good… Unless you’re just starting out it’s highly likely that you…
    • Roll with it…Roll with it… A UK surf entrepreneur is building the ultimate surfing experience…
    • South American shapers: The Real Deal…South American shapers: The Real Deal… Part one of a two part series into South American…
    • Think surf photography is dangerous? Think again…Think surf photography is dangerous? Think… CJ Kale a photographer from Hawaii is believed to be…
    • Shaping up a stormShaping up a storm Drift speaks to the Irish brothers making waves with their…
    • Life and surf in Barcelona (I)Life and surf in Barcelona (I) Surfing in Barcelona is not an oxymoron. As most dedicated…
    • A testing time for Finisterre…A testing time for Finisterre… 'You rip it off, rake it across the tarmac, piss…
    • For some the dream is already dead…For some the dream is already dead… For some, the surf-lifestyle is a dream. For others, it’s…
    • The Jay Adams bookThe Jay Adams book The legendary surfer, skater and original DogTown Z-Boy Jay Adams,…

     

    Contact Us

    Email us at [email protected]

    Search…

    Subscribe & Follow

    Follow @driftsurf



    Click here to sign up to our newsletter

    About Us

    Click here to find out more about Drift

    Click here to meet the team

    © 2015 Drift Surfing, All rights reserved.

    7ads6x98y