The Best Windsurf Spots on the Coast of Peru

Since the late 1970s, windsurfing has grown to be a popular sport along the coast of Peru. It's a high adrenaline sport that uses a board similar to a surf board to dominate both sea and wind by use of an attached sail. The result is amazing to watch, as the windsurfers harness the power of the wind to do incredible jumps and spins off the waves and into the air. These days, there are several places along the Peruvian coast that have become very popular to windsurfers for their abundant breezes and breakers. It also doesn't hurt that most of the Peruvian coast is a desert, promising sun every day of the year. For adventure tourists looking for a great place to practice their sport, here are a few windsurf spots that are considered to be among the best.

Paracas - Located just a few hours bus ride south of Lima, Paracas is one of the most popular windsurf spots in Peru. There are a variety of beaches in the area offering different conditions from high winds for speedsailing to plenty of waves for jumping. Some of the popular beaches are Atenas and Santo Domingo. For budget travelers we can recommend. The Hotel Condor Club with rates of about $80 per night. There are various other backpacker style hostels in the area if you're looking for more budget accommodations.

Paraiso - Located about 2 hours south of Lima near the town of Huacho, Paraiso is known for its long flat waves. Most of the windsurfing is done near the shore, with winds blowing in from the south and peaking in the afternoons around 4pm. This is a fairly deserted windsurf spot, so it's best to go in a group. Access the beach via an asphalt road near km135 of the Panamericana North highway. There is no real infrastructure here, so be sure to take along plenty of drinks and snacks.

Pacasmayo - The southern part of the beach at Pacasmayo in La Libertad is known as El Faro and it's another popular windsurf spot. There is a peninsular with a lighthouse (el faro in Spanish); to the right is the beach where you'll find good windsurfing conditions with offshore winds and decent waves. For lodging, try Hotel Pakatnamu, where regular rooms are available for around $30 a night. The area has plenty of restaurants and a fairly active nightlife.

Mancora - This is arguably the most popular beach in Peru for surfers, windsurfers and kite surfers alike. Called "the Hawaii of Peru", it has year round warm weather. From December to March (the Peruvian summer), the swells are nonstop, and this fun and touristy town is full of beach lovers. There are plenty of accommodations and restaurants. If you're looking for a slightly less crowded beach, check out nearby Colan or Lobitos, both popular windsurfing areas.