The Surf Window

Pico Alto

Lima, Peru

Reef breakExpert

Peru's premier big wave venue near Punta Hermosa, Pico Alto is a massive open-ocean reef break that surges up from deep water to deliver enormous, thundering faces on the biggest South Pacific swells.

Typical Conditions

The Surf Window

Swell Window

N
OptimalW (270°)
WindowSSW–NNW (210°–330°)
Size4-8ft

Wind

S

Offshore

Tide

Mid to high

LowMidHigh

Season

March–October

JFMAMJJASOND

The Wave

Type

Right (primary)

Bottom

Deep water reef

Shape

Enormous, heaving open-ocean faces, less hollow than close-out beach breaks but massively powerful with huge wall potential

Length

100–200m

Skill Level

  • •Who it's for: Expert (big wave specialists)
  • •Why: Open ocean big wave surfing in cold Humboldt water, tow-in and paddle-in specialists only at size.

Hazards

  • •Extreme wave size with severe hold-down potential
  • •Cold water (15–17°C) causes rapid fatigue even in wetsuits
  • •Remote reef, boat access required
  • •Two-wave hold-downs are routine at scale

Local Tips

  • •Pico Alto fires only a handful of times per year when massive South Pacific swells strike the right angle.
  • •Lima-based big wave specialists (Gabriel Villarán and others) are the best source of real-time information on conditions.

Location

Map showing the location of Pico Alto in Lima, Peru

-12.3042, -76.8608