Surfing
Peru
Few are aware
of the fact that the first evidence of men surfing the
ocean waves by artificial means was found in ancient
Peru, and not Polynesia or the South Pacific islands.
Archaeologists have unearthed textiles and pottery made
by various pre-Hispanic civilizations, which show that
surfing dates back more than 2,000 years in Peru. It
is still done by fishermen in the northern fishing coves
of Huanchaco, Santa Rosa and Pimentel in the departments
of La Libertad and Lambayeque. These men take to the
sea seated on rafts spun from totora reeds to bring
back the day's catch.
Peru is famous worldwide for its waves, and the world
surfing tour now touches base at beaches which feature
some of the country's best breakers such as Punta Rocas,
south of Lima, or Cabo Blanco to the far north.
Peru features hundreds of beaches to satisfy even the
most demanding of surfers all year-long: the central
cost, which enjoys good waves all season long during
winter in the Southern Hemisphere (April-September),
while the north coast features swells from October to
March. And as there are just 12,000 surfers in Peru
compared to 700,000 in Brazil, surfers will always be
able to find a deserted beach with a perfect wave to
enjoy. One just has to choose the favorite point. |
