The Wave International (Larco 525, tel. 044/58-7005, thewaveinhuanchaco [at] hotmail [dot] com, 7 a.m.–3 a.m. daily, US$13 for 3 hours of instruction), right on the main drag and full of young bronzed surfers, offers surfing lessons, board rentals, and even surfing tours to the northern beaches. The surf shop also functions as a bar.
To window-shop a mix of handicrafts, stroll into the Galeria Artesanal (Larco 520, tel. 044/46-1305, 9 a.m.–9 p.m. daily, US$1–10).