Puerto Chicama is a plain beach near an ugly town with only a few run-down places to stay and eat. As Chicho, the Huanchaco [1] surfing pro, explains, “the only good thing Chicama has is waves,” which, March–June, form the longest-breaking surf in the world.
The wave ranges in height 1–2.5 meters and runs a reputed 2.5 kilometers. Four separate waves that link together, the megawave is the result of a flat, sandy beach, steady crosswinds, and southern and western ocean currents. Locals joke that surfers need a spare set of legs to surf it and a combi ride to make it back up the beach afterwards.
Long before surfing was in vogue, Chicama was a major port for the sugar and cotton brought by railroad from the nearby Hacienda Chicama. As a result the town has an old pier with railroad tracks and a group of old, wooden casonas along the waterfront.
Most surfers pitch in and rent a group car to visit here for the day from bases farther north, such as Órganos [2] or Máncora [3].
From Trujillo [4], take a bus from Óvalo Grau near the Museo Cassinelli [5] that says either Puerto Chicama or Paiján. Colectivos run to Puerto Chicama often from Paiján.
Links:
[1] http://www.moon.com/destinations/peru/trujillo-and-the-north-coast/huanchaco
[2] http://www.moon.com/destinations/peru/trujillo-and-the-north-coast/the-northern-beaches/los-organos
[3] http://www.moon.com/destinations/peru/trujillo-and-the-north-coast/the-northern-beaches/mancora
[4] http://www.moon.com/destinations/peru/trujillo-and-the-north-coast/trujillo
[5] http://www.moon.com/destinations/peru/trujillo-and-the-north-coast/trujillo/sights/museo-cassinelli