Lobitos Surf Guide – Main Spots, Where to Stay, When
Lobitos is actually among my all-time favorite surf towns. Think a chilled little place made up of just four or five streets wedged between the dusty landscapes of Peru’s Piura region and the Pacific Ocean. It’s verrrrrry chill. It’s easy to find somewhere within walking distance of world-class waves. And…
Like a lot of places in Peru, Lobitos is all about its left point breaks. As a goofy that’s a gem, especially becuase the points here aren’t as busy as the more iconic Peruvian points (Chicama, for example).
A lot of people will go straight to Mancora to surf but I’d reccomend anyone in the more intermediate category to consider making Lobitos thier base.
You can still visit Mancora if you want from here (it’s 1.2 hours’ drive) but Lobitos has the superior lefts and access to a string of really great surf beaches on the way to Mancora. Plus, it’s less seedy and more authentic.
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Surf spots in Lobitos
Lobitos is really about the left-hand point break that’s on the main beach in the town. We’ll talk about why that’s such an epic wave below, and run through any other breaks in the area that you might want to venture out to…
La Punta – the main break in Lobitos
The main attraction here is the ultra-consistent left-hand point break at the southwestern end of Lobitos’s main beach. It’s a really, really good wave.
On a good day, sets can run for up to 200 meters and they’re proper leg burners becuase the face is so rippable. Even on bigger days, this wave doesn’t pitch too much and the pocket is kinda nice and slow-ish. It’s a perfect ride for intermediates looking to nail down cutbacks and things since it offers loads of time and is really forgiving.
The only section that’s a bit sketchy is right at the take-off on the rocks there, where the wave sucks up pretty quick but that’s not an issue as you can sit on the shoulder and wait for mellower lines to come through.
The downside to the quality of this wave is that it’s become very popular in recent years. The crowd is always there but it’s generally nice, so nothing to be too worried about.
If possible, I’d reccomend staying somewhere literally right in front of La Punta. It means you can get up super early and be the first in the water for a nice pre-breakfast session, which is when the wave and the wind is at its best anyway.
Where to stay? Aloha Lobitos is the ticket. It looks right over the point. It’s 2 mins walk to the paddle point, probably less, and it’s got an infinity pool right on the beach for post-surf chills.
Other surf spots in and around Lobitos
I mainly surfed the left hander in Lobitos. It’s really, really good fun and enough to keep you going for a few days for sure.
But one of the plus points of this town is the closeness of other breaks that are nowhere near as busy as the main point and generally totally empty a lot of the time.
The good news is that a couple are even within walking distance of the town and La Punta…
- Batieras – It will take you 20-30 minutes to walk from the point around the headland to the south and across to Batieras, another left-hand point break that’s rarely got a crowd. It’s more exposed so a bit heavier as a wave but still very much an intermediate+/advanced gem. Pretty spot where you can surf below the cliffs and enjoy if you ignore the oil refinery to the north!
- Los Muelles – Big swells create big left barrels on this crazy sandbar that’s beside the pier. It’s mainly for bodyboarders but can really shape up some days we’re told. I didn’t surf but the locals seem to talk about it as if it’s one of Lobitos’ secrets.
- El Hueco – A reef here on the outside of the main point can sometimes fire off lovely hollow lefts but they are for advanced surfers only and the rock is shallow so lip out at the right time.
Getting to Lobitos
Lobitos is located in the Piura region of Peru, approximately 110 kilometers from the city of Piura itself.
The gateway to Lobitos from the air is Talara, a smaller town that’s just to the south. Domestic flights go there from Lima and you can either get a shared minivan when you arrive or rent a car when you arrive.
Best time to surf in Lobitos
Come in the Peruvian winter (April-Sept) to give yourself the best waves in Lobitos.
During this period, the region benefits from consistent swells generated by Southern Hemisphere storms. The waves tend to be larger and more reliable, offering better conditions for those looking to experience Lobitos at its best, when S direction sets hook into those points to create long left waves.
The summer months (December to March) also provide fun waves, although they tend to be smaller and more suitable for beginners.
One thing we wouldn’t skip on is sunscreen.
I use Suntribe’s blocks because they’ve made a real effort to strip out any unneccessary chemicals.
Plus, they offer Surf Atlas readers 10% off orders with code Surfatlas10.
Local tips and essentials
- Bring a wetsuit – Although Lobitos is located in a tropical region, the Humboldt Current keeps the water cooler than expected. A 3/2mm wetsuit is recommended, particularly during the winter months.
- Respect local customs – Lobitos is a small fishing village, and visitors should be mindful of local customs and traditions. Engage with the community respectfully and support local businesses. This is NOT Mancora. There isn’t a party vibe to Lobitos. It is super, super chill and hardly anything happens apart from surfing.
