Surf: La Herradura is the best pointbreak in Lima, isolated in a relatively deserted, horseshoe bay in the Chorrillos district. This powerful left breaks along a high cliff for rides up to 500m (1500ft) split into 3 sections. The steep, hollow take-off becomes a long workable wall before spinning through a tubular inside section. Requires a solid swell to start breaking and gets better as the size increases, holding up to 12ft (4m) faces on the best days. Winds are usually not a problem since the dominant S wind blows offshore and low tide is better. Such a quality wave in the middle of such a big city draws plenty of crowds to this experts only break. Old timers claim the construction of a coastal road in the early 80’s vastly reduced the waves' quality, but it is still worth waiting around for and is the only show in town when a big swell hits. Environment: Prepare to be burnt repeatedly as the locals show little appetite for waiting. The rip gets stronger on the inside sections and thefts are a problem if walking around the point to take photos, etc. Some paddle from the surf club, others make the long walk. Surf: General: The best spot in Lima proper, Herradura is a long lefthand pointbreak that peels along the base of a stark, brown cliff. Needs a bigger swell (the bigger, the better) to break, and when it does, it's good. The wave has three sections, all fairly hollow and fast, with fatter sections between -- a totally perfect wave that is conveniently close to Lima's surf population. Tuberides are commonplace. Tides: Low Size: Head-high to double overhead Wind: Glassy or E, NE Swell: W, SW Bottom: Rock and sand Paddling: Rips get stronger the bigger it gets. Spot Rating: Best pointbreak in Lima. Access: Simple. Crowds: Crowd Factor: Can be intense, expect to get burned. Local Vibe: Edgy. Environment: It is farther away from the city so the water is relatively clean. Hazards: Rips, boulders, dropins. Season: Rainy season May-Oct