Punta Hermosa

Punta Hermosa is a district of headlands and small bays forty kilometres south of Lima, and it functions as the capital's surf suburb: half a dozen named breaks within walking distance of each other, from the beginner beach at Caballeros and the point at Señoritas to Pico Alto, a big-wave reef that on the right winter swell produces faces of ten metres and more and has hosted tow-in and paddle competitions as the largest wave in South America. La Isla and Kon Tiki complete the set. In summer, December to April, the town fills with Lima families and the beaches are busy; in winter it is grey, cold and dominated by surfers. Sofía Mulánovich, Peru's world champion, is from here. Water is cold year-round and wetsuits are usual outside the peak summer weeks.

What you actually see

• Pico Alto - a big-wave reef producing the largest surf in South America.
• The break cluster - Caballeros, Señoritas, La Isla and Kon Tiki within walking distance.
• The summer scene - Lima families filling the beaches from December to April.
• The surf town - schools, board rental and a year-round surfing population.

When to go

December to April for warm weather and beginner conditions; April to October for the big winter swells. A day trip or a weekend from Lima.

Honest expectations

Pico Alto is a serious big-wave spot with real danger and is not for visitors to try. Water is cold and grey for much of the year. Summer weekends are extremely crowded and traffic on the Panamericana is heavy. Beach cleanliness varies.

Nearby

San Bartolo and Santa María are further south; Lima is north on the Panamericana.