La Herradura
La Herradura is Lima's premier pointbreak—a long left-hander that breaks in a horseshoe-shaped bay in the Chorrillos district. When solid South swells hit, the wave connects through three distinct hollow sections, offering rides of several hundred meters. It's one of the few quality waves accessible from Peru's capital city, though it needs significant swell size to wake up. The setting is urban but the wave is world-class, and Lima's surf culture was largely born here.
La Herradura surf forecast
Model forecast for swell, wind and tide.
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Spot Details
CustomizeCustomize this spotSwell Requirements
- Optimal direction
- SSW (200°)
- Direction range
- 175° - 225°
- Size range
- 1.8m - 3.7m
- Ideal size
- 2.7m - 3.2m
- Height multiplier
- 0.97×
- Ideal period
- 17s+
Wind Requirements
- Optimal direction
- NNW (337°)
- Offshore range
- 292° - 22°
Tide Requirements
- Optimal tide
- low
Difficulty
6/10
Crowd level
3/10
Access: Beach/paddle
Frequently Asked Questions
What kind of wave is La Herradura?
La Herradura is a point break in Chorrillos, Lima, Peru, that mostly breaks left.
What swell works best at La Herradura?
La Herradura picks up swell from the S round to the SW, and it's best when it's coming straight out of the SSW. It starts working at around 1.8m and handles up to about 3.7m, with the sweet spot around 2.7 to 3.2m. Period matters too: aim for 17s or longer, as anything under 14s tends to be weak. These are the numbers our scoring uses, so treat them as a guide rather than a promise.
What wind is offshore at La Herradura?
A NNW wind is dead offshore at La Herradura, and anything from the WNW round to the NNE keeps it clean. The morning is typically the best window, roughly 6am to midday. Light winds from other directions can still be fine; strong offshores can make it hard to get into waves.
What tide is best at La Herradura?
La Herradura is at its best around low tide.
When is the best time of year to surf La Herradura?
The most reliable run of swell at La Herradura comes May to Sep. There's a second window in Apr and Oct too. Winter (May-Sep).
Is La Herradura good for beginners?
It's more of an intermediate wave, rated 6/10 for difficulty, so newer surfers are best off sticking to the smaller days. The lineup is usually quiet (crowd 3/10). Things to watch for: rocks at the entry or in the lineup, crowds and water quality issues.
How do I get to La Herradura?
The nearest airport on our list is LIM, then it's roughly a 30-minute drive. Beach/paddle.
What other surf spots are near La Herradura?
The closest breaks we track are La Rosa Nautica (4.0 km), Redondo (5.0 km) and Makaha (5.2 km), handy when La Herradura isn't working.
Best Season
Peak: May-Sep
Secondary: Apr, Oct
Winter (May-Sep)
Getting There
Nearby Spots
La Rosa Nautica
🦞 Famous restaurant pier • Urban beach break • Ceviche nearby
Redondo
🌊 Better urban wave • Longer rides • Lima quality option
Makaha
🌆 Urban surf • Miraflores cliffs • City surfing
Playa Waikiki
🌺 Lima historic beach • Hawaiian namesake • Clifftop views
Caballeros
🏆 Punta Hermosa righthander • Competition venue • Reliable reef
Senoritas
🌊 Beginner paradise • Protected beach • Surf school central