Some say she’s more popular than the President, and she’s certainly made a splash on the world stage, but world surfing champion Sofia Mulanovich is happiest spending her days on the beach in her home country of Peru. Back in 2004, when this then 21 year old became the first South American to win the world title, surfing in Chicama and Peru was only known to locals and a select group of pro surfers.
Surfing in Chicama – Surf champion Sofia Mulanovich
Four short years later and the “Sofia” effect has alerted the world to the natural, varied splendours of the Peruvian surf. As the lady herself says, “Peru is the best preparation for a pro-surfer because there are so many different varieties of breaks and conditions.” These include the longest left wave in the world found in Chicama on the Northern Peru beaches – a perfect three to six foot wave stretching for over four kilometres and listed at number two in semi-charted surfing spots by the British newspaper The Guardian this month.
Chicama Surf Resort
Like the group of friends who founded the ocean front Chicama Surf Resort after searching the world to find a perfect spot for a surfing vacation, we decided to focus on Chicama because it offers much more than just the perfect wave. Singled out by National Geographic, the Chicama Valley is uniquely rich in ancient archaeology and there are many sites to visit on the “Ruta Moche”. At least five different civilisations inhabited this land, leaving numerous settlements, including the ancient and enigmatic Moche sites (c 500AD) of Sipan, El Brujo and the magnificent Huaca del Sol y de la Luna. In addition, there is the largest adobe city in the world at Chan Chan (Chimu culture c. 1200 AD) and the state of the art Museum “Tumbas Reales” which houses the magnificent gold and silver pieces found in Sipan burial site.
Hotel owner Marino Costa also lists relaxation as a key ingredient of this top quality resort. With visitors enjoying a steam, sauna or a massage, perhaps after some kite- or windsurfing at the nearby Pacasmayo beach 20 miles north, where you can experience winds of up to 20 miles per hour. He says, “Our customer is the high-end traveller that seeks an experience that goes far beyond the urban hotel routine. Someone who enjoys typical Peruvian music and dancing, likes to taste exquisite food – basically a person who enjoys a rich combination of action, culture, archaeology and relaxation all in one place.”
To find out more about surfing the Peruvian way, please contact your Aracari representative. Read more, “Riding the Waves of Peru” by Julia Chaplin of the New York Times.