Sailing and surfing: Olympic water sports you can practice along the Peruvian coastline

Figures like Stefano Peschiera, Alonso Correa, Maria Belen Bazo, Sofia Mulanovich, Carlos Dogny, Felipe Pomar, and Jean Paul de Trazegnies have placed Peru on the global stage.
 

Great waves and perfect wind! Surfing and sailing are two sports with a long and distinguished history in Peru, a country renowned for its excellent maritime conditions for these activities.

SAILING: PERU CHAMPION!

Sailing involves propelling a boat using only the power of the wind, combined with the athlete's skill and strength. Athletes must navigate not only the competition but also various natural factors, including the weather, to secure a top position.

Sailing has a relatively recent history in Peru, beginning with the founding of the Peruvian Yacht Club in 1938. As one of the country's first and most important yacht clubs, it played a crucial role in promoting sailing and organizing the first regattas.


STEFANO: DESTINED FOR GREATNESS 

After 32 years, sailing athlete Stefano Peschiera won a bronze medal in the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in the male dinghy sailing category. This achievement put Peru back on the list of countries with Olympic medals, filling Peruvians with joy and pride.

But Stefano's story begins much earlier. Now 26 years old, he started surfing as a child and was already mastering waves by the age of 13. As an adult, he continued to excel in the sport, becoming the flag bearer at the Pan American Games Lima 2019 and later winning the gold medal at the Pan American Games Santiago 2023.

Although dinghy sailing is not widely practiced in Peru, the country has produced great sailing athletes. Maria Belen Bazo, for instance, recently achieved fourth place at the Paris 2024 Olympics, earned an Olympic diploma and is also a medalist from the Pan American Games in Lima 2019. 

Another important name is Jean Paul De Trazegnies, who achieved a historic tri-championship in the Sunfish class in 2018, 2022, and 2023. He also won the silver medal at the Pan American Games Santiago 2023. Additionally, Caterina Romero is a multi-medalist in the Sunfish class.

Additionally, there is the legend of Alex Zimmerman, who won the first bronze medal for Peru at the 1985 Bolivarian Games in Cuenca.

Photograph: Official Facebook of Stefano Peschiera

WHERE TO SAIL?

This sport is primarily practiced along the Peruvian coast, particularly in the following locations, usually through club membership:

1. Colan Beach (Paita)
2. Mancora Beach (Talara)
3. Los Organos Beach (Talara)
4. Lobitos Beach (Talara)
5. Ancon Bay (Lima)

Additionally, the Peruvian National Sailing Federation offers workshops at the Club Regatas Union in La Punta, Callao.

It is worth noting that each of these locations offers different wind and sea conditions, providing sailors with a diverse range of experiences.

Photograph: Official Facebook of Stefano Peschiera

SURFING: ANCESTRAL ROOTS AND CONNECTION WITH THE SEA

Surfing has brought countless joys and victories to Peru. From Carlos Dogny, the country's first surfer, to the remarkable Alonso Correa, who shone in the 2024 Olympic Games, the journey has been long and significant.

Let’s start with a bit of history. Surfing originated in ancient Polynesia, particularly in Hawaii, where it was an integral part of the culture. The natives used wooden boards to glide over the waves, an activity that combined physical skill with a spiritual connection to the ocean. Over time, surfing spread across the globe.

In Peru, it was the fishermen of the Mochica culture, which thrived between 100 and 700 A.D., who used small boats called "caballitos de totora" to navigate and fish in the sea. These handcrafted vessels are still used today for fishing as well as for recreation and sport, as they closely resemble traditional surfboards.

Photograph: PROMPERÚ

THE MAN WHO WALKED ON WATER

In 1937, Carlos Dogny introduced the first surfboard to Peru and South America following his trip to Hawaii, where he had learned to ride the waves from Duke Kahanamoku, the father of modern surfing.

Described by young people as "the man who walked on water like Jesus Christ," Carlos began surfing on the beaches of Miraflores. By 1942, he founded Waikiki, Peru’s first surf club, which played a crucial role in popularizing the sport in the country.

SOFI'S LEGACY

In 1992, Ines Aljovin, unaware that she was about to help create a legend, asked Roberto "Muelas" Meza to teach her young daughter, Sofia Mulanovich, to surf. Sofia’s talent and dedication eventually earned her the title of women’s world champion in 2004.

Thus, she began in a new golden age of surfing in Peru, with athletes like Anali Gómez, who won the ISA World Surfing Games championship in 2014, as well as Lucca Mesinas and Miguel Tudela, who were crowned world team champions at the 2023 Surf City El Salvador ISA World Surfing Games.

Photograph: Shutterstock

ALONSO CORREA

Today, a new name is added to this prestigious list: Alonso Correa, who placed fourth in the men’s category at the Paris Olympic Games. With a promising career since the age of 18, Alonso thrilled all of Peru and reached the top four in his category, just shy of securing a medal.

Photograph: Alonso Correa's official Facebook

WHERE TO SURF IN PERU?

Specialists say that summer is the best time to surf in Peru. Based on this, we can categorize the top beaches for surfing into two main groups:

In the north: With its warm waters, you can ride waves at Huanchaco (La Libertad, suitable for all levels), Cabo Blanco (Piura, featuring tubes up to 3 meters high), Mancora (Piura, suitable for all levels), Lobitos (Piura, historically significant for Sofia Mulanovich), and Chicama (La Libertad, advanced level).

In the south: With cooler waters, this region offers the following options: Waikiki (suitable for beginners), Punta Rocas (amazing waves for all levels), Caballeros (intermediate), and La Herradura (advanced level).

SPEND A DAY SURFING IN LIMA 

We cannot end this article without recommending a day of surfing in Lima. The city's coast is home to surf schools that introduce newcomers to the sport and help develop new talent. If you are just starting, it is important to have professional supervision.

The Peruvian capital faces the sea and features districts like Miraflores, Barranco, and Chorrillos, which run parallel to its coastline, known as La Costa Verde. This area not only offers stunning landscapes but also provides excellent conditions for surfing, leaving no excuse to miss out on this exciting sport.

Whether it is the temperate climate, the height of the waves, or the inherited connection from their ancestors, there is a profound mystique between Peruvians and the sea. This is why the history of surfing and sailing in Peru is a blend of tradition and modernity, highlighted by remarkable achievements.