Chicama, Peru, is famous for having some of the longest left-hand waves in the world. And when we say long, we mean really long. Long enough for your legs to start complaining before the wave is finished.
But there’s something important to understand before packing your favorite SUP board and heading to Peru: Chicama isn’t always a fast, powerful wave.
Some sections offer steep walls, perfect for carving and performance surfing. Others are much softer and require good positioning, speed management, and a board that can glide through flatter sections.
That’s why choosing the right SUP board can make a big difference between having the ride of your life and watching a beautiful wave slowly escape from underneath your feet.
So, should you bring a short performance SUP or a longer, longboard-style SUP?
Let’s break it down.
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CHICAMA SUP RETREATS
1. Performance SUP Boards: For Those Who Love to Turn
If you’re the kind of surfer who enjoys carving, cutbacks, and throwing some spray, a performance SUP can be a lot of fun at Chicama.
On a good swell, sections like La Punta and El Cape can offer beautiful walls with plenty of room to work on your turns.
And unlike your typical beach break, where you might get two turns before the wave closes out, Chicama can give you enough time to practice the same maneuver several times on a single wave.
- Rail-to-rail carving
- High-line speed control
- Linking multiple directional changes
- Controlled cutbacks back into the pocket
What makes a performance SUP fun at Chicama?
- Plenty of opportunities to practice bottom turns, top turns, and cutbacks.
- Long walls that allow you to generate speed and link maneuvers.
- Multiple sections where the wave reforms, giving you another opportunity to turn.
- Excellent conditions for improving rail-to-rail surfing and wave reading.
But there’s a catch.
Chicama isn’t always powerful. On smaller days, some sections become quite soft, and a short, low-volume performance SUP might struggle to maintain speed.
You can have the best bottom turn in the world, but if the wave has no power, you’re not going anywhere.
Our advice: Bring a performance SUP if you enjoy progressive surfing, especially if you’re comfortable generating your own speed. Just remember that a little extra glide can be useful at Chicama.
Performance SUP here rewards intelligence over aggression. It’s less “attack the lip” and more “engineer the line.”
2. Longboard-Style SUP: Sometimes Longer Is Better
Now, if your idea of a perfect wave is gliding down the line, making smooth turns, and staying on your feet for as long as possible, Chicama is going to make you very happy.
Longboard-style SUPs work particularly well here, especially on smaller and medium-sized swells.
Their extra length and glide help you maintain momentum through the softer sections, where shorter boards sometimes struggle.
Why do longer SUP boards work so well?
- Easier early entry into softer waves.
- Better glide through flatter sections.
- Less pumping required to maintain speed.
- Great for smooth turns, trimming, and traditional longboard-style surfing.
- More forgiving when the wave loses power.
And if you enjoy walking the board or experimenting with your foot positioning, you’ll have plenty of time to do it.
Just don’t get too distracted enjoying the ride. There might still be another section coming!
Our advice: If your priority is catching plenty of waves, connecting long sections, and enjoying the full length of Chicama, a longboard-style SUP is a fantastic choice.
Longboard-style SUP at Chicama becomes less about maneuver count and more about elegance. About linking sections with minimal effort. About maintaining speed through body positioning rather than aggressive pumping.
In many ways, this style harmonizes naturally with the energy of the place, unhurried, composed, expansive.
General guideline
On larger, more powerful swells:
- Performance SUP gains advantage.
- The steeper walls allow sharper carving and more dynamic direction changes.
On smaller to medium swells:
- Longboard-style SUP shines.
- The softer sections reward trim mastery and positioning.
Few waves in the world allow that kind of stylistic range in a single ride.
3. Small Swell vs. Big Swell: Your Board Choice Matters
One of the biggest mistakes surfers make is choosing a board based only on what they normally ride at home.
Chicama has its own personality, and the conditions can change considerably depending on the swell.
Here’s a simple guideline:
| Conditions | Recommended SUP |
|---|---|
| Small, soft waves | Longboard-style SUP with good glide |
| Medium swell with mixed sections | Performance SUP with decent glide or a versatile longboard SUP |
| Larger, more powerful swell | Shorter performance SUP for tighter turns and control |
| Your main goal is connecting long rides | Longer SUP with good speed retention |
| Your main goal is progressive surfing | Performance SUP |
Of course, your weight, ability, and personal surfing style also matter.
A skilled surfer on a short SUP can make it through sections where someone else might struggle. But even experienced surfers can’t manufacture wave power out of thin air.
4. So, which is better?
If you have the option, bringing two different SUP boards is probably the smartest choice.
Ideally, we’d recommend:
Board 1: Your performance SUP
For days with more swell, steeper sections, and opportunities to work on your turns.
Board 2: A longer SUP with better glide
For smaller days, softer sections, and those sessions when your main goal is simply to catch ridiculously long waves.
This combination gives you more flexibility throughout the trip.
Don’t want to deal with the hassle of flying with your SUP board?
No problem! We have a selection of SUP boards available to rent, from longboard-style SUPs in different lengths and volumes to shorter, performance-oriented boards. You can choose the right board for your surfing style and the conditions, without having to convince the airline that your oversized board bag is perfectly reasonable luggage.
In truth, Chicama doesn’t force a style. It reveals one.
Join Us at Chicama
At Mauka Surfaris, our Chicama SUP Surf Retreats are designed to help intermediate and advanced SUP surfers get the most out of these incredible waves.
We focus on wave selection, positioning, technique, and helping you connect longer rides while improving your surfing.
And if you’re unsure which boards to bring, we’re happy to help you choose the right equipment before your trip.
Check out our upcoming Chicama SUP Surf Retreats and come surf some ridiculously long lefts with us!
