Chicama: First Nationally Protected Wave

The wave itself can break for two and a half miles, but no one has reportedly ever ridden the entire wave.  Experienced riders are able to make it down the entire length of the beach in usually 3-5 waves.

It is very exciting news that this is the first nationally protected surf break- this will only promote the sustainable surfing industry.  What does it mean that this wave is nationally protected? The Peruvian government will ensure that nothing will be built within a kilometer of the shoreline that could potentially alter or change the way the wave breaks along the coast line.  

Five more breaks are in the pipeline to also become nationally protected in Peru.  Eventually the country hopes to have 130 waves in this same protected category.  This is a critical step in protecting our global coast lines and preserving these natural areas to the best of our ability, and hopefully these efforts will keep them pristine for years to come.

It is great to see surfers and the government working together for the protection of the surf industry and ecological impacts of building near coastline.  Executive Director of the Peruvian Surfing Federation, Karin Sierralte, proclaims “We’re super proud!” and goes on to say, “After 16 years we have registered the first wave.  It was a team effort by the last four presidents of the federation for this great cause.  Soon we are going to have more waves protected.  I cannot say which ones they are, because some people may use this time to start building something without authorization and therefore harming our coast.”