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Few
are aware of the fact that the first evidence of men surfing
the ocean waves by artificial means was found in ancient Peru,
and not Polynesia or the South Pacific islands. Archaeologists
have unearthed textiles and pottery made by various pre-Hispanic
civilizations, which show that surfing dates back more than
2,000 years in Peru. It is still done by fishermen in the
northern fishing coves of Huanchaco, Santa Rosa and Pimentel
in the departments of La Libertad and Lambayeque. These men
take to the sea seated on rafts spun from totora reeds to
bring back the day's catch.
Peru is famous worldwide for its waves, and the world surfing
tour now touches base at beaches which feature some of the
country's best breakers such as Punta Rocas, south of Lima,
or Cabo Blanco to the far north.
Peru features hundreds of beaches to satisfy even the most
demanding of surfers all year-long: the central cost, which
enjoys good waves all season long during winter in the Southern
Hemisphere (April-September), while the north coast features
swells from October to March. And as there are just 12,000
surfers in Peru compared to 700,000 in Brazil, surfers will
always be able to find a deserted beach with a perfect wave
to enjoy. One just has to choose the favorite point.
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