Lima and a Quick Strike to Chicama

After too much time inland, I arrived back in Lima and headed 40 kilometers south to Punta Hermosa where there are 10 good surf breaks within walking distance of Punta Brava Surf Camp. Despite the hype around the area, south winds plagued my four days making for poor surfing conditions, though the surf was big and unruly. The forecast called for a huge swell so I decided to make a quick strike mission back to Chicama for the long, groomed walls of the north. 22 hours round trip in four buses for two days of surf.... Worth it!

Clean, lined-up and empty! This is just one small part of an extremely long wave...

A long walk back up the point after a thigh burning wave...

Despite my rant about the lack of boat etiquette a few weeks ago, I couldn't stay away...

After Chicama, I headed back to Lima and holed up in the upscale Miraflores district. As Peru's capital and largest city, Lima is a sprawling urban scape with many neighborhoods, some ritzy areas that could be mistaken for Los Angeles and some very dangerous areas no tourist should enter.

Miraflores' expensive mall built into the cliff right above the ocean. With views like this, a day at the mall might be a tolerable experience.

Wandering south from Miraflores, is the bohemian district of Barranco. With many bars, eclectic hostels mixed with historic buildings and a lively vibe, it felt a bit like a South American San Francisco. 

An older gentleman put on an impromptu concert in front of this grand, colonial church near Barranco.

Even better, a few blocks away was a new microbrewery... Can't stay away from good beer!

After basically killing a few days waiting for Britlyn to arrive and for our trip to the Amazon and Macchu Picchu, I was ready to bail on city life...

So long Lima!