Top Ten Peru Off-the-Beaten-Path Adventures

Catch the big one on Peru's northern coast (Rob Rachowiecki)

Heads up, surfers: You've just found the longest left-handed wave in the world. It's here in northern Peru at Puerto Chicama. What kind of wave are we talking about? If there's a big swell, you might catch a ride of—get this—more than half a mile. And with limited accommodations, you won't be trying to dodge other riders. Puerto Chicama's just one of your options; try popular Cabo Blanco and the waves near Mancora and Zorritos, all of which have good, if sometimes technical, lefts. Better surfing is a bit further south, at the village of Pacasmayo, where several small hostels and family-run operations cater to surfers, especially from May to August.