Peru is well known for its Inca and Colonial history, the home of the potato, and Machu Picchu. Peru's more than 1,800 miles of western coastline along the Pacific Ocean generally do not make for many great beaches as most of it is the upper stretches of the Atacama Desert. While there may be a great deal of very pretty scenery and wildlife most visitors head straight up to the Andes or the Amazon Jungle.
Generally only Peruvians use their beaches in the summer and the best beaches in Peru start at the country's northern border and follow the coast south to Lima. January, February and March are the months when they get their greatest use and the South American summer is when these beaches are filled with locals from cities like Lima, Trujillo and Piura. The most popular water sport by far is surfing but you can also try wind surfing and sailing.
The cities of Piura, Tumbes, Lima and Trujillo have the best beaches. Peru has the longest wave in the world it is rumored and the city of Trujillo holds a huge surfing competition every March to take advantage of the swells. The beach resort and fishing village of Huanchaco is located close to the city of Trujillo and has some excellent hotels. Beach resorts and other similar accommodations are beginning to spring up along the country's coast in other locations. Asia for example is a resort around 90 minutes drive from Lima where well to do Lime