Infiernillo

Surfing
Advanced riders
Best for
Expert
Skill Level
Swell, Ocean
Spot Type
Empty
Crowd Level

This spot information is AI-assisted and has not been human verified. It may be incomplete, outdated, or incorrect. Verify safety, access, local rules, and current conditions with official or local sources before riding.

About this spot

About

Infiernillo is a very consistent sand-bar surf break near Lima that favors experienced surfers. The wave is described as hollow, fast, and powerful, breaking to both the left and right over a shallow sandy bottom with rocks/rocky sections. It typically starts working below roughly 1 meter and can build to around 3 meters or more, with rides generally short (under about 50 meters). Access and launch conditions are major parts of the challenge. The spot is reported as fast shorebreak on sand with extremely limited depth in the riding area (about half a meter or less). One source also emphasizes that there is no space for surfers on the beach, so planning and positioning are critical. Safety risk is high and directly tied to the physical setup: sea urchins and submerged rocks are repeatedly flagged, and water pollution is also noted as a hazard. Additionally, the shallow bottom and wave power can be associated with strong currents/rip tides, making timing and exit strategy important. For conditions, the most favorable combination is southeast wind with north or northwest swell. The spot is reported to work across all tides, and is generally described as rarely crowded due to isolation and difficult access—often empty—so surfers should assume limited local assistance.

  • Very hollow and fast sand-bar waves
  • Works across all tides
  • Reported very consistent (around 150 days per year)
  • Southeast winds and north/northwest swell are optimal
Great for
Advanced riders
What's great
  • Very hollow, fast, and powerful sand-bar waves with both lefts and rights.
  • Works from under about 1 meter up to around 3 meters or more.
  • Very consistent (reported around 150 days per year).
  • Best conditions align with southeast winds and north to northwest swells.
Heads up
  • Extremely shallow riding area (around half a meter or less) with fast, heavy shorebreak.
  • Hazards: sea urchins, rocks, and possible pollution.
  • Difficult access (boat only / no direct car access), and there is no space for surfers on the beach.
  • Typically expert level only due to speed and intensity.
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Practical spot guide

Wind, water and seasons

Wind

Direction
ESE
Best Months
October, November, December, January, February, March

Water & beach

Water Type
Swell, Ocean
Beach
Sand — Sand-bar environment.
Beach Size
Small
Waves
Small — Some sources describe small-to-medium depending on conditions; works from < 1 m and can hold up to ~3 m+.
Launch
Small — Shorebreak/fast sand-bar takeoff with heavy break; very shallow.
Launch Difficulty
Moderate — Reported as moderate to difficult depending on source; shallow and fast heavy shorebreak make it challenging.

Through the year

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Best seasonOff-season
14–21 °C
Water Temperature
15–28 °C
Air Temperature
Wetsuit Guide
Jan–Dec: 3/2mm or 4/3mm
Crowds by Season

Generally empty or very low crowd levels throughout the year.

Storm/Rain Season

Rain is very rare in this desert coastal region; heavy fog/humidity can occur from June to October.

By sport

What to expect for each.

SurfingBest for this spotSkill Level

Infiernillo is an expert-only sand-bar surf break with very shallow, fast, hollow waves that can feel intense and unforgiving over a sandy bottom interspersed with rocks. It produces both left and right waves and works across all tides, with the swell typically needing to start at under about 1 meter and holding up to around 3 meters or more. Hazards include sea urchins and submerged rocks, alongside potential water pollution concerns.

Sandbar
Wave Direction
Both
Optimal Swell
N, NW
Swell Height
0.5–3 m
Optimal Tide
All tides — Best tide position reported as all tides, including rising and falling.
Shelter
Exposed
Wind Effect
Offshore in the mornings per local guidance; winds vary but southeast winds are optimal. Wind can cross-offshore and groom wave faces depending on direction.
Bigger Swell
Holds size well, but becomes increasingly dangerous as swell builds due to the shallow bottom; can hold up to roughly 3 meters+ (or about 10 ft+) and requires careful judgment.
Wave Quality
Good
Wave Power
Powerful — Hollow, fast, powerful.
Wave Shape
Hollow
Peel Speed
Fast — Fast, intense rides.
Ride Length
Short — Short rides typically under 50 meters.
Typical Ride Length
0–50 m
Ride Length Details
Short rides (< 50 m), fast and intense.
Forecast

Check the forecast before you go

See wind, waves, weather and session windows for Infiernillo in the full forecast view.

Infiernillo wind and wave forecast summary

Wind
3–10 ktsGusts 20 kts
Direction
SSW207°
Strongest day
Fri, Oct 3010 kts
Windy days
0/712 kts or more
Waves
0.8–1.3 m11s period
Temperature
22–27 °C

Over the next 7 days, Infiernillo is forecast for daytime winds of 3–10 kts, peaking around 10 kts on Friday, October 30 with gusts to 20 kts. The prevailing direction is SSW. Waves run 0.8–1.3 m with a period of about 11s. Based on the Wavind model, in the spot’s local time.

Nearby

Other spots in the area

Safety

What to know before you launch

Safety, access, restrictions, rescue, and local rules can change. Treat these details as informational and confirm them locally before launching.

Hazards

  • urchins
  • rocks
  • pollution
  • heavy shorebreak
  • strong currents and rip tides (due to shallow depth and wave power)
Ability Level: Expert
Recommended Safety Gear
HelmetImpact vestBootsWetsuit

Rescue & support

Rescue & Self-Rescue
No — No rescue availability reported for the spot itself.

Rules of the spot

No car access; boat access only. Plan for a fast shorebreak and very shallow water depth.

Restrictions
  • No car access
  • By boat only
Local Tips
  • Access is best achieved by boat from nearby ports to avoid the long hike.
  • The spot is often empty due to isolation and difficult access.
  • Fast shorebreak on sand; there is no space for surfers.
  • Riding area is very shallow (typically less than half a meter).

Getting there & access

Nearest City
Lima
Nearest Town
Ancon
Parking
No parking available at the spot; must park in the nearest town/port and take a boat (parking info also described generally as not available at the spot).
Access
By boat only; no car access. Best option is to take a boat from a nearby location; long walk may be required if no boat is arranged.
Local Language
Spanish
Learn, rent & more

Schools & services

No schools or services are listed for this spot yet.

Reviews

From riders who've been here

Community observations

Latest reported conditions

Spot questions

Frequently asked questions

When is the best season at Infiernillo?

The best overall months at Infiernillo are July, August, September, October, November, December, January, February, March. The best wind months are October, November, December, January, February, March.

Which wind directions work at Infiernillo?

Infiernillo works with ESE winds.

What skill level is Infiernillo suitable for?

Infiernillo suits these riding levels: Surfing: Expert.