For surfers, life is about chasing the biggest, longest ride.
A great ride, however, doesn’t alwayshave to be long. Some of the best waves ever surfed were as short as 10 seconds. That’s why long waves, those topping one minute and occasionally reaching two or three, are something of a holy grail to surfers. These are, without a doubt, some of the best rides an Adrenalist can experience. They rarely appear, but when they do, they provide the rush that surfers spend their lives looking for.
Here are the beaches you can visit to find the 6 longest surf waves in the world.
Puerto Chicama, Peru
The world’s longest wave, sometimes known as “El Hombre,” breaks
along a desolate stretch of Peru’s northern coastline. Though it’s just a
40-minute drive from the Pan-American Highway, and hides one of the
greatest gifts surfers will ever know, Puerto Chicama is often forgotten
– even by surfers. Perhaps it’s a function of the cold water, strong
currents or fickle wave. Whatever the reason, surfers who do venture to
El Hombre will find rides up to three minutes long—more than one mile –
along with the solitude. The fast breaking, left wave lasts so long that
surfer’s legs are jelly by the time the ride is done. Tiny tow-boats
can be hired for about $1 to place you back in the lineup. El Hombre is
perfect around 6 feet, but is rarely bigger and no good when much
smaller than that. Buffeted by never-ending offshore winds, this wave
was first spotted from an airplane seat by a surfer returning to Hawaii
from a competition in Peru. His good eye spotted one of the best waves
on the planet – remarkably, one that few surfers have tasted firsthand.
Superbank, Gold Coast Australia
The Superbank used to have good waves. They were made into epic waves
by pure serendipity – when a dredging crew was maintaining a shipping
lane. While relocating sand at Tweed Rivermouth, a half-mile away, the
crew unwittingly created an incredibly hollow and unbelievably long
right. Superbank breaks from a natural point over sand, creating a cross
between a beach and point break. One of the most legendary tubes in the
world, Superbank, located not far from Brisbane, may also be one of the
busiest breaks anywhere. Riding the full distance – a whopping ride of
just over one mile – can be difficult: it sometimes requires linking two
nearly-distinct waves. But on a perfect day, the wave eases seamlessly
creating a long, surfer-sized barrel that goes on forever.
Amazonian Tidal Bore
The Pororoca, as it is called, is a wave created from a tidal push
working up the Amazon River, all the while stirring up debris like whole
trees and countless piranha. Astoundingly, the wave can travel roughly
400 miles. Surfers, not surprisingly, descend on the wave when it
arrives, vying for ever-longer rides. The best anyone has done yet is a
ride of a blissful 45-minutes.
Pavones, Costa Rica
Costa Rica is known for possessing some of the world’s cleanest waves
along enchanting jungle-covered coastlines. No surf spot in this
country (and there are many) better exemplifies the ideal surf
conditions than Pavones. When conditions are favorable, one of the
longest lefts in the world slashes past the cobblestone beaches,
providing 2- or 3-minute rides. Surfers can be carried three-quarters of
a mile by the time they hit the beach. Weeks can pass, however, without
so much as a half-decent set gracing this town near Gulfo Dulce.
Eventually, though, big southern swells always hit Pavones. And when
they hit, they hit, and surfers around the world instantly know Pavones
is firing.
Libertad El Salvador
Even for a break in a country riddled with surf spots, Libertad stands out as one of El Salvador’s finest waves, and at 200 yards – a common ride length – one of the longest waves in the world. The main attraction is Punta Roca, a right hand point break that, like many of the breaks along this rocky stretch of shoreline, has a rugged outcropping at the entry point. In the perpetually 80-degree water, a wetsuit is hardly necessary, but booties are advisable for the rocks and resident urchins. The waves here are fast and hollow. But once you’re in, you can ride for what seems like forever.Boca de Barranca, Costa Rica
At 800 yards—a ride possible in the best of conditions—Boca de
Barranca offers surf that is nothing short of world-class. Another
environmental factor sets this place apart from most surf destinations:
the crocodiles who have been known to greet surfers in the lineup, which
is just a short swim from their home in a nearby river. The unending
lefts, slow and friendly, are best for longboards and anyone without a
fear of aquatic reptiles.
We want to hear about your experiences, let us know if you’ve visited
any beaches with longer waves in the world. Looking for other surfing
travel hotspots? Check out the best river surfing in the world.
