We Wave in Chicama
We Wave in Chicama: Where the Longest Wave in the World Met the Kindest People
There are places in the world that stop you mid-breath. Chicama, Peru is one of them. Last week, I had the privilege of being there.
Chicama is home to the longest left-hand surf wave on the planet. I traveled there with three of my good friends for a foil-surfing adventure like none other. The week was hosted by the incredible team at Real Watersports — a crew that welcomed both foil surfers and traditional surfers under one roof, united by a shared love of the ocean. What unfolded over those 8 days wasn't just a surf trip. It was a classic We Wave moment in the truest sense.
We made our home at the Chicama Boutique hotel. From the moment we arrived, the staff set a tone that never wavered — not once across 8 full days. Front desk, gear room attendants, wait staff, kitchen crew, groundskeepers, room cleaners, boat captains and coaches— every single person showed up with genuine joy to serve and with full stoke energy. In a world where hospitality can sometimes feel transactional, these folks truly made you feel like family.
Peru has a spirit to it. A joy that isn't performed — it just is. And it's contagious from the inside out.
Whether out on the water or just being together post surf sessions (otherwise known as bench-surfing), we had the chance to be and share the We Wave movement with fellow foilers, surfers and staff. We weren't sure how it would land. But they got it — immediately. The idea that sharing a wave 🌊 and a wave 👋 can be an act of kindness, a moment of connection, a ripple of something bigger... it resonated. The embrace was real, and the conversation was alive.
That's what We Wave is about. Not just riding waves but sending them outward. Into the lineup. Into the community. Into the world. Spreading kindness and connection all the while.
At the end of the trip, we gifted the staff with We Wave t-shirts, hats, sun shirts, and stickers. What happened next was one of those moments you don't plan for — they wanted to take a photo together to capture the experience! They weren't just being polite. They were excited. They wanted to cross the threshold to be part of the movement.
That picture says everything.
Peru is extraordinary. The landscape is ancient and dramatic, the surf wave at Chicama is unlike anything else on earth, and the people — the people are full of a spirit that reminded me why I travel in the first place. Not to collect destinations, but to connect with humanity.
To the entire team at Real Watersports and the Chicama Boutique Hotel: Muchos, Muchos Gracias Amigos 🙏 You "are" We Wave 👋 🤙🌊🏄♂️
