What happens when you take one of the most desirable wave riding spots in the world and add one of the biggest swell forecasts in years?! Marc Ramseier and Martin Vari scored in Punta Luna, Northern Peru. Bea Wüthrich tells us all about it in this article!

Imagine a wave spot so good that you'd be willing to go to any lengths to get there. A trip to Punta Luna Surf Lodge is undoubtedly a dream come true, and it took nearly two years of planning and COVID-related cancellations to make this dream trip a reality... Not to mention the decades of serendipity for it even to be possible.

It all started in 1998 when Swiss-born Marc Ramseier learned to kitesurf. He set up his home base in Fuerteventura and taught himself how to kite, one of the first people on the island to explore this curious new sport. After only two years, he became a professional kiter and dedicated his life to the kite, starting in freestyle before falling in love with the waves. This love for waves took him to Indonesia in search of the perfect wave.

Martin Vari's story started in 1999 when he moved from Argentina to Oahu to study. He quickly picked up the sport of kitesurfing in his off time in Kailua and went on to win his first kiteboarding event two years later. He became a two-time PKRA Freestyle World Champion, but he, too, found a passion for the waves.

When Martin set off to Indonesia to join a group of pro riders searching for the jewel of the Indian Ocean, he and Marc crossed paths. This Indonesian gem captured Marc, who continued travelling back to Indo and eventually built a house in Bali to host kitesurf camps. 

Martin was more focused on South America, where he met legendary Peruvian surfer Fernando "Wawa" Paraud. He was a true waterman, and a kitesurf pioneer, known for his charm, good vibe and charger spirit. Wawa always had an intense spirit of adventure and exploration. This is how, on one of his trips along Northern Peru's coast, he discovered a treasure, which he named Punta Luna. It was a hidden game, which he only shared with his friends Kai, Gallo, and Martin. They kept it quiet for 15 years, surfing perfect waves with no one else around.

Astounded with the nature of the place, Wawa decided to build a house. Martin was always along for the adventure, lending a hand during the road and house building process. Wawa believed Punta Luna should be a protected area, and he worked hard to have the entire Illescas Peninsula designated as a National Protected Area. During his mission to preserve this area, Wawa had an accident and died in 2012. Today, longtime friend Martin and his wife Ana Mater maintain the Punta Luna Surf Lodge. Through Martin and Ana, Wawa's legend is still alive. 

That brings us back to today when after 15 years, Marc and Martin would meet again for the first-ever Punta Luna Kitesurf Wave Clinic. The adventure began immediately after landing at Piura Airport. The crew loaded into a 4x4, a necessity to traverse the rugged landscape that leads to Punta Luna. The bay where Punta Luna is located is breathtaking, and the first glance at the lodge amazed us. What they have created here is magic. 

We were welcomed by Martin and Ana and treated to an excellent Peruvian lunch by Juana and Maria. We also met expert fishermen and eager kite caddies, Jhonny and Wilmer. While having our first lunch on the open terrace, we could watch the waves from above and could already guess what to expect in the following ten days – pure bliss.

We woke up the following day to a view over the bay with waves lined up perfectly just out front. Pelicans were air surfing the waves, and flamingos strutted across the beach. The diversity of animals and nature here are incredible. Mornings are a great time to walk the beach and discover all the birds and marine life. However, nature is as cruel as it is beautiful. To our astonishment, many animals end their lives on the beach in this remote place. A whale stranded not far from the lodge had died on tha same day. Sad and beautiful at the same time. That's life; nothing is infinite. 

When the sun came out around noon, the wind began to blow. The first few days allowed us to get accustomed to the spot, with fun little waves on our doorstep. They got bigger day after day, and Marc helped us improve our skills and figure out the spot before the biggest swell of the season hit.

The waves of Punta Luna can be quite different depending on their size. When it's small, they break in sections, are relatively friendly, not too fast, and allow for many turns. When it's a bit bigger, the waves connect, and you'll be able to ride one wave through the entire bay, with barrels and clean walls to hit. 

A few days later, we witnessed one of the biggest swells in years, with a period of more than 20 seconds. The picture of perfect waves peeling along from left to right will stick in our minds forever. Unusually, the waves were faster than previous swells of a similar size, and conquering these triple overhead monsters was a challenge. Martin and Marc shared the set waves, and watching them in the pocket and pulling into barrels was indescribable.  

Local knowledge comes into play on days like this: Martin led the charge, but Marc caught up, clocking some time in these tricky conditions. The more they pushed it, the heavier the wipeouts got, and the isolated location meant they couldn't go past that limit. Thanks to their experience, they made it look easy, although it was anything but that.

That big day was for sure the highlight, but with a few days left, the wind and the waves did not disappoint. Once the swell dropped in size, the waves became more manageable, and the rest of the group had a chance to go for it again. It was epic conditions every day of the trip!

Time flies when you are having fun. On the bittersweet last night in Punta Luna, we had a barbecue under the moonlight, recapping stories of our once in a lifetime adventure. Perfect wind and waves, delicious meals every day, in the company of like-minded people in the middle of the Illescas National Park in Northern Peru. We are grateful for having been part of this amazing adventure, and we all agree it was a dream come true!

 

By beavern

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