“The thousand mile journey begins with the first step.”
The first step is making the commitment to go.
Here is a guide for getting to Peru.
First off, you need to fly into Jorge Chavez airport in Lima. LAN is the main airline, and has many flights from around the world. Other airlines such as Taca, and Continental also fly to Jorge Chavez.
Lima-
I would recommend staying in Miraflores. A hip beachtown, with plenty of hotels,bars, sightseeing and other things to do. The closer you can stay to the church in Miraflores, the better. This will put you in walking distance of a lot of activities. The nightlife goes off, and things really do not start rolling until 10, and last till 5. If you are bringing your girl, stop at Larco Mar, an upscale mall with restaurants overlooking the ocean. Taxi’s are everywhere, so you can find one to take you to the beaches. If you strictly want to surf, then I would recommend staying at Punta Hermosa, or San Bartolo. From these locations, in the southern coast of Lima, you can quickly get to many surf spots. There is plenty of information about the different spots at wannasurf.com.
Lima Taxi-
If you need a Taxi in Lima, I recommend my good friend Gabriel Vasquez. Gabriel is honest, will pick you up from the airport, has a van that can fit 7 people, is a safe driver, and will wait for you while you surf. His prices are reasonable, he is on time, and is available for a full day. You can email him at turismopacuchavans@hotmail.com
Northern Peru-
From Lima, you want to fly into Trujillo. If your budget is small, then your best bet would be to take one of the many buses that go from Lima to Trujillo or Pacasmayo. Taking the bus can save you some serious money, but it takes 8 hours. I have not taken a bus, but was told by Edgar that they have beds, and serve you breakfast. If you would rather fly, LAN and Star Peru fly to Trujillo. From Trujillo, get a Taxi, and first visit Huanchaco. Huanchaco is a beach town, with a lot of tourists. There are really good restaurants through out the town.
Chicama is about another hour north of Trujillo. There are hotels in Chicama, but Pacasmayo gets more swell. I would suggest that you stay in Pacasmayo, and when a swell is hitting, go to Chicama. Pacasmayo is an hour and 1/2 north of Trujillo.