The Federal Government has officially decreed that this place is protected. Photo: Vargas/Save The Waves
Back in 2013, Ollanta Humala, the Peruvian president, put pen to paper and signed something that was the first of its kind. It was a bill called the Ley de Rompientes, which translates to the “The Law of the Breakers.” It protected an ancient maritime culture in Huanchaco, Peru–along with a coastline full of great waves–from pretty much anything that might mess with the natural order of things.
It wasn’t an easy battle, though–the moment Humala scratched his signature was the culmination of years of fighting by Save the Waves and the Huanchaco World Surfing Reserve. Now, according to a press release by Save the Waves, “the Peruvian Navy has officially decreed that the coastline and surfing waves of Huanchaco are now legally and permanently protected federal law.”
Huanchaco is unique in the surfing world. One of the world’s earliest known surf riding vehicles, the caballito de totora, was created there, and is still used to this day. The caballito de totora is made from totora reeds, and the culture in Huanchaco is steeped in the sea. Fisherman there, in fact, surfed somewhere around 2,500 years ago, making it one of the oldest surf communities on earth.
This is the oldest surf riding vehicle on earth. Photo: Wiki
After it was designated as a World Surfing Reserve in 2013, it came to light that a neighboring municipality called Buenos Aires was illegally dumping trash. Because of prevailing winds and currents, much of the trash was pushed to Huanchaco. The Huanchaco Local Stewardship Council and the Save the Waves Coalition stepped in and put a stop to it, proving that the WSR designation wasn’t just paying lip service to an ideal.
“This is a huge victory for the Huanchaco World Surfing Reserve, and Save The Waves is very proud to be a part of this important milestone,” said Nick Mucha, Save The Waves’ Director of Programs. “Through the World Surfing Reserve program we have been able to secure legal and permanent protection for this historic coastline, ancient artisanal fishing culture and world’s oldest surf craft.”
With the blessing of the Peruvian Navy, one of surfing’s most important stretches of coastline is indefinitely protected.
