La II Ultra Travesía

Stretching 34 kilometers along northern Peru, the open water route between Cancas and Los Órganos cuts through the Pacific ocean. This marathon sea course is home to La II Ultra Travesía, an ultra-distance swimming event held along the coastline of the Piura region. Organized by Aguas Abiertas Perú, the journey is simply defined by its scale: a pure thirty-four-kilometer crossing connecting two coastal settlements in one of the country's most celebrated marine settings. Entering the water at Cancas, swimmers leave the shoreline behind to trace an unbroken line toward Los Órganos. In past editions, the course has guided athletes from the pier at Cancas straight to the finishing pier at Los Órganos, demanding hours of relentless stroke work across the vast ocean.

Because of the immense scale of the journey, swimmers navigate with an essential support network. In past events, each individual swimmer or pod of up to six swimmers was required to provide a dedicated support boat for the entire distance, ensuring close monitoring across every nautical mile.

Warm currents along Punta Sal and the Piura coast

The Pacific Ocean along this stretch defies the frigid reputation of South America's western coastline. Rather than chilling the body, the sea here is bathed by the El Niño current, which carries equatorial warmth directly into the waters and moderates the local coastal climate. While the Pacific further down the continent runs cold and demanding, these northern waters maintain a welcoming thermal comfort that feels gentle on the skin during long hours of immersion. Across the maritime expanse of Piura and Tumbes, sea temperatures remain comfortable throughout the seasons, reaching their balmiest levels between December and April while staying comfortably temperate for the rest of the year. Near Punta Sal, the water stays evenly warm all year round, providing an exceptionally stable environment for long-distance marathon swimmers. Sea conditions at Punta Sal remain calm across all twelve months.

Punta Sal water and the pier at Los Órganos

Punta Sal has bright sun all year, and its water is warm, generally above 24 °C (75 °F). The beach at Punta Sal is very irregular: high tide reaches the edge of the houses south of the resort, and at low tide beaches of fine sand are exposed. Punta Sal lies near the edge of the Tropical Eastern Pacific region, which keeps a great diversity of tropical fauna. Los Órganos has a craft pier where fishermen disembark, and beyond the pier lies a point called Veleros.

The long beaches of Punta Sal and Las Pocitas

Tracking south along the mainland, the shoreline opens onto Punta Sal, the longest beach along the northern Peruvian coast at six and a half kilometres in length. This expansive sweep of sand is divided into two distinct sectors: Punta Sal Chica, formed by a gentle curved shore cupped between two coastal capes, and the broader expanse of Punta Sal Grande.

Artisanal fishing piers from Los Órganos to Cabo Blanco

The final stretch brings swimmers toward the artisanal pier of Los Órganos, where the finish line stands amidst traditional white-sailed rafts bobbing at anchor. These handcrafted sailing crafts embody the deep seafaring culture of the cove, greeting tired athletes as they pull through the final strokes into the harbour. Once ashore, the coastline provides immediate refuge, with beachfront dining, seaside houses, and welcoming lodges lining the nearby coves for post-race rest and grilled coastal meals. This maritime heritage extends along the neighboring points of the bay. Nearby Cabo Blanco is characterized by fine sand and moderate ocean motion that produces large tubular waves breaking off the point. Down the coast, the artisanal cove of Lobitos preserves its fishing identity with two working piers standing over the water.

Although sheltered sections stay calm, the coast is also shaped by strong winds that blow through in July, transforming adjacent spots into windsurfing and kitesurfing destinations. For swimmers looking to explore these waters over shorter courses, the area also hosts events like the nearby XVII Travesía Máncora - Vichayito. Crossing the finish line at Los Órganos after thirty-four ocean kilometers leaves you standing on the edge of a living coast, surrounded by white sails and the endless rhythm of the Pacific.