El Salvador surf...
world-class point breaks!
El Salvador surf is among the best in the world. It boasts magnificent and consistent right hand cobblestone breaks for which it's been called the "land of the rights".
The best surfing period is between March and October, as the waves are smaller in January and February, but still with great point breaks over 300 days of the year, we can say that surfing is great any time of the year!
El Salvador surf areas are basically divided in 2 regions: La Libertad and the "Wild East"
La Libertad
On the northwest, La Libertad is known as the surf capital of El Salvador with several high quality breaks. Being less than 1 hour from the airport, this is the region of choice by many. I found it really interesting to hear that many surfers compare this region to Rincon in California.
With its inviting, relaxed and laid back "feeling" it's no surprise that those who do discover this region, keep coming back!
Popular surf spots in La Libertad...
Punta Roca, El Salvador
Punta Roca: According to many experts, Punta Roca is among the top right point breaks in the world. Breaking on a rocky bottom, it gets hollow all the way giving you incredible, long barrels. This is El Salvador surf, at its best, a must try!
There is a big boulder that appears shortly after take, for which you would have to watch out. The locals call it "Mama Roca" (mother rock) - I guess that's where the name Punta Roca came from!
El Sunzal, El Salvador El Sunzal: Intermediate to advanced level. This is probably the most popular surf spot in
El Salvador. This beach break is always bigger that all other Salvadorean breaks. The wave here is powerful, relatively slow and well defined so it's not dangerous at all. The only downturn though is that because it's so popular, it's busy on weekends, so it's better to go there during the week.
Conchalío: This beach break is for experienced surfers. These are relatively short rides (50-150 m). There's a sandy bottom with huge barrels on the left sections. The fast waves and hollow tubes make it an excellent spot for body boarding. Conchalío is by far less crowded than El Sunzal.
Surfers, El Salvador Playa La Paz: Just inside of Punta Roca, it has a left and right beach break with sandy/rocky bottom. The perfect spot for less experienced surfers and those interested in learning to surf. The rides are 100-200m long.
Zonte: For all surfers. This is a right point break with some fast sections that are best surfed during November-December when the surf is small and it has a nice hollow section. Nice, quiet area, a must see and try during any El Salvador surf trip!
There are restaurants and hotels all along the coast here, so grabbing a bite after sessions is easy. For those interested in learning to surf, many surf tour companies, resorts and hotels offer packages and lessons as well as board rental. A couple of surf board repair shops are also nearby the beach in La Libertad, making your El Salvador surf adventure worry-free and enjoyable!
Do you have a FAVOURITE surfing beach in El Salvador? Tell us about it, you can submit a story about YOUR favourite surfing spot in El Salvador - people from all over the world will read it!
The Wild East
This region is about 3 hours from San Salvador and contrary to La Libertad the wild east is not fully developed so it's a bit hard accessing some of the best surf spots in the area.
Don't let that deter you though; there is a surfing resort in San Miguel that caters to those wanting to explore the wild east and many other tour companies offer surf tours to these areas. Check them out if you are interested, the rides are definitely worth it!
Popular surf spots in Wild East...
Punta Mango, El Salvador Punta Mango: A paradise for experienced surfers. Punta Mango is in La Unión and is accessible only by boat. This powerful right point break has an extremely hollow take off with an awesome barrel. Punta Mango is basically the east coast version of Punta Roca with wave lengths of 100-400m. An El Salvador surf trip would be incomplete without giving these waves a try!
El Toro: This long fast ride with a sandy bottom is for intermediate to experienced surfers. The outside section breaks in front of an impressive volcanic cliff and the inside section breaks towards the sandy beach for an extra 50m. The wave length is 50-150m, and as Punta Mango, this spot is only accessible by boat.
Las Flores, El Salvador Las Flores: This spot is in San Miguel and it has a fun wave for all surfers! This is a fast right point break with sandy bottom with long rides and a hollow outside section which makes it good for long boarders and short boarders. The wave length is 50-150m. It is a bit difficult to get here as well as there is no infrastructure and is accessible only by 4x4.
El Cuco, El Salvador
El Cuco: This is a great surf spot for beginners. It has a slow and mushy beach break going left and right with a sandy bottom. Specially good on high tide with a 4ft swell. El Cuco is located in San Miguel. There are other beaches in this area as well that you may want to explore and test the waves or do other activities.
Yes, El Salvador surf is among the best in the world, that's the reason why more and more surfers keep coming back. With some many pristine surf points, everyone can ride El Salvador waves.
There are so many more surfing spots it's hard to name them all, and many others are still basically untouched, discover this unforgettable surfing experience!
For those who want to try their hand at something else, scuba diving and snorkeling are great too, or try fishing or kayaking. For more reasons why El Salvador is such a great tourist destination, click on this link. We also have a list of our own favourite beaches, but we'll talk about those later!
El Salvador is much more than just beaches and surfing, with its rich culture, history and other tourist attractions, the options are endless! Explore, there's so much to do here in this great land!
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