El Salvador surf...
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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 Comalapa International 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: Time and time again, we hear that Punta Roca is among the top right point breaks in the world, it ranks 4 stars on www.wannasurf.com!
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!
You will see a big boulder that is called "Mama Roca" (mother rock) - I guess that's where the name Punta Roca came from!
El Sunzal: This is probably the most popular surf spot in El Salvador – and one of the best!It’s amazing how as soon as you get to El Sunzal, you can "feel" the excitement that just oozes everyone and everywhere… I really can’t describe it but it is a really neat feeling.
The waves here are excellent and powerful and have been described by some surfers as the best in Central America!
This beach really caters to the surfing world… there are surf shops, hostels, hotels, resorts and restaurants and even surf lessons are offered.
Just sitting on the beach watching the “show” of surf experts is incredible, you really have to see it, it’s fun even if you’re not a surfer!
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.
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: 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: 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: 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!
Have you discovered an awesome El Salvador surf spot? TELL US ABOUT IT!!
A team from Alpinestars headed down to El Salvador for a 6 day surfing trip. On this video, they tell us how their trip went, check it out.
Diving & snorkeling - Dive the crater lakes and snorkel rock reefs
El Salvador Fishing - International catch & release tournaments...
Kayaking - Kayak through the mangroves and estuaries...
Hawksbill Turtles - Read about the conservation efforts...
Costa del Sol - Our favourite beach...
Looking for more great surfing in Central America? Costa Rica Surfing is also excellent and makes for a great addition to any Central American surf itinerary.
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