Surf’s up in El Salvador: where to catch the waves

Previously skipped over in favour of more popular surfing spots like Costa Rica, the secret of El Salvador is out. With year-round swells and long right-hand waves, El Salvador may be the smallest country in Central America, but it packs a punch. Its mixture of point, reef, and beach breaks means that whether you’re a surf pro or looking to hop on a board for the first time, these surf spots in El Salvador have you covered.

El Sunzal

El Sunzal is one of the most popular surf spots in El Salvador. An abundance of surf camps catering to all abilities makes El Sunzal a great base to perfect your techniques and progress your surfing journey. Already a confident surfer? Plenty of gear outfitters have set up around Sunzal, and accommodation options match all budgets. A short walk from town, El Sunzal’s main beach break is a popular spot for beginners. As with most El Salvador surf spots, El Sunzal’s waves are right-handers. For intermediate and advanced surfers, Sunzal’s reef point break, which you’ll want to visit at low or mid tide for the best waves, is a dreamy spot to perfect your turns and build confidence.

After a good day's surf, El Sunzal and nearby surf town El Tunco have a great selection of Salvadoran and international restaurants. The nightlife in El Tunco and Sunzal is popular thanks to the number of surfers and backpackers who come here, so if a post-surf beer and a dance are on the cards, the Sunzal/Tunco area is the place to be.

El Zonte

El Zonte encapsulates just how great El Salvador is for surfing. Beginner surfers can enter the water from the safety of the beach, making it an ideal spot to get comfortable. The main break boasts a consistent swell, drawing intermediate and experienced surfers to its reef point break, where smooth right-handers and a laid-back lineup make it easy to see why it’s recognized as one of El Salvador’s top surf spots.

While the surf in El Zonte is consistent year-round, for the biggest swells, visit between March and October, when the wet season is in full swing. Between November and February, the swell is smaller, making it a perfect time for newcomers. El Zonte offers much more than just world-class waves. After a surf sesh, grab yourself a pupusa (stuffed flatbread) or three and watch the sunset over the Pacific in one of El Zonte’s beachside eateries.

El Tunco

Nestled between renowned surf spots like La Libertad and El Sunzal is El Tunco. A well-known backpacker and surfer's refuge, El Tunco has earned itself the name Surf City and is home to great surf breaks like La Bocana and Sunzalito. Home to one of El Salvador’s few consistent left-hand breaks, Bocana is a popular break for experienced Salvadoran and international surfers. Further left of La Bocana is La Bocanita, a rocky beach break suitable for seasoned surfers when the conditions allow.

El Tunco is possibly the most prominent of El Salvador’s beaches, and it draws a lot of budding surfers. Directly in front of the Tunco rock is a Sunzalito, a sandy beach break where you’ll see surf instructors coaching new surfers.

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Mizata

West of sought-after El Salvador beaches like El Zonte and El Tunco, Mizata is a mellow black-sand beach with breaks dotted along it. Despite being a lesser-known spot with fewer visitors, Mizata boasts consistent swells year-round and boisterous waves even when nearby breaks are flat. The range of breaks at Mizata makes it a first-class spot for surfers of all abilities to visit. El Dorado Beach has waves for beginners to enjoy, but rocky points along Mizata, like The Slab, are best tackled during high tide when the rocks are far below the waves. El Salvador surf spots are well-known for the abundance of right-hand waves, but among Mizata’s breaks is Tweeners, a rocky point that, when surfed at high tide and a southerly swell, features a left-hand break.

Punta Roca

A short drive west of Puerto de La Libertad, Punta Roca is the mother of all El Salvador’s surf spots. Fuelled by strong swells from the South Pacific, Punta Roca offers consistent surf year-round. A rocky right-hand break with quick and strong waves, this world-famous spot is not for the faint-hearted. A bucket-list surf spot for experienced boarders and suitable for intermediate surfers during the dry season (November to April) when the swell is weaker, Punta Roca is not a beginner-friendly surf spot. Punta Roca is undeniably the best surfing location in El Salvador and is frequently noted as one of the top 10 surf spots around the world. International competitions are hosted at this cobbled surfing zone, adding flair and excitement to nearby La Libertad.

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K59

Looking to avoid crowded lineups and befriend a few Salvadoran surfers? K59 is the spot in El Salvador to do just that. Where the black-sand beach meets a mountainous coastal forest, K59 is a secluded point break perfect for those searching for larger waves. The rocky break creates a powerful right-hand wave, a playground for experienced surfers. During the wet season (May to November), the waves double in size and create fast but bountiful long right-handers and tunnels along K59. The dry season (November to April) brings smaller waves, but you can catch them year-round. The sleepy village around K59 makes it an oasis for surfers looking to do nothing but surf, sleep, and repeat. Restaurants serving Salvadoran delicacies are available along the beach, so no need to think about cooking a meal after a day in the waves.

K61

Just 500m (1,640 ft) from K59 is the K61 surf spot — you can paddle between the two if you’re feeling strong! Find the viewpoint above the two surf spots to check out the waves before heading into the water. The waves are long and mellow, making it an ideal break for beginners. Stand-up paddleboarders and longboarders are also common at K61 thanks to the relaxed waves. To get into the water, surfers need to walk over rocks that are home to sea urchins, so it’s best to rent reef shoes. Surfing with an instructor who can guide you around the rocks and show you where to catch the best waves is a good idea. Mountainous tropical views mixed with opportunities for all surf levels to excel crown K61 as one of the top surf spots in El Salvador.

Las Flores

Nestled in the "Wild East" of El Salvador are the palm-tree paradises of Playa Las Flores and El Cuco. They are popular beach destinations not just for Salvadorans planning a beach getaway, but also for board riders. Boasting a variety of beach and point breaks appealing to all surf levels, Las Flores is a brilliant spot to base yourself while surfing your heart out. Directly in front of the beachside hotels lies Las Flores’ primary surf location, a sandy break free of rocks and reef, so it’s an excellent choice for beginner and intermediate surfers who can ride smooth, glassy right-hand waves that can stretch for nearly 300m (984 ft).

Las Flores offers consistent surf conditions year-round thanks to the southern swells, but for beginner surfers, it's more favourable in the dry season for cleaner waves with less height. Between May and October, the swells increase, making it a favoured break more suitable for experienced surfers. When the tide is low, advanced surfers can take advantage of the rocky-point break that appears on the west side of Playa Las Flores, creating a playground of fast and sharp barrelling waves.

Punta Mango

One of El Salvador’s more remote surf spots, Punta Mango is another destination in the Wild East that expert surfers dream about. Recently made accessible by 4x4, this gnarly right-hander features a shallow cobblestone bottom, so it’s best to head here during the rainy season, when the swell picks up. During the dry season, Las Flores is a better spot to try your luck at for more consistent waves. Beginners who want to experience the Punta Mango lifestyle can do so thanks to the sandy beach break and can be assisted by surf instructors in the area.

Looking to set off on a surf safari? Start the day by grabbing a boat from Las Flores to Punta Mango to catch some morning waves and finish the day with a sunset surf back at Las Flores. If you want to stay put at Punta Mango and enjoy the tranquillity and secluded location, a few surf camps have opened up thanks to the new dirt road down to the beach. Surf camps in the area have restaurants and bars for a post-surf bite and beer, but if it’s pupusas you’re craving, local comedors (restaurants) are dotted around the main road.

Playa de Conchalio

When the swell is down at Punta Roca, nearby Playa de Conchalio is your saving grace. A long stretch of sandy beach backing onto La Libertad, Conchalio is suitable for all levels. Beginners can enjoy the sandy beach break, while intermediate and advanced surfers can head further out to catch some of the fast, hollow waves the spot is known for. Intense swells can batter Playa de Conchalio during the wet season, so it’s best surfed during the dry season for the best conditions and swell. Less built up and with a laid-back approach to tourism, Conchalio is ideal for surfers looking to immerse themselves in Salvadoran surf culture.

Barra de Santiago

Hidden away on a stretch of sandy beach that backs onto mangroves teeming with wildlife is Barra de Santiago. Further west of popular beaches near Surf City, Barra de Santiago is still relatively unknown to many international visitors in El Salvador. Sandbanks formed by the peninsula of Barra de Santiago create great conditions for surfers of all levels to enjoy. The sandy beach breaks are beginner friendly, and the more confident intermediate surfers and the seasoned pros can find barrelling right-handers further out along the peninsula. The surf season picks up during the wet season.