West El Salvador

What makes El Salvador a special destination for surfers?

A lot of people want to come here and surf and have a good time, but what makes it special for me is that there are waves all year. If you come in January or July, you’re going to get waves for sure. And we have the mountains and a volcano, the water is always warm, and the people are super nice.

What kind of waves can visiting surfers expect?

The most famous waves in El Salvador are Punta Roca, Punta Mango and Las Flores. But we have a lot of points where you can go and surf by yourself. People don’t always realize it, but there are all kinds of waves here. There’s a wave that’s like Lower Trestles, there are good waves for beginners, we even have a couple of lefts.

What're the differences between surf zones?

The more well-known surf zone in El Salvador is in the northern area. Most people will probably fly into San Salvador and travel from there. And there's a lot of good, more well-known waves in the area and there's a lot more infrastructure. The further south you head the more you get into the country. There are some really incredible setups, they take some work to find and get to, but it's worth it if you know what you're doing and score. 

What’s the vibe?

The vibe is really nice right now. The government has put a lot of resources into making it safe here. You can go out and have fun, and everybody on the beaches is super friendly. It’s grown a lot here in the last two years. We had the ISA come here. The WSL is coming here. It’s getting bigger and bigger. And safer.

What should surfers bring?

If you’re already a good surfer you might want to think about bringing a step-up. It can get bigger here and there can be a lot of current. You don’t really need a gun, just something bigger than your normal board. But if you’re learning you can bring a soft-top, and there’s really good places for that. The sun’s heavy here and it’s super hot, so bring extra boardshorts, rash guards, sunscreen, a good hat… And don’t forget your favorite wax.

When is the best time to score?

I like June through September, when it’s super good. If you like to surf bigger waves, you come for the summer season. The winter is the slower season, but there’s always waves, just not as big.

What else is there to do when you’re not surfing?

There are a lot of things to do in El Salvador. If you like to party you can go out in town, have some beers, meet some locals and have a good time. There’s the mountains and volcano, there’s waterfalls. You can go travel Ruto Las Flores and see the beautiful countryside. And it’s all close. You can surf in the morning and go see a waterfall in the afternoon.

What’s your favorite local cuisine?

I like the pupusas, it’s the best food in El Salvador. Everyone wants to eat it when they come here. It’s like a quesadilla, but with different, more local ingredients like pork, beans and cheese. It’s super good.

Where can people learn to surf?

Another good thing about El Salvador is we have a good wave to learn on called Sonsonate. And we have the Puro Surf Academy, which I think is the best school to learn with. They have everything.

What are some things people should be aware of when it comes to local culture and customs?

Like anywhere you go, be friendly with the locals. The locals here are super nice, and if you’re friendly with them they’ll be open and friendly with you. The most famous wave, Punta Roca, has a local scene and you have to respect that.