10 Best Surf Spots In El Salvador

1. Punta Mango

Punta Mango is not only a great place for surfing but the area is absolutely beautiful. The aqua blue waters hitting the shore along with the warm waters of the Pacific make surfing here a must. The spot still remains untouched by a lot of people but still it offers amazing infrastructure such as hotels and shops all around for a perfect experience. The beaches here stretch far, in fact they stretch so far that it eventually leads to neighboring Nicaragua.

Punta Mango

Address: Punta MangoLa Periquera, El Salvador

2. Playa Las Flores

The beautiful Las Flores Beach is located in the eastern part of the country in San Miguel. The immediate nearby area is a pretty natural area with a lot of trees and natural landscapes. The area is pretty new to surfing as most of the people here were part of a nearby fishing village. Surfers found the spot and now it is home to a burgeoning tourist industry with great waves, a small local community, and a few hotels and hostels.

Playa Las Flores

Address: Playa Las Flores, La Libertad, El Salvador

3. Playa El Zonte

El Zonte Beach is one of the best places for young surfers and beginners to check out if you’re visiting El Salvador. The local community is made up of mostly younger surfers, despite that, the area is quiet and less frequented by tourists. Again, despite the younger demographics, El Zonte Beach has less of a party atmosphere and is more relaxed and quiet with low budget hotels that are great for backpackers. The area also offers a number of restaurants, it is a good spot for a combination of surfing and relaxing.

Playa El Zonte

Address: Playa el Zonte Zonte Beach Km 53, Litoral Road, El Salvador

4. Playa La Bocana

La Bocana is a beautiful little quiet surf spot in El Salvador that for a long time, wasn’t even popular with surfing. The area was largely residential and was home to fishermen and even as recently as the early 90s, people weren’t coming here to surf. Over time, word of mouth took off and more and more people came here to ride the waves in a place that is surrounded by nature and is not very crowded.

Playa La Bocana

Address: Costa Del Balsamo, El Salvador

5. Playa El Tunco

Located in the La Libertad area of El Salvador, El Tunco Beach is one of the best places to visit and is counted among the most popular beaches for surfing in the country. The area is very popular so it is here where you’ll find all the beaches and surfing culture with over 20 hotels and hostels around. People coming here to surf all year round. The beach is laid back and is a perfect place for beginners where you can get lessons. It is also a great spot for pros who can ride all day long. The sunset over the rocks is gorgeous, the nightlife is lively and the waves are some of the best.

Playa El Tunco

Address: Tamanique, El Salvador

6. Playa El Sunzal

El Sunzal is one of the more popular beaches around El Salvador and offers wave breaks that are little advanced than what you’ll find elsewhere Meaning, the surfing here is more suitable for experienced surfers. The beach has a rocky seabed and there are plenty of hotels and restaurants nearby. Make sure to take some time out of surfing to try the local seafood and maybe also get a little snorkelling done while you’re here.

Playa El Sunzal

Address: El Sunzal, La Libertad, El Salvador

7. Playa El Cocal

Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing

El Cocal is a low-key surf spot in the La Libertad region. The area is not the best for all-year-round surfing as the winter and fall months have rockier beaches while the summer offers better beach and surfing conditions. The local area is mostly residential but there are a few hotels and hostels around as well. The surf here is great but not always consistent, make sure to go during high-tide.

Playa El Cocal

Address: El Cocal, Santa Ana, El Salvador

8. Playa Mizata

A beautiful area, a natural environment surrounded by lush vegetation and of course, great waves. This is all that you’ll find at Mizata Beach. The spot is absolutely amazing with a nice sandy beach and great surfing to be done just about any time of the year. The area is pretty quiet and great for people who don’t want to be surrounded by too many people. Small groups and even families can come here and hang out and while the waves are consistent they are good for both beginners and more experienced surfers alike.

Playa Mizata

Address: Mizata Beach, El Salvador

9. Playa Chutia

Chutia Beach or more popularly known as K59 is one of the most popular beaches in El Salvador. For over the past 15 years the beach has been one of the most popular for surfers mostly because it is relatively less crowded by non-surfers. Another big reason for the fact that its uncrowded is that it is a little far out. It’s located far away from the main road and the dirt road that leads to the beach is too small for cars, so K59 is for the most determined spot for surfers.

Playa Chutia

Address: Near El Puerto de La Libertad, La Libertad 1511 El Salvado

10. Playa Punta Roca

The area around Punta Roca is actually pretty interesting. Originally, it was the site of El Salvador’s first commercial port in the 1920s and by the 1950s and the popularity of surfing, the area became popular with nomad surfers. During El Salvador’s civil war period the local infrastructure went into disrepair but recently Punta Roca has swung back into its place as one of the country’s top surf destinations. Popular with locals and tourists alike Punta Roca is home to world-class waves.

Playa Punta Roca

Address: Punta Roca, La Libertad, El Salvador

Surfing in El Salvador

Despite some past hardships, El Salvador is one of the best surfing spots around Central America. Gorgeous beaches and lush tropical paradise makes coming here a treat and with world-class waves, friendly people and affordable living, there’s no reason not to visit the beaches of El Salvador.