Surf trips and surf trips to Costa Rica have been popular for decades. There are many reasons why Costa Rica has been very popular for surf trips. The country is very stable, the people are friendly, the prices are reasonable, the country is clean, and the waves are good. The stability of the country in a region not known for its stability has allowed Costa Rica to thrive with ecotourism, while other Central American countries have struggled with tourism. Additionally, there have been many surf articles and videos showcasing Witch’s Rock, Ollies Point, Playa Negra, Pavones, and Salsa Brava to name a few.
Surf trips to El Salvador have not been a priority for most surfers in recent years. Surfing in El Salvador has been largely unknown to many surfers and thoughts of El Salvador bring to mind the past war and problems with crime and violence. Well, it’s been over a decade since the war and El Salvador has been investing in infrastructure and ending the crime and violence problems of the past. The unknown point for most surfers is that surfing in El Salvador is unparalleled.
The country of El Salvador is literally alphabetized with right hand dot breaks. I recently read an article that compared the coast of the country with that of Santa Barbara but with the window of Puerto Escondido and I thought this was pretty accurate. There are plenty of surf spots of similar quality to Rincón, but with fewer crowds and exposure to much bigger waves. El Salvador faces directly south, so it has the first swell window in Central America for south swells. In our summer months it is typical to see waves in the 4-8 foot range and larger in solid waves. Surf spots like Punta Roca, Sunzal and Las Flores are the most popular and produce long, straight waves. You can also find many other spots of excellent quality.
Why should you go to El Salvador on your next surf trip instead of surfing in Costa Rica? First of all, the travel time from the airport is much shorter and you can literally be in the waves 30 minutes after picking up your bags at the airport. Also, the road system is far superior to that of the Costa Rican coast, making it easier to get to multiple world-class surf spots in one day when, in Costa Rica, you normally get stuck in the town, unless you’re up for solid driving in the car. Accommodation and food are a bit cheaper, so you’ll save money on your trip. Safety is important to most and both countries are safe to travel to so this should not be a factor in your decision. Lastly, surfing in El Salvador is unparalleled anywhere in the Americas and with smaller crowds. The number of break points is staggering and the concentration of world class surf breaks is only found in places like Indonesia.