Pacific Coast of El Salvador

El Salvador’s 190-mile shoreline is famous for its natural beauty and challenging surf.

This coast is jam-packed with world-class pointbreaks, mangrove estuaries, colorful fishing ports, and scores of beaches, ranging in color from black to brown, and gold.

The waves are consistent, the locals are friendly, and the water is warm; ocean temperatures near the surface average 83°F.

Playa La Paz to Km 61

El Salvador’s most accessible breaks are clustered on a stretch of dark sand, west of La Libertad—between Playa La Paz and Km 61.

This area can be reached from San Salvador in around an hour. Punta Roca, just outside La Libertad, may represent the finest break in the country.

Other solid options include:

• La Bocana (a left river mouth break, hollow at low tide)
• Conchalio (hollow beach break)
• Sunzal (a good right break for beginners)
• The Breaks at Kilometers 59 and 61 (strong right pointbreaks)

El Tunco & Los Cobanos

El Tunco, another beach near La Libertad, offers rock climbing, hiking, and water skiing.

One of the area’s best spots for beginners is El Zonte, a long, sandy beach with easy morning waves.

Los Cobanos National Park, located at the coast’s most prominent point, protects in excess of 80 square miles of aquatic habitat, including the largest coral reef in the Central Pacific.

To the west, brown sugar beaches and orange sunsets draw guests to all-inclusive resorts and boutique beachfront lodges. The waters here are less turbulent and more welcoming to swimmers.

Guests can enjoy snorkeling, scuba, surf lessons, and wildlife watching tours. Day trips can also be arranged to the rainforests of El Imposible National Park.

El Oriente

The eastern coast, known locally as El Oriente or “The Wild East”, is primarily a destination for dedicated surfers. Wave heights typically range between four to eight feet, with consistency exceeding 90% at the breaks of Las Flores and Punta Mango.

Excellent Sport Fishing

This section of coast also offers first-rate sport fishing, with available targets including:

• Marlin
• Sailfish
• Tuna
• Roosterfish
• Mackerel
• Snapper

Sport fishing is excellent in the east, concentrating on marlin, pompano, wahoo, and dorado.

While accommodations in this region are simpler, a few deluxe surf camps exist.

Best Time to Visit

Overall, the best time to visit the coast may be March and April.

The December and Easter holidays also draw large crowds.

The rainy season (May to October) is the least-crowded on this coast, coinciding with the highest surf swells.

Prime fishing season is from October to April.