Although Surf City is often associated with El Tunco, which has the official Surf City stamp, Surf City El Salvador is not a city, but it’s the name of a tourist project created to attract tourists. Its goal is to create the perfect surf community and help promote El Salvador as a tourist destination.
Surf City consists of two areas. The first area is in the east of El Salvador, from Playa El Espino to El Cuco, Punta Mango and Las Flores. The second region is in the center, from Playa El Obispo to El Zonte Beach, known as Bitcoin Beach. It’s here where we find Punta Roca and El Tunco. Here a 21 km coastal zone was declared a tourist zone of national interest giving job opportunities to many local businesses. Salvadoran entrepreneurs can receive training for their project.
The project was launched in 2019 under current President Bukele who wants to develop the coast of El Salvador as a tourist destination. In 2021 the ISA World Surfing Games were hosted in La Bocana and El Sunzal and also in 2021, the ALAS Pro Tour 2021 Surfing Championship was organized at Punta Roca. Finally in 2022 El Salvador hosted the ISA World Junior Surfing Championship and the World Surfing League Championship.
Part of the project includes the renovation of the pier of Libertad and the fish market, next to better roads. Improving the road network is one of the priorities under the current government as it will help people to travel at ease to their destination. Other investments are the tourism police stations, bike trails, viewpoints, lifeguard towers and others. Hundreds of millions of dollars are currently being invested into the Surfcity El Salvador Project. Besides improving the road network and the tourist infrastructure, the international airport also received renovation which was finished in 2022 and the year before the Surf City Highway was completed, which enables tourists to easily travel between the airport and the beach.
As you can see, a lot of effort is being done to make travel to El Salvador hassle-free. International arrivals will arrive at a brand new airport and most nationalities can get a visa on arrival. In no time, you can hit the road by taxi to either the capital San Salvador or one of the other destinations such as the beach. Thanks to the new road network and training of guides, traveling to El Salvador has never been this easy. Thanks to the US dollar it is also easy to bring a stable currency with you without the need to change it and if you want you can easily pay using Bitcoin throughout the whole country. It is expected that tourism to El Salvador will only increase.
El Tunco beach
El Tunco is without a doubt the most known and popular surf destination in all of El Salvador and with good reason. Until the nineties El Tunco used to be a small fishing village which initially received only a handful of tourists. It is now one of the top destinations in El Salvador, where you can not only surf, but also enjoy the relaxing atmosphere and indulge in the local nightlife.
El Tunco offers cheap hostels for backpackers, but also more luxurious hotels for those who want to splurge. Besides the essential pupusas, tasty seafood and exotic juices we can also find fast food, Asian, Italian and Mexican food here. Be sure to try an excellent cup of Salvadoran coffee while you’re here! You will enjoy the international vibe and the hospitality of the locals while you are here. If you’re looking to take surf classes this is a great spot and it’s possible to rent your surfboard here as well.
La Bocana is the most sought after wave, breaking left and a powerful point break, withstanding waves up to 3.5 meters long and sometimes with wave tunnels.
El Zonte
El Zonte is also a popular surf spot in El Salvador and located in the La Libertad Department. It is less crowded than El Tunco, but has been gaining attention. There are several hostels and restaurants, as well as surf schools and places to rent a surfboard, ensuring that you have everything you need for your stay. During your stay you’ll enjoy the beautiful landscape and the black volcanic sands. The most sought spot is La Punta, a rock with a break to the right, producing a fast wave with sometimes wave tunnels up to 3.5 meters.
El Zonte is also part of the Bitcoin Beach Project, so you’ll have a great chance to know all about this fascinating new medium of exchange when you’re traveling to El Zonte.
Punta Rocca
Punta Roca is one of the most sought after locations for surfers in El Salvador and is located near Puerto La Libertad. The waves, which break on the rocks, are a favorite among surfers and are loved by professional surfers. As the waves are fast and powerful, they are for professional surfers only. Surfers can enjoy wide, long waves up to four meters with tunnels. While you’re here, you should visit El Puerto De La Libertad with its market and pier and make sure to try the local dishes.
Las Flores
Las Flores is known for its waves breaking to the right, perfect for surfing. It has a bit of a remote location and is located in a natural setting, making it a peaceful destination which is not only great for surfers, but also for people who are looking for a nice beach to spend some time during their travel in El Salvador. There are several hotels which are located on top of the cliffs overlooking the coastline. You can also stay at El Cuco, which is not too far from here.
Beginners and intermediates can take surf lessons and here and from March to October there are high waves up to four meters, with long steep lines!
El Cuco
El Cuco is the most visited beach destination in the east of El Salvador, not only because of surfing, but also because of the natural scenery as well as the nightlife. El Cuco has a long black-sand beach and invites surfers to explore the waters. As the waves here are smooth and the water not too deep, this is a great spot for beginners. Just like at the rest of the coastline of El Salvador it is possible to camp here on the beach and have a bonfire. There are also all kinds of accommodations available from budget hostels to high end hotels. Be sure to spend enough time here, not only to surf, but to get to know the local culture and definitely try your best dance movies during one of the parties on the weekend.
El Sunzal El Sunzal is one of the first places in El Salvador where people took up surfing with the first international surfers arriving in the sixties. It is known for its long point of straight waves and it doesn’t stop breaking throughout the whole year. On the furthest part of the coastline we find a powerful wave which can run for 200 meters, with a long line and wide wall. In the middle with its own series of waves, which can go for 300 meters. At El Sunzal we can find the highest waves in El Salvador, up to 8.5 meters high! Waves between two and a half and five meters are very common here with the period from March to October being the best one. If you’re staying at El Sunzal, you can easily go to El Tunco, which is not too far.
Punta Mango
Punta Mango is a top surf destination in the east of El Salvador and even though it has fantastic waves, it is still relatively undiscovered by international travelers. It is one of the towns which are participating in the Bitcoin Beach Project. The reason why Punta Mango stayed out of the spotlight for so long is because of its location. For a long time Punta Mango was only possible to reach by boat from El Cuco and Las Flores. Meanwhile there is a road from El Cuco to Punta Mango and Las Flores, although some people prefer the old way by boat to enjoy the waves of the ocean. The few surf veterans who make it here will be rewarded with powerful tunnel waves up to four meters which are only fit for advanced surfers.
