A lilac sky looms over the black sand beach. The sun has yet to beam its early, yet blistering, teeth over the nearby cliffside. Tropical birds chirp in frenzied unison to greet the day, as the rosy-hued lizards scamper to their daytime hideaways. Already, pre-dawn, surfers begin to flock the lineup.
This was the morning routine from a recent stay at Wave House, a new collection of residences in El Zonte, the surf-rich region of El Salvador’s burgeoning Surf City. Peering down from the balcony, a cup of fresh, local coffee in hand, the mornings were slow, easy – despite the ever-lingering desire to get a morning surf in before the heat hit its peak. In February, both the water and the air hovered around 85 degrees – so, yeah, extra sunscreen and constant dips in the ocean are a necessity. Luckily, Wave House also features a cold plunge and infinity pool to cool off, in addition to its ultra-modern, ice-cold air-conditioned, chic, roomy, perfectly-located rooms and apartments.
“We are thrilled to welcome travelers to Wave House El Zonte,” says General Manager Jose Orellana. “Wave House is designed to be a home away from home for those seeking comfort and seamless relaxation during their travels, and we’re proud to provide a personalized and elevated experience for our guests while they explore all that El Zonte has to offer.”
Related: Planning a Surf Trip to El Salvador? Here are 8 Crucial Tips from Local Surf Coach Marcelo Castellanos
It didn’t always used to be this way, however. A good friend in the surf industry, who had traveled to El Salvador for many years, once explained: “Rival gangs used to shoot at each other from either side of the main road. Then, when a school bus would come along, they’d pause, let it pass, and once it was gone, they’d continue firing, blasting bullets without abandon.” And yet, today, El Salvador, and those same streets that surf industry friend spoke of, look nothing like that.
What changed? How did El Salvador become a bastion for surf travel? How did it go from a land rife with gang violence and public executions, to an idyllic place for travelers, with pristine waves, jungle vibes, modern accommodations, and friendly locals. To find out, let’s go back in history.
The country first came into the international surfing eye from the intrepid surf travel innovators, Craig Peterson and Kevin Naughton. Speaking to Justin Housman, here’s Peterson about how he first traveled to El Salvador – and needed a permission slip, since he was still in high school at the time:
“I actually had to get a parent permission slip in order to cross the border; to show that I wasn’t a runaway. And the only way my parents would give me the permission slip was if I promised to return back for my high school graduation. I agreed to that, and me and another friend took off in a Volkswagen bug in March of ’72. Kevin had already gone down ahead of us, down to Zunzal, El Salvador. My friend and I had both graduated early from high school [Edison, in Huntington Beach] so we could take spring semester off. Drove all the way across Mexico in this little VW bug, and finally got to where we needed to be in El Salvador, we pulled in at night, in the tropics, in this little tiny town, and it was all quiet and we just had to shout out ‘Kevin!’ We’d stop, wait, go a little further. ‘Kevin!’ All of a sudden out of the darkness we hear, ‘Yo, Craig!’
“Kevin wasn’t sure if we’d actually make it down there or not. About a week before graduation I loaded up a couple suitcases of stuff we didn’t need, got on a bus in La Libertad, rode it to Tijuana, called my parents from the border, and they came to pick me up. I went to graduation and all the parties that weekend, woke up on Monday and said to my parents, ‘OK, time to take me back to the border,’ which they did, then I caught a bus back down to El Salvador.”
” loading=”lazy” width=”960″ height=”640″ decoding=”async” data-nimg=”1″ class=”rounded-lg” style=”color:transparent” src=”https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/lZ.dclzqFpxhbo3l7j4s3Q–/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTY0MA–/https://media.zenfs.com/en/surfer_magazine_140/fb937295691d39e3a50377cdccecc17c”/>The new “Surf City” in El Salvador, and the push for surf tourism.
Angelo Picardo
The photos from Naughton and Peterson’s adventures showed the surf world the possibilities of Central America. But still, there were a few things the country had to go through before it could become a major vacation destination for traveling surfers (and a host site for top-tier surf contests).
Namely, a civil war (1979-1992), and the rise of a somewhat controversial, extremely harsh on crime, and strong promoter of tourism (particularly surf tourism) president: Nayib Bukele.
Homicide rates, under Bukele and before, have been dropping significantly in El Salvador since 2015. That year, there were 103 murders per 100,000 residents; flashforward to 2023, and the rate plummeted to 2.4 murders per 100,000 residents. According to Statista, from the year 2023, that’s the lowest rate for all Latin American and Caribbean countries. Seriously substantial change.
Nonetheless, violence has still been a plague on the country and its residents. Bryan Perez, the country’s greatest hope surf stardom on the Olympic stage, and the proverbial Prince of Punta Roca, quit school at the age of 12 to avoid the gangs that were recruiting there. And two years later, his two-year-old sister was tragically killed when a stray bullet pierced the roof of the family’s home.
Related: El Salvador Gets It’s First World Surfing Reserve
Under Bukele, loads of money and infrastructure have been poured into Surf City, a collection of waves in close proximity to each other – from Punta Roca in the south to El Zonte in the north – which has attracted tourists and surfing’s biggest governing competitive bodies alike, like the International Surfing Association with their annual World Surfing Games and the World Surf League.
The main reasons? First of all, promoting the country as a safe place for surf tourism. And secondarily, to showcase the country’s dependable, high-quality waves.
“It’s not just about the consistency of its world-class waves, though that’s certainly a major draw,” writes up-and-coming surf photographer, thinker, champion of Salvadoran surf culture, and creator of the local surf zine, Wet Papers, Angelo Picardo. “El Salvador’s strategic investment in tourism infrastructure, from improved security and road networks to a modernized airport, has made it a perfect destination for both competitors and visitors. This transformation has positioned the country as a standout not just for tourism but as a beacon for investment opportunities in surf tourism and development.”
Back at Wave House, within the tiny surf enclave of El Zonte, the relentless February sun beat down daily, and even when arms are weary and sunburns are throbbing, another surf session was always calling. On the beach, tourists from America, Canada, Europe and beyond soaked up the natural beauty, ate from the many culinary diverse eateries, or simply lounged by the pool. It was clear that a new era for El Salvador surf travel was dawning. One of great opportunity for visitors and investors.
“Looking ahead,” continued Picardo, “the future of surfing in El Salvador is brighter than ever – not just for surfers but for investors. The country’s commitment to improving infrastructure, combined with its international recognition as a top surf destination, makes it a global hub for surf tourism and development. Surf competitions are more than just sports events – they are gateways to broader economic and cultural opportunities. The possibilities are as vast as the waves that break into El Salvador’s point breaks.”
And with that, peering out from the Wave House balcony, the afternoon wind just dwindled to a whisper; sweat is dripping onto my keys as I type; the crowd has thinned. I’m paddling back out.
Author :
Publish date : 2025-02-24 06:34:00
Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.
Author : theamericannews
Publish date : 2025-02-26 07:41:32
Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.