By Mike Latronic – Like many other Latin American surfing destinations, El Salvador offers warm, consistent, and playful waves, along with a rich blend of unique cuisine and culture. The country also boasts a variety of long, quality point breaks, adding to its special allure. However, what truly sets El Salvador apart is its remarkable surf renaissance. While surfing here has been known for over 50 years, the past few years have witnessed a true metamorphosis. I had the distinct pleasure of experiencing this transformation firsthand as an ambassador for The Hawaii Surf Team at this year’s ISA World Masters event in October.
El Salvador’s surf history is one of remarkable resilience. The sport first took root in the late 1960s and early 1970s, when American and Australian surfers discovered the country’s untouched beaches. Unfortunately, the civil war that raged from 1979 to 1992 temporarily halted the surf scene. In the years that followed, surfers gradually returned, and by the early 2000s, small surf camps began to emerge along the coast, particularly in areas like El Tunco, La Libertad, and Punta Roca. These camps were among the first to recognize the potential of El Salvador’s waves, quickly catering to the growing international surf tourism market.
In 2019, El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele launched the “Surf City” initiative, which has proven to be a game-changer for the country. Under Bukele’s leadership, the government worked diligently with coastal communities, launching a major crackdown on crime and gang violence. This has ushered in a new era of safety and civil peace, greatly increasing the number of visitors to El Salvador and, more importantly, ensuring that the majority of them have a fantastic experience in the country.
Recognizing that the nation’s underutilized coastlines held enormous potential, Bukele set out to position El Salvador as a world-class surf destination. “We don’t have oil,” Bukele says, “but we have the waves.” And he was right. Local communities have embraced the surf boom, with the younger generation taking up surfboards in droves. As safety improves and sustainable tourism practices take root, El Salvador is well on its way to becoming one of the world’s premier surfing destinations.
It had been nearly 12 years since my first visit, and the change in the civic environment was monumental. Historically, El Salvador has faced its share of civil unrest, crime, violence, and war. But the investment and reforms of recent years have had a clear and rapid impact. Bukele’s administration implemented a policy of mano dura—an iron-fisted approach—to tackle crime and gangs, resulting in the arrest of nearly 80,000 individuals. While this crackdown was undoubtedly dangerous and far-reaching, it has led to a significant drop in crime and homicides. After decades of violence, fear, and extortion, citizens now move more freely throughout the country. El Salvador has statistically transformed from one of the most dangerous places on the planet into one of the safest. It’s a profound shift, and there’s a newfound sense of freedom.
El Salvador is currently emerging as one of the fastest-growing surf destinations in the world. The government has made substantial investments in infrastructure—improving roads, developing hotels, and supporting surf camps—that have reshaped the landscape, making once-remote surf spots safer and more accessible.
One such location is Puro Surf, which stands as both a symbol and a catalyst for this transformation. Before joining the Hawaii Surf Team at El Sunzal for the ISA World Masters event, I had the opportunity to spend time at Puro Surf Academy in the Zonte region. It is a standout surf-and-wellness hub on the coast.
My experience at Puro Surf was a refreshing reminder of just how much things have changed in El Salvador. Everything felt streamlined, healthy, simple, and—most importantly—secure. It was the kind of place where you could spend a stress-free day surfing, enjoying delicious local food, and simply soaking in the serenity of the surroundings.
Marcelo Castellanos, the academy’s visionary founder, is an avid surfer and health enthusiast deeply rooted in El Salvador’s surf culture. What began as a college thesis idea has since turned into his dream job: running one of El Salvador’s premier surf academies. “I don’t know if I can call myself a businessman,” he says with a laugh. “Businesspeople are after business. I’m a surfer first. I wanted to create something related to surfing, so we made a hotel with a great restaurant and a performance academy. The idea is to surf, relax, eat healthy, improve as a surfer, and ultimately, improve as a person. That’s the experience we want to promote.”
With a point break right in front of the property and sandbars stretching to the south, the surf is abundant. I was fortunate enough to enjoy a few early morning solo sessions, catching the first waves under the offshore winds—fun 2-4′ right-handers peeling perfectly. Puro Surf is more than just a surf destination; it’s part of a larger movement. It reflects the growing wave of surfing’s expansion throughout El Salvador. The country’s once-hidden beaches are now becoming internationally recognized for their consistent breaks. This evolution in surf culture is also contributing to the country’s burgeoning tourism industry, which is becoming an engine for economic growth and providing jobs and opportunities to communities that were once affected by violence.
For many, surfing in El Salvador has become more than just a pastime—it has become a symbol of hope. The country’s post-war recovery saw small surf businesses emerge, offering jobs and opportunities to local communities. A new generation of Salvadorans began picking up surfboards, many of whom now work as surf instructors, guides, and ambassadors of their culture.
After experiencing this transformation firsthand, I can say without hesitation that El Salvador has earned a permanent spot on my return list. The waves are as magical as ever, but now, the warmth of the people, the richness of the culture, and the newfound security offer an entirely new kind of attraction. El Salvador’s surf transformation isn’t just about the surf—it’s a journey of a nation reinventing itself, one wave and one smile at a time.