Surfing in El Salvador (Surf City) || What’s it Actually Like!?
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- čas přidán 8. 06. 2024
- Before the world’s best descended upon the cobbles at Punta Roca, I spent two weeks in El Salvador, getting waves and eating my body weight in Pupusas. El Salvador is my favourite country in Central America and while it certainly comes with the crowds, there are so many waves to choose from and an almost endless supply of Pacific swell. Here are some insights into what to expect from a surf trip to El Salvador…
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El Salvador Surf Accommodation
- Papaya Lodge: booking.tp.st/bWrSTYBV
- Hostal Nina Oly: booking.tp.st/Rb254XCR
- Casa Makoi: booking.tp.st/VABR2WOZ
- Hotel Zelen: booking.tp.st/dwzogkCm
- Hotel Roca Sunzal: booking.tp.st/rJfgxNnW
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The Latin American Surf Tales (Out Now)!
My first book details my travels through Costa Rica, Panama, Mexico, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Guatemala, Ecuador, Peru, Chile, Brazil and more. I hope the book provides first-hand insights into some of the best waves in the world and inspires you to get on the road and chase waves. - www.amazon.com/dp/B0CW1KQJ1X
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Accommodation Resources
- Outsite (Co-Work & Co-Living): www.outsite.co/?rfsn=7724517....
- Surf Camps: www.booksurfcamps.com/?aid=8277
- Rooms: booking.tp.st/DSzN5oPc
- Hostels: hostelworld.tp.st/zgy5eAlJ
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Transportation:
- Hire Cars: discovercars.tp.st/QIVUHrwr
- Buses: busbud.tp.st/Usu35k28
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What I Travel With (Surf Stuff):
- Boardbag: amzn.to/46q0AfI
- Board Socks: amzn.to/3HL5uKd
- Leg Ropes: amzn.to/49i0NU0
- Poncho: amzn.to/3ujolZO
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What I Travel With (Tech Stuff):
- Backpack: amzn.to/3OqpO7B
- Laptop: amzn.to/4br0Nmr
- GoPro: amzn.to/4bkHBXB
- Video Camera: amzn.to/4bhvsml
- Mic: amzn.to/42raopp
- Wise Card: wise.prf.hn/l/yOwRq9O
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Digital Surf Coaching:
- OMBE: train.ombe.co/?via=dan
*Please note that some of these links are affiliate links. This means (at no extra cost to you), I receive a small commission which helps me make more videos like this.
#surfinginelsalvador #elsalvadorsurf #surfingelsalvador #eltuncosurf #puntarocasurf #elsalvador #elsunzal #centralamerica #surftravel
As a native Salvadoran, I've surfed El Sunzal and El Tunco before, and while that has been a lot of fun, I think the country has "prettier" beaches. Punta Mango and Las Flores, located in the east of the country, are really good waves too and a lot less crowded for the time being. They are part of the second stage of the Surf City program and the government is currently building paved roads to get there (previously only available through dirt roads) and Congress also just approved the funds to start building the new airport located in La Union, so people won't have to travel all the way from San Salvador. We hope that in a few years the surf industry is well established and fully developed.
Thanks for coming, hope you had great time 😬
It's looking good for me
Started surfing Punta Roca in 1989 during the civil war. The town La Libertad was safe but not many surfers knew it was safe so they stayed away. Surfed it for years with only a few people out. Then when the civil war ended and it was safe to go the east without worries of the guerilla group FMLN, Jimmy Rotherham took me and my friend to surf Las Flores and Punta Mango. It was only Jimmy's second time there. Had those two point to ourselves for many years.
thats awesome, just surfed those points today. Firing but 20-30ppl out
Wow! Bet it was crazy (and sketchy) back then, but so sick to surf those points by yourself!!
I’m sure that was an amazing experience. I have dreams of surfing world class waves with just a couple of friends. Very rare. Stoked for you!
I also started surfing there during the war-1991. Weeks with very few people in the water. I used to cross my fingers that someone else would be out on bigger days. I remember a guy from Palos Verdes with lots of Hawaiian experience and a Colorado ski/surf bum who had been surfing there throughout the 80s. We knew about Zunzal and assumed there was heaps of other surf, but no reason to leave Punta Roca. Bob Rotherham was full of great stories. In 1992, right after the signing of the peace accords, there were a few more people in the water, but not many. Haven't been back since early 2000s.
Legendary stuff!
Bukele has done an amazing job transforming El Salvador for the better.
I surfed Punta Roca for 3 months in 1977 the surf was great . We stayed at. A place called Gringo Garden ( very rough) to get to the point we walked through the cemetery . We met Bob Rotherham who owned the restaurant right where the end of the point . It was crazy military police everywhere, tic tac drunks laying on the side walk . It was an adventure I
Never forget .
Salvador is my Favorite country!!
Thanks a LOT for loving video and I subscribe of course!
Salute from San Francisco 👍❤❤❤🙏🌎
Having just come back from El Tunco for 5 weeks, on the back of one of your earlier videos, just wanted to say thanks for the tips and advice! I ended up staying in Papaya for 4 weeks and it was definitely worth it. It's also good you made this follow up video because the jump up in prices were crazy, but at least pupusas remain at $1 each...
Also, for anyone still concerned about safety, I have traveled throughout Central and South America, and El Tunco is easily one of the safest places I've visited on my own.
Anyway, cheers again, Dan, and keep it up!
Pupusas were 4 for $1 back in 2012
Wow! That's crazy haha! Still not bad though ;)
In 1977 they were 10 cents , I lived on them for 3 months .
I agree with your opinion 💪🏻 good to see you there
Thanks, That's the kind of surf travel videos that show how it is in "real life" crowds and average days included.🤙
Glad you enjoyed it!
Great video! Thes are so helpful keep them coming!
Dude, fantastic job on the video. Love the honesty. Keep them coming!
Looked super fun! You were rippin’ man! Thanks for sharing your adventures!
Back again , while there they were filming “Big Wednesday “ it was kinda cool surfing with PT , Jerry Lopez , Jay Riddle , Dan Merkle and Bud Brown were there . There was a local guy who Ripped his name was Carlos a switch footer while surfing always the best guy in the water any one know what happened to him ?
Looks incredible.. Dream location...
Awesome video !great info!always was sketchy about going !
You do cutbacks really well in the surf. Especially off the lip. Good style.
Enjoy your world trip while you can, Dan! Best wishes.
Thank you Dan! Your first el Sal video inspired me to check it out. Headed down in July. Thanks for all the info!
Great info! Thanks
Another excellent video 👍
Cool you finally found some better waves
Love this video good information ℹ️
Thank you :)
Great content !! Thanks
hey bro thanks for all the info! im currently living in Mexico, and im gonna travel next month to El Salvador. Your video helped me a lot to make my destination route there!
I got to go there on a surf trip in 2011…loved it…great surf review as usual! Another thing ….that was cool was the cool clubs /rock bands in El Tunco for after surf parties!
Living the dream! Good onya!
Thanks dude!
I used to live in San Blas but left in 2019. Back then getting public transport meant risking your life, literally. So different now. Far less tourists then though I bet!
Low tide was way too shallow for me at El Sunzal. So that obviously limited when it was surfable, I felt. But I still had a great trip here, per Dan’s recommendation. And there was vegan food available in a few spots, thank God.
President Bukele seems quite welcoming to outsiders who want to move there.
Or visit as a tourist. He seems genuinely proud of his country.
Thanks dude
I'm still hesitant ad it's still a sketchy place to visit.
I'd go in a group but not by myself.
Safety in numbers for me.
Good luck finding a safer place
It’s only offshore before 10am and after 5pm.
Great videos Dan they give me itchy feet again 😅
Would you recommend El Salvador for families and do you think you could do a video in the future for best family surf destinations?
Might have to wait until you have a family of your own for that one 😎🤙
Don’t know if I’d take my family there on the advice of someone who’s only there for a couple of weeks, and doesn’t have a family with him.
If you ever venture to Aotearoa we should link up, cheers cuzz.
Dan, honestly, how much would it cost to rent long time. Please make more vids on this country. I’m impressed by Bukele.
It's also the safest country in the Western hemisphere Thanks to the president it's going to continue to grow for the foreseeable future it will Definitely be our next adventure for the whole family Thanks for sharing as always my friend Dan the Man ps,your book is on its way to me very excited to check it out Be well and Safe travels 👍🤙🏻
Hey Michael! Wicked, defo a wicked place to check out mate! Epic man, really hope you enjoy it :))
Super crowded now.
WSL and surf lobbying has ruined it.
Not enough waves for all the people that now feel safe enough to go try it out. Thanks surf tourism.
Are there any clean,fast, hollow waves there?
👍😎
🤙
my mate surfed here 10 years ago and said he had to walk to the water with a rock held over his head so he wouldn't get robbed.
good video. did you stay in any other area of el salvador as well?
Thanks James! I didn't unfortunately... would love to next time though :)
Direct flights from UK EU How much please Dan?
👍
What’s the wind like last hour Dan? What is the best wind swell direction? Northern hemisphere winter any good? How long can you stay as a Brit."?
Hey mate!! I think 180-day visas on arrival for us! Swell is just W/S all the time between April and October, not sure about off season!
Thanks for this video Dan! I’ve never been but I have been considering going. I’m goofy so are there any good lefts besides bocana? I don’t mind going backside but it’s kinda brutal to be backside an entire trip 😉
La Bocana is about it for a good left. It's all right point cobble stone breaks.
theres a good left north near mizata
@@dawsonbolus That's true. Mizata has lefts.
Hahah, there's kinda of a shorey left at Zonte, but it's not epic! I think there are some lesser known lefts, but you'll have to do some digging haha ;)
Good info, I was in El Salvador last year. The vibe around el tunco put me off and the cost was quite high for Central America. Should maybe mention they use USD. Bitcoin is legal tender but the locals weren’t really clued up on bitcoin. Keep sharing your travels man. You should try get to some lesser known spots around the world once you’ve covered these main areas, would be cool to see what you find.
Yeah the lesser known spots definitely kneed to be as crowded as the well known spots,that’s why he doesn’t cover them
@@Jason124-zp9os haha it's quite common in surf culture to think you own a break, or can hide it from others, hopefully one day surfers get over this type of thinking
@@hipsonsogbo It should take a bit more effort than just watching a CZcams video though, don't you think?
@@chrissepic1669 why? When we can get info about surf breaks from CZcams, why make it harder for ourselves and others. That's retarded.
@@hipsonsogboJust means your not good enough to want to find your own waves
Does Bukele allow surf in El Salvador?
It’s only murder rape and government corruption he has a problem with
$1 for a papusa 🤯 In 2019 I was getting 3 for $1.
Dangerous ass place
safest country in the americas, you don't know a thing.
@@gerdalva5720 lol ok
@@hudboys8120 LOOK IT UP