Costa del Balsamo
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Positives
- Perfect right pointbreaks
- Mellow warm waves
- Good wind patterns
- Cheap living
Negatives
- Rarely big
- Few winter swells
- Rainy swell season
- Thefts and questionable security
Costa del Balsamo surf travel guide
Considering its small size, El Salvador could easily claim the highest density of quality pointbreaks in Central America. The Costa Balsamo provides the lion's share of the righthand pointbreaks stretching from as far west as Mizata back along the impossibly twisty, coastal mountain range road that allows glimpses of perfect regular foot set-ups like K59 and 61, before hitting the crowded line-ups of Zunzal and Punta Roca, touted as one of the best righthand points on the planet.
Surf spots in Costa del Balsamo
Research the 11 surf breaks in Costa del Balsamo and discover what spots suit the current conditions.
Break lowdown
We’ve collated the wave data giving you a unique insight into the 11 breaks in Costa del Balsamo.
When to go
Surf and weather statistics to help plan your surf trip to Costa del Balsamo
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Library
Helpful surf travel videos and articles featuring Costa del Balsamo.
Travel Information
General
- Current Time
- Tourists
- 1,677,300
- Population
- 6,486,205
- Tourist Info
- Tourist Info
Security
Health
Money
- Currency
- SVC
- Exchange rate
- $1 = $1 USD SVC
Cost of living
Communication
- Dialing in
- +503
- Dialing out
- 00
- Emergencies
- 911
- Language
- Spanish, Nahua
Electricity
- Plug Type
- ab
Visas
Most nationalities can visit visa free for stays of up to 90 days.
Getting There
The airport is conveniently located 20min drive from La Libertad. Cross border buses also arrive from Guatemala. Buses and taxis between San Salvador and La Libertad are frequent and reliable.
Getting Around
Renting a car is expensive. Main highways are modern and fast and small roads are potholed and washed out in the wet season. Renting a boat to reach remote breaks can be moderately expensive.
Accommodation
La Libertad has a few decent hotels like Don Lito from $70p/n. Many tour operators include Epic Surfing Adventures (Zunzal, Mizata), K59 Surf Tours, Horizonte Surf Resort (El Zonte) and Tortuga Surf Lodge (Playa El Tunco). A meal will cost $10.
Activities
A city tour should include the San Salvador churches, and a visit to the national forest reserve WT Deininger or 'Evil's Doorway'. Volcano trips and Tazumal Maya ruins take a couple of days to visit. There's now a few small nightspots around El Tunco.
Hazards & hassles
Boulders underlie many spots, which can get encrusted with sharp molluscs, plus there are plentiful urchins. Crowds occur at the main spots. Pollution, sea lice, thefts, hepatitis, malaria and typhoid are all potential problems, while decent medical attention is difficult to find. Despite the war being over there are still security concerns so surf camps and guided tours will be safer than independent travel.
Handy Hints
There are surf shops in San Salvador, La Libertad and Zunzal, but it's better to take your own gear and leave some. The points will require a fast board and a semi-gun for those big days. Take booties for the rocky points.
Due to global pandemic, Visas, Getting There, Getting Around or Accommodation information and pricing may have changed. Always check Government Travel Advice before travelling.