Las Flores surf guide
Surf: Intermediate to experienced surfers will focus on Las Flores, a Salvadorian dream set-up and one of the premier surfing locations in Central America. Compatible with the largest swells and always better at low tide, the waves first wrap around a rocky point full of palm trees, jack up over the take-off rocks, then reel off down a sandbar offering more speed and barrelling sections. Lengthy rides up to 300m are common, but the increasing crowds make it hard to get priority. Smaller swells means mellower shoulders and shorter rides at high tide but still fun.
Environment: Advanced competent surfers when it starts breaking in front of the rocks outside of the point. At this size the crowd should be lessened. Keep an eye out for the constant panga traffic coming in and out from the beach through the line-up.
Surf: General: Because El Salvador's coast faces almost due south, it is broken up as east and west, rather than north and south. Located at the tail end of the country's east coast, Las Flores awaits in truly stunning, tropical coast, righthand pointbreak form. On big S or SW swells, Las Flores rivals any righthand pointbreak in the world: it barrels hard out at the top of the point and reels perfectly to the inside, offering a relatively safe paddle back out.
Tides: All
Size: Head high-double overhead+
Wind: Northwest or North
Swell: South-East, South
Bottom: Rock, sand
Paddling: If you're catching a lot, then you'll be working hard.
Spot Rating: One of the best waves in Central America when it is working.
Access: Located in a remote part of the coast. Drive down from San Salvador or stay at the Las Flores Surf Club
Crowds: Crowd Factor: Can get crowded on good swells, especially during the peak season.
Local Vibe: More tourists than locals at this point.
Environment: Depends on rains.
Hazards: Shallow rocks at low tide.
Season: Southern Hemisphere fall into winter for the most consistent surf.