The Pier - Costa del Balsamo surf guide
Surf: Another peak in town offers good lefts at The Pier but it’s usually full of kids who don’t mind the close proximity of the sewage pipe!
Surf: General: La Libertad Pier, which is nestled at the belly of the right pointbreak, Punta Roca, is generally more exciting than the waves breaking below it, but sometimes it's worth a check.On both sides of the pier, thick bands of south and southwest swell pour in and break over shallow, black-sand bars. When it's flat everywhere else, you're sure to find something surfable at the pier. If you're not willing to hassle with the pack up at Punta Roca, or you already have and you need a break, then definitely give the pier a look.Of course, there is the water quality and dicey locals. You see, it's a fully operational fishing pier where large amounts of fish are cleaned and smoked daily, thus the lineup is full of a mixture of strong fish odor and the smell of diesel exhaust from the cranes that move the day's catch. To make things more exciting, there's a sewage pipe nearby that pumps out the town's entrails…Libertad is a large town.
Tides: All tides
Size: Chest high-overhead+
Wind: Light North
Swell: SSW, SW
Bottom: Sand
Paddling: Not bad.
Spot Rating: Really not what you come to El Salvador for but a few waves.
Access: Very easy. Park at one of the restaurants up the beach a bit at La Paz.
Crowds: Crowd Factor: There can be a pack depending on if it is working.
Local Vibe: Far more mellow than up at Punta Roca.
Environment: Depends on rains.
Hazards: Shallow closeouts, pollution, seedy folks.
Season: Southern Hemisphere fall into winter for the most consistent surf.