El Sunzal

El Sunzal is, almost certainly, the beach where surfing was first practiced in El Salvador.

Since the first North American surfers arrived in the late 1960s, searching for the perfect wave, this very long right-hand point break has been the favorite of locals and foreigners alike, due to its huge area, which can accommodate dozens of surfers at the same time, and especially its consistency, as it never stops breaking any day of the year.

One of its characteristics is the long paddle required to reach the main breaking spot. It is more than 300 meters of effort, along a friendly channel that, however, can generate a strong side current on big-wave days.

El Sunzal has two perfectly defined sections: the “outside,” located at the farthest part of the coast, where a powerful wave is born that will run continuously for almost 200 meters, offering an endless line and a wide wall for all kinds of maneuvers, delighting both longboarders, shortboarders, and boogie boarders alike. Then there is the “inside,” or middle part, which usually throws its own series of waves, or continues the outer wave; when that happens, the ride from the bottom can be up to 300 meters, with about 40 seconds of pure joy and adrenaline.

El Sunzal is the break that holds the biggest waves of the entire Salvadoran coast, without closing. There have been occasions of extraordinary swells, where perfectly aligned waves up to 25 feet high (8.5 meters) have been seen and ridden. Waves of 8 to 15 feet high (2.5 to 5 meters) are also common, especially between March and October, caused by storms in the southern Pacific Ocean. Among these swells, El Sunzal usually offers a friendly side, making it a favorite wave for beginners.

The rocky bottom provides enough depth to feel safe, although the wave’s “revolcones” are famous; they can be massive and keep you underwater, like a washing machine, for 5 or more painful and endless seconds.

El Sunzal works on all tides, but it is best at mid-tide.

Because of its similarity to some California waves, such as Rincón, El Sunzal and Punta Roca were, in 1977, part of the locations for the iconic surf movie *Big Wednesday* (El verano de mi juventud), which featured stars like Jean Michael Vincent, Gary Busey, and William Katt; and whose surf doubles were the famous surfers Gerry Lopez, Peter Townend, and Ian Cairns, who have never stopped praising the quality of these waves.

During a surf session at El Sunzal, sightings of birds, sea turtles, stingrays, and fish are common. Receiving the sun or witnessing a sunset from the water is often a spiritual experience, especially if there is a moon or a rainbow on the horizon.

Because of its proximity to El Tunco beach, and its own popularity, there are dozens of hotels, hostels, and rental houses in the area, as well as restaurants, bars, convenience stores, and other tourism services.

Local photographers and places that rent surfboards are plentiful, as are instructors who will gladly introduce you to the sport, in one of the undoubtedly most famous, cosmopolitan, and friendly spots in El Salvador.

The easiest way to access El Sunzal is to walk from El Tunco. At certain times of the year the beach can be full of rocks, so an alternative is to go down from one of the restaurants or hotels facing the point, where for a couple of dollars or a day pass you can also have a table, food, drinks, and fresh-water showers.

To get from San Salvador to El Sunzal, simply travel the road to Puerto de La Libertad, cut across the bypass Camino a Surf City, and when you connect with the Litoral road, continue westward to kilometer 43 ½.