Surfing El Salvador | Las Flores in May

Las Flores point break

Las Flores was pumping the week I went in May 2025. The 8-10 ft. waves (sometimes more) attracted pros and advanced surfers from all over the world to this right-hander point break near El Cuco in eastern El Salvador. For mere mortals like myself, the paddle out was an exercise in humility and frustration. But the waves peeled cleanly, offering long, rippable walls and fast, juicy rides across a gentle sloping sand bottom.

Las Flores barrel at high tide

Surf Spots

I only surfed at Las Flores point break. I flew the drone around to check out surrounding breaks and found only closeouts at the beach break in the neighboring town of El Cuco as well as on the other side of the point.

Beach break at El Cuco

Other side of the Las Flores point

I didn't have much time and I came for this particular point break and its vaunted lack of crowds. Up until this trip, point breaks were my favorite kind of break. The waves break in the same place, the same way every time. But this trip forced me to add some nuance to my preference. I learned that not all point breaks will let you paddle all the way around the waves to get to the lineup...

Paddling out

On big days, the waves run across the entire bay into nasty closeouts. Where the channel on the left used to be, is an interminable wall of whitewater all the way to the town of El Cuco. At high tide, your ride ends between board-breaking* closeouts and a rocky cliff with a brutal current pushing you towards it.

Las Flores at high tide

One surfer had to be rescued after the current whisked her past the first cliff into a cove with pounding surf at high tide. She and the lifeguards had to climb up a cactus-covered promontory where she got stung by a scorpion. We lent her slippers to complete the climb.

The cove where a surfer was rescued. Looks innocent at low tide.

At low tide, the currents are still strong, but the water is shallow enough on the inside that you can stand up and walk away from the cliff. For this reason, low tide was the most popular time to paddle out, so it got crowded with 20 or so surfers out there. Low tide also happened to coincided with sunset, when the wind dies down.

Las Flores at low tide in the morning

It takes fewer duck dives to get out at low tide. It's still going to be a gazillion duck dives no matter what, whether you start paddling straight out from the sandy beach (which I don't recommend because of the strong current) or paddle through the channel along the rocks on the right side of the bay then sprint out at the end of the rocks before the next set. The waves are hollower and close out more easily.

Las Flores with a fading swell at low tide

If the current takes you past the hammocks at Las Flores Surf Resort and you haven't made it all the way out yet, I found it faster to turn around, go back to the shore and start all over from the channel along the rocks than to battle the current and the relentless onslaught of closeouts (lulls were few and far between) at the other end of the bay. Being in position for a wave is partly a game of chance.

A lull at high tide

Wave Quality

When you do get a ride though, it feels like a miracle after all that paddling. The wave is fast, powerful and plenty of >45° ramp to play with and hollow sections at the beginning and end. The wave starts off with a fast barrel but most people take off at the shoulder for one reason or another. For me, it's that my paddle fitness blows.

The closeout hell section

In some sessions, I bodyboarded instead of surfing and had great fun with the tubitos. That's the only way I could enjoy that closeout section at the end. I was the only bodyboarder out there. There are no bodyboards or fins for rent around here, so BYOB. The majority of folks are on shortboards. The only time I saw longboards was when a few people took a beginner lesson in the gentle shore break.

Tubitos my bodyboard and I can squeeze into

Skill and Paddle Fitness Levels

I definitely wouldn't advise beginners to go during wet season. Your options in this area are limited to, well, the shore break. Intermediates should be comfortable with overhead waves, duck diving, self-rescue, and navigating the numerous hazards: very strong currents, submerged rocks in the channel, cliffs on both sides, and long hold downs. I had a couple of wipeouts where I got pounded into the bottom of the ocean, with a relentless onslaught of set waves in front of me when I popped my head out of the water.

Environment

The scenery is stunning: azure water rolling up to a sandy beach surrounded by volcanic cliffs dressed in palm trees and hardwood forests. It was sunny all day every day and it only rained one night. The water was warm and clean, save for a few plastic toys that get sucked out from the Restaurante Las Olas at high tide (the kids playing at the restaurant eventually retrieve them). There's beach parking next to the restaurant, set back from the high water mark.

Las Flores beach at high tide

Local families and tourists alike come out at sunset to frolic in the water. Sometimes the restaurant plays salsa. At night, the lights go out and the chairs get packed up. People tend to sleep early or watch the stars while listening to the waves. No loud booming music nor raucous parties. It's a wholesome scene.

It's a jungle out there

Food & Accommodations

There are a few hostels set back from the water in the trees behind the restaurant. There is also the pricey but beachfront Las Flores Surf Resort and Surf Club. At $400 per night, it's a splurge but this is your only choice when your family wants an all-inclusive experience with AC, wifi, meals, transportation, spa packages, direct access to the surf break and ocean views from everywhere - the pools, room, restaurant, and the spa.

Oceanview Room at Las Flores

The resort caters to surfers, with board rentals and board racks downstairs, facing the beach. They also offer surf instruction, surf guides, and boat trips to other breaks. Set up your board and just walk out from the resort. At high tide, the water will be lapping up the lawn.

View from the spa

The resort provides three meals a day plus fruit and beverages throughout the day. The dinners were usually seafood or steak and were all fantastically prepared. Breakfast left me a little wanting: the waffles came with 8 blueberries. Not the heaping pile of fruits I imagined. Stick with the pupusas or traditional Salvadoran breakfast of casamiento (rice and beans), plantains, cheese, chorizo, eggs - similar to the Costa Rica's casado.

Mariscada, a salvadoran seafood soup

Conclusion

May is peak season with the most consistent and large swells, and this week certainly demonstrated that. Though I enjoyed the rides I had, I would come back to Las Flores when it's smaller and less frustrating to get out. I think it holds massive potential for me to have way more rides then. A trip in the dry season (December-March) could be in the offing!