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Right-hand point breaks, panoramic Pacific views and beach chic accommodation await on this luxury trip to El Salvador. With a tropical climate, wide variety of waves and friendly locals, this Central American country is a must-surf destination.
Want to step up your surfing game whilst kicking back in tropical luxury? Then you’ve come to the right place. Known as “the land of jewels” (Tierra de Joyas), El Salvador is one of Central America’s more off-the-radar surf locations. Expect uncrowded waves, stunning scenery and friendly locals.
On this bucket list trip, we take care of everything so you can focus on progressing your surfing and having an epic time. We’ve teamed up with our friends at Puro Surf, a high-performance academy and luxury hotel, to offer you premium training and deluxe digs.
You’ll spend the week with like-minded women, learning the skills to raise your surf game and make the most of the world-class waves on offer. In your downtime, swim in the infinity pool, relax with a massage or simply unwind in your private room. There are a whole load of extra activities to keep your body and mind ready for the waves – from post-surf yoga and ice baths, to surf-skate sessions and classes in ginástica natural (like a cross between gymnastics and jiu-jitsu).
You’ll be in safe hands with our in-the-know crew, who will guide you throughout the trip. From coastal adventures and cultural discoveries to the best post-surf feeds in town, they’ve got you covered.
With top-notch training facilities, high-quality surf coaching and a touch of luxury, you’ll feel surfed-out, blissed-out and energised all at the same time.
WHO IS THIS TRIP FOR?
This trip is suited for those who are comfortably surfing out back beyond the breaking waves and can consistently catch green waves. You’ll be learning all the tricks and techniques: bottom and top turns, trimming and pumping, carves and cutbacks, angled and steeper take-offs, generating speed from your bottom turn and working on your confidence for catching bigger waves. There’s a lot to cover on this one, so come prepared to seriously level up your surfing!
PRE-TRIP
AIRPORT ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE MEETING AND TRANSFERS
Please note if you are not able to join our airport transfer between 3pm and 5pm there will be an additional cost of $60 each way for your airport transfer.
ACCOMMODATION
FOOD
COACHING
SURF SKILLS WORKSHOPS
PHOTO & VIDEO ANALYSIS
OTHER ACTIVITIES
Activity | Price | Duration | Description | Time | Day |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ginastica Natural | $15 | 50 mins | Full-body weight training method with a 30-year research history behind. Benefit your entire body and life, giving you strength, endurance, mobility, core stability, balance, flexibility, coordination simultaneously – through breathing techniques. Provides corporal awareness, physical recovery and well-being. | 4pm | Tuesday |
Icebath Experience | $35 | 60 mins | Breathwork, meditation and ice immersion. Ice immersion goal: 1 min. | 4pm | Wednesday |
Icebath Recovery | $25 | 60 mins | Ice immersion goal: 1 min. | ||
Swim Paddling | $15 | 60 mins | Work on paddling, turtle roll, duckdive or board turning technique. | 4pm | Friday |
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu | $10 | 60 mins | The teacher is Migue, black belt practitioner. Class is open mat, aimed for beginners and intermediates. | 4pm | Saturday |
Yoga for all levels classes | Drop-in: $14 | 75 mins | Breathe & Flow: Recovery - designed to improve connection between breath and movement. | 4pm | Monday |
Massage | $60 | 60 mins | Therapeutic and relaxing massage | NA | Book upon request |
FREE TIME & EVENING ACTIVITIES
SATURDAY – DAY 1
Touch down in El Salvador! You’re about to spend a week surfing world-class waves with like-minded women – and luxury accommodation to recharge in.
At international arrivals, we’ll pick you up and transfer you to our beach base. After being shown to your room, there’s time to freshen up before our welcome meeting and a tour of the high-performance centre.
We’ll have dinner in the hotel – it’s a chilled evening, a chance to meet the other women on the trip and share the stoke for the week ahead.
SUNDAY – DAY 2
Today your surf programme begins. We’ll discuss your goals from learning to catch bigger waves, generating more speed with bottom turns or perhaps you’re keen to perfect your turns. Whatever your aim, we’ve got you covered.
First up, we’ll do some land-based training, including a warm-up, visualisation and a conditions check. Then we’ll hit the water for a two-hour morning coaching session and have a team breakfast. Next up – a video analysis session with your coach. Grab yourself an iced latte from the beach bar and watch yourself in action – it’s a great way to improve your skills.
Enjoy some chill time – maybe with a dip in the infinity pool or sunbathing on the beach and fuel up at lunch with the group, before one of our confidence building workshop begins.
We’ll meet for sunset drinks – the margaritas are the beach bar’s signature cocktail, and taste extra good with that sea view. We’ll keep it chilled tonight and eat at the hotel restaurant – expect everything from fresh shrimp ceviche to pulled pork enchiladas.
MONDAY – DAY 3
Day two of our surf programme begins. We’ll spend some time doing theory and land drills before a morning coaching session on the water and a video analysis session.
After your video analysis it’s then time for your Surf-skate workshop to refine style and technique. We will be focusing on learning and improving our surfing by targeting the biomechanics of the movements.
Then the rest of the afternoon is yours to relax by the pool, chill on the beach or maybe try one of the classes available. Pick from yoga, ginástica natural, functional training, lap swimming, an ice bath and Brazilian jiu-jitsu.. We’ll meet in the bar for drinks, before heading into El Zonte village to try El Salvador’s national dish – the pupusa. Think thick flatbreads stuffed with cheese, squash and beans, all served with a side of spicy slaw.
TUESDAY – DAY 4
Day four of the surf programme. You’ll have feedback on your surfing, theory before a morning coaching session on the water, followed by video analysis.
After your surf session, you’ll have your 4th surfing workshop focusing on surf forecasting and surf travel. So you can walk away from this trip with an understanding of when and where is best to surf all over the world!
Tonight we’ll have dinner with our neighbours down the road at a beautiful sustainable hotel called Palo Verde, which serves delicious nosh complete with epic views of El Zonte’s waves.
WEDNESDAY – DAY 5
After an intense 3 days surfing, now is the chance to put into practice everything you’ve learned so far with some great tips and encouragement from our team.
We’ll kick the day off with a dawn walk across the beach, discussing what you’ve learned so far and how to build on this. Over breakfast, we’ll continue looking at your achievements and setting a pathway for the following days. There will be workshops to cover specific improvements, such as bottom turns or duck dives and turtle rolls.
The Women and Waves team will organise monitored free surf sessions to put your new skills to the test, ensuring you get the most out of the best tide and spot for your ability. She’ll be taking out a camera to shoot footage and help troubleshoot any challenges.
Tonight we’ll head into the village to one of the best restaurants in El Zonte. It’s a local favourite, with open-air tables, pretty outside lights and a great range of tasty dishes including vegetarian and vegan options.
THURSDAY – DAY 6
Wake up, then jump straight into the sea for a morning surf with our trip leaders. We’ll video the second half of the session, which we’ll watch and analyse after breakfast at a local restaurant.
We’ll have an afternoon surf theory session discussing cross stepping for those riding bigger boards, cutbacks and snaps for shortboarders and how to gain and maintain speed.
We will also watch the bespoke videos that we made tips from pro surfers Molly Picklum and Brisa Hennesy who share their experiences with Women + Waves and reveal how they have improved.
Then we’re off to El Tunco for dinner and drinks. This chilled-out surf town – named after a pig – has plenty of bars and restaurants, street food sizzling on corners and cute shops to explore. Plus it’s a world-class surf spot with a black sand beach, home to a powerful left-hand wave that locals call “La Bocana”.
FRIDAY – DAY 7
After our night in El Tunco, we have a later start today. Enjoy breakfast in a local restaurant, before a team-free surf with the Women and Waves trip leaders. The session will be shot from the water so that everybody has some water photos and videos to take home. The footage will be used for an analysis session in the afternoon.
Pack, then it’s your final afternoon to chill. This evening, we’ll start with a post surf stretch after a big week of surfing and then have a group beach walk at sunset, with a cooler of drinks supplied by Women + Waves to say farewell and reflect on what an epic week it’s been! We’ll celebrate in style with an evening meal in the village.
SATURDAY – DAY 8
All too soon, it’s time to say farewell to El Salvador and fly home. We’ll make sure we get you to the airport in good time for your flight.
You’ll be staying at Puro Surf, one of the most exclusive resorts in Playa El Zonte, a quiet little beach town with a cruisey local surf culture. Away from the tourist trail, but still under an hour’s drive from the airport, it’s the perfect place to switch off and soak up the tropical vibes.
Check the waves from the super sleek infinity pool, carve it up in the concrete skate park and stroll through the lush gardens. Hungry? We’ll chow down on fresh ceviche and tasty tacos beneath a beautiful thatched roof in the open-air restaurant.
When it’s time to surf, you’re spoilt for choice. There’s a right-hand point break out front and a consistent beach break just a few steps away. What more could you need for your surf getaway?
ROOMS
Rooms are luxurious but with a relaxed, surf pad feel. Think locally-crafted textiles, handmade furniture and contemporary ensuite bathrooms. The real showstopper is the view – floor-to-ceiling windows slide open onto your private balcony overlooking palm trees and the Pacific Ocean.
You’ll be sharing a spacious twin room with one other female from the trip, so oodles of space to relax in.
FACILITIES
Yes, there’s an infinity pool, a restaurant overlooking the Pacific and a concrete wave skatepark. But the real highlight is the high-performance surf academy, which boasts a full-size gym, an ocean-view yoga studio and a 25-metre lap pool – everything you need to prepare your body for a week of epic waves. There are even massage treatments to ease those aching surfing muscles.
Take a dip in the pool, give ginástica natural a go or sip a sundowner with your new surf gal pals and share the stoke of another perfect day in paradise.
Get ready for some serious surfing progression. The performance-focused programme is designed to take your surfing to the next level – perfect if you are already surfing comfortably out back and independently catching green waves and are now looking to improve your technique.
You’ll be in good hands of our Women + Waves coach and our local surf and skate coach Nette.
If you’ve become a bit stuck with your progress, El Salvador is an ideal destination to work on your technique. The variety of waves on offer and the lack of crowds means you can build your confidence without feeling self-conscious or worrying about getting in other people’s way.
Our expert, friendly coaches are on hand to guide you every step of the way. They’ll be in the water with you to give you handy coaching tips.
We recommend you bring your own board on this trip. If you do need to hire a board this will be at an additional cost and paid upon arrival.
PHOTO & VIDEO ANALYSIS
Seeing yourself surf is the best way to improve and gives you a move-by-move breakdown. Plus, you get to take the footage and photos home with you – it’s both a great memento and a valuable coaching tool.
WHAT A TYPICAL DAY LOOKS LIKE
We’ll make the most of the morning offshore winds by starting the day with surf coaching sessions, followed by video analysis and surf theory. After the surf, you’ll have an afternoon work shop and a choice of afternoon activities (at an additional cost) – pick from yoga and ginàstica natural classes,, lap swimming, functional training and ice baths.
You’ll have plenty of time to chill out before we meet up for dinner either at the hotel or at one of the local restaurants nearby.
For more details on what each day involves, check out our Itinerary tab.
(Payment plans available, see FAQ’s)
AREA
El Salvador has firmly found its tourism feet in recent years and offers much for surfers. It’s a fascinating country with natural and cultural wonders, from dramatic volcanoes and cascading waterfalls to tropical wildlife and Mayan ruins. Most importantly for us, it also has a surf-rich coastline. The El Salvador coast is home to countless pumping surf breaks, reeling, peeling, barrelling and wedging their way onto tropical beaches backed by dense jungle.
Our accommodation is located in El Zonte, a quiet beach with a laid-back village, 48km south of the capital, San Salvador. It may be small, but El Zonte packs a cultural punch. Expect a warm welcome from the locals via a fist bump or a high five.
THINGS TO DO
When you’re not surfing, relax by the resort’s infinity pool, unwind with some beachfront yoga or indulge in a rejuvenating massage. Feeling energetic? Join a training class, hike up one of the country’s volcanoes or splash in a waterfall. If you’re a culture vulture, you could visit a nearby village, take a tour of a local tea plantation or visit an ancient Mayan archaeological site.
WAVES
It may be the smallest country in Central America with a surfable coastline of just 300km – but what El Salvador lacks in length, it certainly makes up for in quality.
The country’s unique shoreline zig-zags around endless headlands, formed by prehistoric volcanic eruptions. For regular footers, El Salvador is a dream as it’s known for countless right-hand point breaks – all shaped by the volcanic landscape. These long rights break with clockwork regularity. It’s perfect for practising and refining manoeuvres.
Right in front of our accommodation, there’s a consistent right point break, with a fun beach break that is a stone’s throw away plus a mellow left-hand reef. If that’s not enough, jump in a car and head just 20 minutes up or down the coast. You’ll find another half a dozen fantastic rights and lefts with enough waves for everyone.
CLIMATE
The equatorial tropical climate is predictably constant year-round. We travel midway through the dry season which extends from November to April. The average high temperature is 29°C and the average early morning low is 19°C.
According to our local guide, the rainy season (May to October) on this coast is exactly the same as the dry season – but it rains during the night! The dominant winds are offshore from the northeast, meaning offshores in the morning and, more often than not, again in the evening.
Sitting just north of the equator means the sea temperature in El Salvador is a bath-like 28°C to 30°C. It’s the ultimate way to escape the chilly northern hemisphere winters.
The food in El Salvador is awesome – simple, clean and packed with both flavour and energy. A typical restaurant serves everything from burritos and quesadillas to tacos, salads and rice dishes.
You can’t leave El Salvador without sampling the national dish, the pupusa. These thick tortillas are filled with beans, cheese, veggies, meat or seafood, and served with a cabbage slaw. Don’t forget a local Pilsener beer to go with it!
To take the hassle out of catering for yourself, our resort offers excellent food in its beachside Covana restaurant. Expect global cuisine with local Salvadoran flavours, packed full of fresh and locally-sourced ingredients. Tuck into tasty carrot pancakes, avo on toast and fresh fruit and yoghurt at breakfast. For lunch and dinner, choose from delights such as tacos, ceviche and homemade pizza. The menu has a seafood slant, with plenty of fresh shrimp, octopus and fish dishes, but there are also veggie and vegan options, such as cauliflower shitake tacos. We’ll eat together beneath the beautiful palapa-style roof with top-notch service to match the fine food.
To sample more local cuisine, we’ll be eating out in both El Zonte village and El Tunco town. We’ll take you to some of our favourite spots, so arrive hungry and you won’t be disappointed.
HOW MUCH SHOULD I BUDGET FOR FOOD?
FOOD
Lunch and dinner are not included in the price. There are many places to eat to suit all budgets. We recommended budgeting 12 USD for lunch per day and 15 USD for dinner per day.
We Offer 3 Easy Ways To Pay!
We can’t guarantee your place until we have received a payment from you.
Once you have made a payment, you’ll then be sent a trip confirmation email with all details on.
Of course! 95% of our guests attend alone! We pride ourselves on being super welcoming and friendly. You’ll arrive solo and leave with a whole heap of new surf friends for life!
Due to this trip being in high demand and having limited spaces, we can only hold your space for up to 24 hours without payment.
Please do not book your flights until we have had our pre trip video call. Then for further help please read our helpful blog post about booking flights.
You are welcome to attend for a shorter period to suit your personal schedule, however, the package price will remain the same.
ASAP! These holidays fill up quickly and, with super limited spaces available, sell out fast. We operate on a first come first serve basis. If you want to secure your place on the trip, it is advised that you pay as soon as you can.
We pride ourselves that Women and Waves is inclusive to all. We have a great mix of all ages and backgrounds.
If you wish to bring a non-surfing partner with you, that is absolutely fine, however, please be aware that this is a women-only trip, please contact us via our online chat to discuss this.
Lunch and dinner are not included in the price. There are many places to eat to suit all budgets. We recommended budgeting 12 USD for lunch per day and 15 USD for dinner per day.
If you’d like to enhance your stay with some of the hotels additional activities please find prices below:
Ice bath experience. $35
Swim Paddling lesson: $15
Yoga for all levels – 1 class – $14 or 3 classes – $36
Ginastica Class – $15usd
Paddle Technique Pool Training – $15
Brazilian Jui Jitsu – $10 – Saturdays only
Massage – $60
We choose the time of year and location for our events based on local knowledge and historical swell data. In the event of flat waves or stormy conditions, we will offer alternative activities and day trips to help you get the most out of your holiday. Please take a look at our ‘Other things to do’ in the ‘Area, Waves + Climate’ tab.
We may adjust the format of the trip. For example, choosing to run more surf sessions on the days that the waves are at their best.
Please visit our T&Cs for more information
With decades of experience and knowledge within our team, we pick the best dates that the surf conditions are most consistent and will be most suitable for the group. We’ll send you a brief predicted forecast in the pre-trip email. We choose El Salvador at this time of year due to the fun waves and gorgeous weather. The beautiful long sandy beaches offer peaks for all abilities; the skill is to know which is best on the tide and wind conditions that are on offer. That’s where our local guides are worth their weight in gold. We pride ourselves in having you in the right place for the best waves for your ability each trip.
Our Women + Waves trip leaders will be accompanied by local El Salvadorian members of our coaching team. We use female and male instructors during this trip.
We do not offer a discount for bringing your own equipment.
Remember to check the baggage size and weight allowance with your airline. Read their guidance for carrying surfboards. Baggage handlers can be unforgiving so you need a tough travel bag and pack it well.
Firstly, pack your board(s) in a protective, padded board bag, and write FRAGILE and TOP LOAD ONLY on it with the largest, most permanent marker you can find. Make sure you wrap your towel and clothes around your board inside the bag for added protection.
Place your shampoo and other wet toiletries in a separate sealed bag in case of leakage. We also recommend locking your bag zips with a padlock.
Please check with your citizenship requirements in advance.
There’s a $12 USD entry fee on arrival. Please check international travel requirements for your nationality.
Please contact your travel agent or airline if you have any further questions. It’s a good idea to carry copies of your important documents and guide books. Pack them separately. We also suggest scanning copies and emailing them to yourself for extra reassurance.
If you are under 18 we will need to chat to you on the phone and you will need to be accompanied on the trip by a parent or guardian throughout the holiday (although they don’t need to participate in the surfing). If you are 60 or over we’d love to chat to you about the trip before you book. Please email us to arrange a time and we’ll contact you. Or you can call us on +44 (0) 7544 094518.
On the day you travel please keep your mobile phone handy so that we can stay in touch in case of delays and flight changes. Please inform us if you’re early or delayed for any reason.
If you need help to book your flight then just drop us a line.
If you can’t find our representative at the airport, stay there and wait, they won’t be far away having tracked your arrival time. However, if you’re having difficulties finding them, please call +44 (0) 7544 094518 or follow the instructions in your pre-flight email. One of us will locate you.
As with any holiday, full travel insurance is a requirement for all guests booking a trip with the company.
Please also ensure that your policy covers you for ‘disruption to travel’ and ‘cover for cancellations’ as standard.
For further help please read our helpful blog post about travel insurance.
You may need to add additional cover for surfing, it is essential that your insurance policy covers you for all activities during your stay. Failure to take out travel insurance breaks the contract between Women And Waves and the client.
If you are joining one of our trips and you are native to the country of its location (i.e you live in Lisbon and are joining our Portugal trip) you do not need to take out medical travel insurance. This is as long as you have your own personal health-care plan or are covered by your country’s National Health Service. Although, we kindly request that you still take out trip disruption and cancellation insurance to cover all possible eventualities.
Visit Gov.uk for medical advice for El Salvador
Please contact your doctor if you’re unsure about vaccinations. We advise you to take mosquito repellent to avoid getting bitten.
Since 2001, El Salvador incorporated the United States Dollar as its national currency. You can pick up US dollars from travel agencies, banks or post offices before you arrive, or from exchange facilities in airports as well as ATMs.
It’s less hassle and cheaper to change your money before the trip. The banks and ATMs in El Salvador charge a lot for changing and withdrawing money, plus the nearest ATM from the camp is a $10 USD taxi ride away, so please come prepared!
We are a UK based company that delivers trips all over the world welcoming travellers of all nationalities.
El Salvador has an unwarranted reputation for crime. The statistics concentrate on particularly impoverished areas of the capital city.
The rest of the country’s considered safe to travel, particularly the coastal region where we stay. We’ve visited since 2014 and never experienced any crime.
You can find out the latest safety and security advice for El Salvador from Gov.uk.
If you’re based outside the UK and want to chat through the trip details, you can contact us through WhatsApp, Facetime, Zoom or Skype.
Just let us know by email and we can arrange this with you.
If your circumstances change and you can’t join the trip, please let us know as soon as possible via email. Your cancellation notice will start from the date we receive it.
Cancellation terms:
We hold part or full costs, depending on when you cancel:
Cancellation may fall under the terms and conditions of your holiday insurance policy and you may be able to claim.
Contact us via our online chat.