El Zonte is a small, laid-back surf village west of El Tunco with a consistent right-hand point break over a rock and sand bottom. The point offers long, rippable walls on south swells, while the beach break beside it is softer on small days. It suits intermediate surfers and up, as the rocks and the paddle-out need some care. Mornings with light northeasterly offshore winds are cleanest, and the best season runs from March to October.
🌡️ ~29.9°C now · boardshorts or a rashguard, no wetsuit needed
Beginner: not suitable for this level
Intermediate: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, Aug, Nov, Dec
Advanced: May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov
Local surf community
Local shops, schools and places to stay near El Zonte worth checking out.
Based in El Zonte, Surfing Your Fears combines surfing, mental coaching and personal growth. We help surfers of all levels build confidence, overcome their fears in the water and take their performance to the next level.
Follow @surfscanners
New spots, best-month tips and the local crews at El Zonte. Tag us in your clips and we'll share them.
Beginner: not suitable for this level
Intermediate: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, Aug, Nov, Dec
Advanced: May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov
All-time average wind & swell
Dashed line marks El Zonte's known offshore direction. Bright arrow is the all-time average swell direction, colored arrow is the all-time average wind direction at 7 km/h — hover or tap either arrow for exact values.
Monthly avg wave height (ft)
Monthly avg wind speed (km/h)
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
| 29° | 29° | 29° | 30° | 31° | 31° | 31° | 31° | 31° | 30° | 29° | 29° |
Averages from 3 years of daily wave, wind and water temperature data — what a typical year looks like, not a forecast.
Waves average 3.0 ft (0.9 m), with offshore winds around 9 km/h from the N. Water is ~29°C: boardshorts or a rashguard, no wetsuit needed. A best month for intermediates.
Waves average 3.3 ft (1.0 m), with offshore winds around 10 km/h from the N. Water is ~29°C: boardshorts or a rashguard, no wetsuit needed. A best month for intermediates.
Waves average 3.2 ft (1.0 m), with offshore winds around 9 km/h from the NW. Water is ~29°C: boardshorts or a rashguard, no wetsuit needed. A best month for intermediates.
Waves average 3.7 ft (1.1 m), with offshore winds around 9 km/h from the N. Water is ~30°C: boardshorts or a rashguard, no wetsuit needed. A best month for intermediates.
Waves average 4.3 ft (1.3 m), with light winds (~7 km/h). Water is ~31°C: boardshorts or a rashguard, no wetsuit needed. A best month for advanced surfers.
Waves average 4.6 ft (1.4 m), with light winds (~6 km/h). Water is ~31°C: boardshorts or a rashguard, no wetsuit needed. A best month for advanced surfers.
Waves average 3.9 ft (1.2 m), with light winds (~6 km/h). Water is ~31°C: boardshorts or a rashguard, no wetsuit needed. A best month for advanced surfers.
Waves average 3.9 ft (1.2 m), with light winds (~6 km/h). Water is ~31°C: boardshorts or a rashguard, no wetsuit needed. A best month for intermediates and advanced surfers.
Waves average 4.3 ft (1.3 m), with light winds (~6 km/h). Water is ~31°C: boardshorts or a rashguard, no wetsuit needed. A best month for advanced surfers.
Waves average 4.1 ft (1.2 m), with light winds (~6 km/h). Water is ~30°C: boardshorts or a rashguard, no wetsuit needed. A best month for advanced surfers.
Waves average 3.8 ft (1.1 m), with light winds (~6 km/h). Water is ~29°C: boardshorts or a rashguard, no wetsuit needed. A best month for intermediates and advanced surfers.
Waves average 2.9 ft (0.9 m), with light winds (~8 km/h). Water is ~29°C: boardshorts or a rashguard, no wetsuit needed. A best month for intermediates.
For intermediates: Aug, Nov–Apr. For advanced surfers: May–Nov. The biggest waves come in June, averaging 4.6 ft (1.4 m), and the smallest in December, at 2.9 ft (0.9 m).
It ranges from ~29°C in January to ~31°C in July, averaged over 3 years of daily readings.
Year-round (~29-31°C): boardshorts or a rashguard, no wetsuit needed.
Not really: El Zonte is best suited to intermediate and advanced surfers.
The nearest airport is SAL, and the nearest town is El Zonte, El Salvador.
