El Tunco is Central America's best-known surf town, a laid-back black-sand beach break and river-mouth left (La Bocana) right in front of the village, just 10 minutes from Punta Roca, often called El Salvador's best wave. The consistent Pacific groundswells and glassy morning conditions have made it a longtime hub for traveling surfers and a springboard for El Salvador's emergence as a world-tour destination. Suitable for intermediate to advanced surfers, with gentler options at nearby beach breaks for beginners. Winds are offshore in the morning nearly every day, turning onshore by late morning.
🌡️ ~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
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New spots, best-month tips and the local crews at El Tunco. 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 Tunco'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 2.9 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 3.2 ft (1.0 m), with cross-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 3.1 ft (0.9 m), with cross-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 3.6 ft (1.1 m), with cross-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 4.2 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 4.5 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 3.8 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 3.8 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 4.2 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 4.0 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 3.7 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 2.8 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 4.5 ft (1.4 m), and the smallest in December, at 2.8 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 Tunco is best suited to intermediate and advanced surfers.
The nearest airport is SAL, and the nearest town is La Libertad, El Salvador.
