I sat down & interviewed a surfer enthusiast who has lived in Guatemala for 11 years and is the owner of Global Surf Guatemala, Mr. Gal Kaedar, to learn more about surfing in Guatemala.
In Gal's search for places to surf with no crowds, hard surf, & virgin terrain, the black sand beaches of Guatemala was exactly what he was looking for. "To surf in Guatemala, you must understand the ocean because the coast of Guatemala is a straight coastline which means it has a lot of currents going around so you really have to feel comfortable in the ocean. The waves here are not perfect like in El Salvador and Costa Rica with point breaks. There is a difference between point breaks & beach breaks. Here in Guatemala we have more beach breaks which mean the waves are faster, shorter, & not so consistent which makes it more interesting."
Surfing in Guatemala requires experience but it also requires the knowledge of where to surf on what days. "You have to know where to go and you have to plan your trip on what the swell looks like and once you know where the different breaks in Guatemala are, that's where you'll be going." A surfer who steps off the plane in Guatemala & goes to an unfamiliar beach may be disappointed at the surf conditions. According to Gal, one spot may have the perfect break and a half hour down the coast, the waves are terrible. There is an online Surf Forecast that provides surfers with the current conditions, however, experienced surfers in Guatemala rely on contacts who live at the beach for forecast & conditions. Sometimes you have to change your surf locations due to the inconsistency of the breaks. "For example, Iztapa is good one day and then Sipacate is terrible but on another day Sipacate is the best day to surf and Iztapa isn't. So you have to talk to someone who knows the beach in Guatemala. And that is what is so unique about Guatemala. If you know the places, you will surf a lot."
Seasons in Guatemala affect surf conditions greatly as well. The dry season, which is October to early May, is prime time to have surf camps teaching kids how to surf because the ocean is calmer as opposed to the rainy season.
One benefit the locals get from surfers, is the English language. Many children never thought they would learn English, but due to the increase in surf tourism, locals are learning the language and learning how to surf.
The following are the best places to surf in Guatemala, according to the Asociación Nacional de Surf de Guatemala:
1. On the beaches: Port of San Jose, near the ruined pier (km 111), the Pale (km 139), Los Pinos (km 140), in Sipacate Marmaya beach (km 135), The Paredón (Km . 141 to the left of Sipacate); Champerico (km 229) and point to the right of John Gull (km 124).
2. Breakwater in bars without: Barra "Bump" from Hotel Radisson and Juan Gaviota (km 120), Rama Blanca near the Palisade (km 145), The Paredón located to the left of Sipacate (km 142), The Tulate (Km 222) and Ocós (km 265).
3. In bars with Breakwater: San Marino located between Puerto Quetzal and Iztapa (km 115), Iztapa, located between Puerto Quetzal and Monterrico (km 120), Juan Gaviota located between Puerto San José and the wall (km 120) .
Some beaches of Guatemala for its topography are less suitable for surfing in the form of fiberglass tables, however, allow the practice mode or short board Bodyboard flexible, also known as Boogie, among which are: Monterrico Beach (km 143 per Iztapa) and Playa del Seed (km 179, by Tiquisate).
Why isn't Guatemala known as a surf destination? As we have learned, the waves are not as consistent as Costa Rica, El Salvador, & Nicaragua. Furthermore, the beach communities are not quite as developed though there are few resorts, restaurants, & hostels. However, when asking Gal what the reaction of first time surfers in Guatemala are, he says, "They just love it!"
And you thought there is no surf in Guatemala....
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