Best Surf Spots in Central America

Popoyo is Nicaragua's flagship surf destination—a reef break that catches virtually every SW swell and offers multiple peaks to choose from. The setup is perfect for a surf trip:...

Lance's Left is the Emerald Coast's most accessible long left—a point break that provides 200+ yard rides on bigger swells and welcomes surfers of all skill levels. Unlike the...

Colorados is Nicaragua's answer to boat-access exclusivity—a perfect beachbreak on a remote island that's only accessible via boat from Las Penitas. The resort setup keeps crowds...

Playa Maderas is Nicaragua's most beloved intermediate wave—a fun beach break near San Juan del Sur that has become the heart of the country's growing surf scene. The wave offers...

Playa Santana is Popoyo's quieter neighbor—a quality beach break that offers the same consistent southwest swells without the crowds that have discovered the famous point. The...

Playa Remanso is Central America's safest beginner wave—a sheltered bay south of San Juan del Sur that catches smaller swells and transforms them into gentle, rolling walls...

Manzanillo is Nicaragua's serious point break—a quality right-hander near Maderas that needs solid swell to turn on but rewards patience with long, workable walls over rocky reef....

The Boom is Nicaragua's most celebrated barrel—a world-class A-frame beachbreak that has been likened to a miniature Puerto Escondido for its hollow, dredging peaks and startling...

Puerto Sandino is Nicaragua's ultimate long left—a 300-yard ride that ranks among the longest waves in Central America when solid SSW swell arrives. The wave starts in front of a...

Miramar Point is Northern Nicaragua's accessible quality left—a point break near León that offers consistent waves and multiple nearby breaks to explore. The wave itself provides...

Pipes is the hollow beachbreak gem in the Miramar zone—a wave that lives up to its name with dredging barrels on both the rights and lefts. The rights wedge up from the takeoff...

Poneloya is Northern Nicaragua's gateway wave—a forgiving point break near León city that introduces countless travelers to the country's exceptional surf scene. The wave works on...

Panga Drops is the Emerald Coast's swell magnet—a deep water reef break that catches and amplifies swell when other spots remain small. The wave offers long rides with wide open...

Popoyo Outer Reef is Central America's legitimate big wave spot—a heavy left reef break that only shows its true form on solid southwest swells and transforms into Nicaragua's...

Playgrounds is Nicaragua's version of Trestles—a cobblestone-bottom break that delivers rippable, open-face waves perfect for high-performance surfing and skill progression. The...

Playa Hermosa is Nicaragua's best kept secret—a powerful beachbreak south of San Juan del Sur that features lots of peaks, long walls, and enough space to spread out even when...

Witch's Rock is Costa Rica's most famous wave—a perfect A-frame beach break inside Santa Rosa National Park that gained worldwide fame in Endless Summer II. Getting here requires...

Pavones is one of the longest left-hand point breaks in the world—a legendary wave in remote southern Costa Rica that can run for 800+ meters when conditions align. Getting here...

Salsa Brava translates to "angry sauce," and this Caribbean reef break lives up to its name—the heaviest wave in Costa Rica. When N-NE groundswells hit the east coast during...

Playa Negra is Guanacaste's reef break crown jewel—a long, peeling left that offers some of the most consistent quality surf on Costa Rica's Pacific coast. The wave breaks over a...

Santa Teresa is Costa Rica's open secret that's no longer much of a secret—a once-remote beach town that has blossomed into a world-class surf destination with the yoga studios...

Puerto Viejo is Costa Rica's Caribbean fever dream—a reggae-tinged beach town where the infamous Salsa Brava slab breaks over shallow coral with shocking power. This is not the...

Playa Guiones is Nosara's main event—seven kilometers of consistent beach break peaks that have transformed this remote corner of Costa Rica's Nicoya Peninsula into a...

Puerto Escondido is the "Mexican Pipeline"—a brutally powerful beach break on Oaxaca's Pacific coast that produces some of the heaviest closeout tubes outside of Pipeline itself....

Todos Santos (Killers) is Mexico's answer to Jaws—a powerful right-hand point break on an island 8 miles off Ensenada that's been designated a World Surfing Reserve. An underwater...

La Punta is Puerto Escondido's friendly alternative—a mellow left-hand point break at the southern end of the beach, offering an escape from the Mexican Pipeline's terrifying...

Punta Roca is El Salvador's world-class gem—a long, peeling right-hand point break in La Libertad that has hosted WSL events and produced some of Central America's best surfers....

El Tunco is El Salvador's surf and party headquarters—a compact beach village where rocky point breaks meet a thriving nightlife scene. The main break wraps around a distinctive...

Santa Catalina is Panama's premier surf destination—a long right-hand point break in a remote fishing village on the Pacific coast. The wave wraps around a rocky headland,...

El Paredón is Guatemala's emerging surf destination—a black volcanic sand beach on the remote Pacific coast that catches SW swells consistently from March-October. The fishing...