El Zonte
El Zonte is where surf culture meets the future—better known as Bitcoin Beach, this fun beach break gained global fame as the first community to adopt Bitcoin as currency, turning a sleepy surf town into an international phenomenon. But beyond the cryptocurrency headlines lies a genuinely good wave: consistent beach break peaks with point break options, warm water, and a growing community of digital nomads who've discovered you can work remotely, surf daily, and pay for everything in satoshis. The intersection of surf stoke and financial innovation creates an atmosphere unlike anywhere else in Central America.
El Zonte surf forecast
Model forecast for swell, wind and tide.
Today's ConditionsToday's Conditions
Find FlightsLocation & Conditions
Hourly Forecast, Tide & Strike Windows
Tide times today
Strike Score Breakdown
Plan Your Strike
Return flights to SAL, departing today with a 5-day trip window.
Search Flights on SkyscannerLocation & Conditions
Know when Central America is about to fire
Get the best strike windows in Central America — and worldwide — in your inbox every Monday & Thursday. Live Strike Scores, the swell behind them, zero fluff.
¿Prefieres español? Recibe el Strike Report en español, gratis →
Get the full El Zonte trip window
Pro unlocks the 10-day forecast window, unlimited alerts, and custom spot tracking that help turn a good-looking surf report into a better travel decision.
10-day window
See the trip window before flights get expensive.
Unlimited alerts
Let the app watch your score threshold for you.
Custom spots
Track the breaks that actually matter to your travel plans.
Spot Details
CustomizeCustomize this spotSwell Requirements
- Optimal direction
- SSW (200°)
- Direction range
- 175° - 235°
- Size range
- 0.6m - 2.5m
- Ideal size
- 1.5m - 2m
- Height multiplier
- 0.92×
- Ideal period
- 14s+
Wind Requirements
- Optimal direction
- NNE (20°)
- Offshore range
- 340° - 70°
Tide Requirements
- Optimal tide
- all
- Optimal range
- 0.3m - 1.5m
Water temp
28°C
Wetsuit
Boardshorts / Rashguard
Difficulty
4/10
Crowd level
5/10
Access: Famous Bitcoin Beach. Growing surf community.
Frequently Asked Questions
What kind of wave is El Zonte?
El Zonte is a beach break in La Libertad, El Salvador, with peaks that run both left and right.
What swell works best at El Zonte?
El Zonte picks up swell from the S round to the SW, and it's best when it's coming straight out of the SSW. It starts working at around 0.6m and handles up to about 2.5m, with the sweet spot around 1.5 to 2m. Period matters too: aim for 14s or longer, as anything under 10s tends to be weak. These are the numbers our scoring uses, so treat them as a guide rather than a promise.
What wind is offshore at El Zonte?
A NNE wind is dead offshore at El Zonte, and anything from the NNW round to the ENE keeps it clean. The morning is typically the best window, roughly 5am to 10am. Light winds from other directions can still be fine; strong offshores can make it hard to get into waves.
What tide is best at El Zonte?
El Zonte has a preferred tide range, roughly 0.3m to 1.5m on the local chart.
When is the best time of year to surf El Zonte?
The most reliable run of swell at El Zonte comes Mar to Oct. There's a second window in Feb and Nov too. Consistent beach break. Year-round surf.
How cold is the water at El Zonte?
The water at El Zonte averages around 28°C, so boardshorts or a rashguard will do. It shifts a few degrees through the year, so check the season before you pack.
Is El Zonte good for beginners?
It's more of an intermediate wave, rated 4/10 for difficulty, so newer surfers are best off sticking to the smaller days. Expect a moderate crowd (5/10) when it's on. Some rocks at the point. Bitcoin Beach famous for crypto adoption.
How do I get to El Zonte?
The nearest airport on our list is SAL, then it's roughly a 55-minute drive. Famous Bitcoin Beach. Growing surf community.
What other surf spots are near El Zonte?
The closest breaks we track are Km 59 (5.1 km), Sunzal (7.2 km) and La Bocana (9.1 km), handy when El Zonte isn't working. We track 5 spots around La Libertad in total.
Best Season
Peak: Mar-Oct
Secondary: Nov, Feb
Consistent beach break. Year-round surf.
Getting There
Nearby Spots
Km 59
📍 Highway marker classic • Quality right • Local crew
Sunzal
🇸🇻 El Salvador gateway • Mellow right • Surf camp central
La Bocana
↙️ El Tunco rivermouth • Left-dominant A-frame • Local lineup
Punta Roca
🇸🇻 El Salvador's crown • WSL-quality right • Strong local culture
Punta Mango
➡️ Hollow Wild East right • Needs solid swell • Boat or 4WD mission
Iztapa
🐟 Fishing town surf • Sailfish country • True solitude