El Paredón
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 village is basic but charming, with a small but growing infrastructure of surf camps and local guides. The waves are fun and punchy, suitable for intermediates, with warm water and uncrowded lineups. For surfers looking to explore Central America beyond the usual destinations, El Paredón offers authentic adventure.
El Paredón surf forecast
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Spot Details
CustomizeCustomize this spotSwell Requirements
- Optimal direction
- SSW (200°)
- Direction range
- 170° - 240°
- Size range
- 0.8m - 3m
- Ideal size
- 1.8m - 2.5m
- Height multiplier
- 0.97×
- Ideal period
- 14s+
Wind Requirements
- Optimal direction
- N (0°)
- Offshore range
- 330° - 60°
Tide Requirements
- Optimal tide
- all
- Optimal range
- 0.3m - 1.8m
Water temp
28°C
Wetsuit
Boardshorts / Rashguard
Difficulty
4/10
Crowd level
3/10
Access: Remote fishing village. Basic infrastructure.
Frequently Asked Questions
What kind of wave is El Paredón?
El Paredón is a beach break in Pacific Coast, Guatemala, with peaks that run both left and right.
What swell works best at El Paredón?
El Paredón picks up swell from the S round to the WSW, and it's best when it's coming straight out of the SSW. It starts working at around 0.8m and handles up to about 3m, with the sweet spot around 1.8 to 2.5m. 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 Paredón?
A N wind is dead offshore at El Paredón, 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 Paredón?
El Paredón has a preferred tide range, roughly 0.3m to 1.8m on the local chart.
When is the best time of year to surf El Paredón?
The most reliable run of swell at El Paredón comes Mar to Oct. There's a second window in Feb and Nov too. March-October SW swell season. Consistent beach breaks.
How cold is the water at El Paredón?
The water at El Paredón 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 Paredón 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. The lineup is usually quiet (crowd 3/10). Black volcanic sand. Strong rips on bigger swells.
How do I get to El Paredón?
The nearest airport on our list is GUA, then it's roughly a 2.5-hour drive. Remote fishing village. Basic infrastructure.
What other surf spots are near El Paredón?
The closest breaks we track are Sipacate (36 km), handy when El Paredón isn't working.
Best Season
Peak: Mar-Oct
Secondary: Nov, Feb
March-October SW swell season. Consistent beach breaks.
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