WSSM | Exploring SURF CITY, El Salvador

Exploring

Story by: SOPHIA KNOX Photos by: GABETO FERNANDEZ

If there are some things that come directly to mind when I think about my time spent in El Salvador, it is the country’s lush, natural beauty, immense societal growth, waves that take your breath away... And dessert ordered with every meal with the WSSM crew.

The WSSM crew had the opportunity to experience all of El Salvador.

While on assignment to learn more about El Salvador’s “Surf City” project, we experienced the people, the hotels, the mountains, the history, the culture, the cuisine, the humidity, and best of all- the waves.

This being my first time to the country, I had little expectations other than some prior research I had done and knowledge of the swell forecast.

When you read the headlines about El Salvador, you might read about violence, gangs, and war. That was the country’s past and El Salvador is steadily moving into a more peaceful future. With the development of “Surf City”, it is the goal of El Salvador to use surfing as the spearhead to propel that peace forward, while inviting the world to experience world class waves, an incredible culture, and adventures that will suit anyone’s interest.

PLAYA SUNZAL

(La Libertad region)

Pulling up to Casa De Mar and seeing the big gates and security guards, the first word that comes to mind is safe.

The boards we had rented were waiting for me and my roommate, Leah, in front of our room. We opened the doors and knew that this was going to be a fantastic stay. Two queen size beds, air conditioning, amazing bathroom, and plenty of room for all of our gear.

It is the perfect place to stay if you’re traveling with a lot of gear or people. Whether it’s surf boards, camera gear, or tons of bikinis, there is room for it all. Plus multiple balconies to relax outside and watch the sunset.

Now, all that was on our minds was food. Rushing down to the dining area, the WSSM crew made it just in time to order some dinner and listen to El Sunzal crash against the iconic cobblestone beach. On the menu, there is a choice for everyone. Vegetarians, pizza lovers, steak connoisseurs, any of the above; the Casa de Mar kitchen has a choice for you. Feeling full and stoked we were off to sleep for an epic surf session in the morning.

With Casa de Mar being directly in front of the iconic point break, you can walk right down to the dining area, have breakfast, drink a coffee, and check the surf. We did just that and were simply stoked.

The employees of Casa de Mar gathered our boards for us and met us down at the beach access gate. The WSSM crew paddled out for an amazing session at the right-hand point break, El Sunzal.

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Sophia Knox @ casa de mar

Sandra Olson | wssm publisher Photo: Sophia Knox

Exploring

Story by: SOPHIA KNOX Photos by: GABETO FERNANDEZ

If there are some things that come directly to mind when I think about my time spent in El Salvador, it is the country’s lush, natural beauty, immense societal growth, waves that take your breath away... And dessert ordered with every meal with the WSSM crew.

The WSSM crew had the opportunity to experience all of El Salvador.

While on assignment to learn more about El Salvador’s “Surf City” project, we experienced the people, the hotels, the mountains, the history, the culture, the cuisine, the humidity, and best of all- the waves.

This being my first time to the country, I had little expectations other than some prior research I had done and knowledge of the swell forecast.

When you read the headlines about El Salvador, you might read about violence, gangs, and war. That was the country’s past and El Salvador is steadily moving into a more peaceful future. With the development of “Surf City”, it is the goal of El Salvador to use surfing as the spearhead to propel that peace forward, while inviting the world to experience world class waves, an incredible culture, and adventures that will suit anyone’s interest.

PLAYA SUNZAL

(La Libertad region)

Pulling up to Casa De Mar and seeing the big gates and security guards, the first word that comes to mind is safe.

The boards we had rented were waiting for me and my roommate, Leah, in front of our room. We opened the doors and knew that this was going to be a fantastic stay. Two queen size beds, air conditioning, amazing bathroom, and plenty of room for all of our gear.

It is the perfect place to stay if you’re traveling with a lot of gear or people. Whether it’s surf boards, camera gear, or tons of bikinis, there is room for it all. Plus multiple balconies to relax outside and watch the sunset.

Now, all that was on our minds was food. Rushing down to the dining area, the WSSM crew made it just in time to order some dinner and listen to El Sunzal crash against the iconic cobblestone beach. On the menu, there is a choice for everyone. Vegetarians, pizza lovers, steak connoisseurs, any of the above; the Casa de Mar kitchen has a choice for you. Feeling full and stoked we were off to sleep for an epic surf session in the morning.

With Casa de Mar being directly in front of the iconic point break, you can walk right down to the dining area, have breakfast, drink a coffee, and check the surf. We did just that and were simply stoked.

The employees of Casa de Mar gathered our boards for us and met us down at the beach access gate. The WSSM crew paddled out for an amazing session at the right-hand point break, El Sunzal.

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Sophia Knox @ casa de mar

Sandra Olson | wssm publisher Photo: Sophia Knox

Surf buddies for over 20 years, Sandra cheers on Leah Moore during an early morning sess @ Sunzal Photo: Sophia Knox

El Tunco at sunrise Photo: Gabeto Fernandez

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Dan Olson | WSSM Publisher @ Sunzal Photo: Sophia Knox

“With Casa De Mar being directly in front of the iconic point break, you can walk right down to the dining area, have breakfast and drink a coffee, while checking the surf.”

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Leah Moore, finishing an epic ride all the way into the bay from the point @ Sunzal | Photo: Sophia Knox

Photo: Sophia Knox

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Post surf, the Casa de Mar staff took our boards for us, such a luxury, so we hopped right in the pool, and enjoyed the beautiful sunset after an amazing surf session.

WHAT’S NEARBY El Tunco is the surf-heartbeat of the El Salvadorian coast and is a must stop destination during your trip.

Sandra & Dan in El Tunco.

“Kathy” memorial mural can be seen on the right

“La Tornado” from La Nevería

The town of El Tunco is located right next to the main breaks of El Sunzal and La Bocana, and directly in front of the famous rock formation “The Hog” that previously resembled a pigs head and snout, rising out of the ocean. It has eroded from ocean swells over time, but is iconic and what the town was named after.

El Tunco is constantly vibrant and alive. Daytime markets, bustling restaurants, and exuberant nightlife light up the little city.

As you walk around you’ll be tempted to have a drink or maybe just an ice cream cone, but no matter what, you’ll have a smile on your face just because of how happy the town is.

Based solely around the surf in the area, this is easily seen by the number of surf hostels available to stay in. There are also beautiful murals that cover the streets. One in particular that I found moving was the mural of Katherine Diaz. Katherine was a young, extremely talented surfer that was on her way to represent the country in the next Summer Olympics. Her life ended tragically, when she was struck by lightning.

THE WAVES “Kathy” memorial mural | Photo: Sophia Knox

Dan on a free ride!

While our crew wasn’t able to surf every amazing break that El Salvador has to offer (which is over 50) on this trip, we did get to spend a lot of time at the iconic point break, El Sunzal. A never ending right that is both forgiving for beginners and playful for the advanced surfer, plus a longboarder’s dream wave.

On big days you can see longboarders charging the overhead outside sets. They make the drop, complete an epic bottom turn, then trace long lines all the way down the face of the wave.

Shortboarders can take off at the peak and practice big explosive maneuvers, with confidence that the wave won’t close out. If that wave doesn’t tickle your fancy as a shortboarder, El Salvador has plenty more waves to choose from such as K59, El Zonte and Las Flores.

If you’re a beginner, the bigger days might not be for you because although the wave is world class, El Salvador is still working on creating water safety. Until that is fully intact, make sure to either be confident paddling out or have a local guide/instructor at your side.

However, on smaller days, El Sunzal is the perfect wave to learn how to surf and improve quickly.

Dinner? Pupusas!

And... MORE pupusas!

$4

total, at La Nevería

You can’t miss the break with the iconic loose, cobble stone covered beach walk to the spot. With its consistency and crumbly nature, it is the perfect wave to cross learning how to surf, off your bucket list.

Once you’ve mastered the paddle out, the paddle in, and the take off; you will be set to have an epic surf.

Personally, our crew had an absolute blast at El Sunzal. We had a great session our first day out. I was surfing the biggest rights and practicing maneuvers like I never have before. And I am even goofy and had a blast! That says something.

The ISA World Surfing Championships could not have chosen a better place to test the skills of the potential Olympic athletes.

The versatility and range of waves in El Salvador, especially between El Sunzal and La Bocana, will have forced the athletes to push themselves and test their skills for the world to see on the stage of El Salvador.

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Dan Olson easily navigates Sunzal’s surging shoreline, where entry and exit can be tricky due to the endless rolling cobbestones. Commitment and timing are everything, especially at high tide.

“Sunzal. My happy place, and one of my top 3 favorite waves in the world. This is where i come to play.z” - Sandra Olson 196 | womenssurfstyle.com | wSSm

Exploring Left to right: Leah Moore, Sophia Knox, Sandra Olson & Dan Olson. Nothing beats the view at Sunzal.

Tricia Zimmer, owner of Salty Bird Surf from Costa Rica, enjoying an empty left @ Sunzal wSSm | womenssurfstyle.com | 197

ATACO & APANECA

(Region: Department of Ahuachapan)

Swell not to your liking? Then it’s time to explore. Head to the town of Ataco, and the Apaneca mountain range!

Warnings of “extreme high tide and coastal shoreline water surges” were blowing up our phones as we did our morning surf check. But with only 3-4 locals out, and mountains of untamed ocean moving around, we decided the swell had become too big for our liking.

So the crew headed into the mountains with our favorite Salvadoran guide, Alfredo Avalos.

Alfredo had guided the WSSM crew on several previous trips and amazing adventures, but this was my first time learning from his vast wealth of local knowledge. What we had in store was loads of fun and showcased even more that El Salvador had to offer.

A 2 hour, scenic drive along the coast landed us in beautiful green canopies where a zipline adventure with Canopy Apaneca awaited our arrival. To be honest, I am not a huge fan of heights. So, walking into this activity not knowing the language and just following along, I was pretty nervous. Within minutes that anxiety disappeared.

Our zipline guides were extremely professional, safe, and we had an overall fantastic time.

You begin with a bumpy ride in a tall, skinny truck that barely fits between the trees, up to the top of the mountain and zip lines.

The guides warmed us up with some shorter rides to get everyone used to the procedures and height. Those were fun as is. Then came the time for the long lines. To be short, they were epic. Amazing views while gliding through the mist and canopies. Truly something out of a dream.

Apaneca Adventura Buggy Tours

The WSSM crew | Photo: cuscatlantours.com

Our next excursion wasn’t one that would normally be on my list either. A dune buggy ride up a mountain, then back down to a beautiful volcanic lake. I was pleasantly surprised at how much fun I had.

At the Apaneca Adventura Buggy Tours, a group of young men debrief you on the basic rules. Follow in a line, look both ways before crossing an intersection, and keep your foot on the gas if you’re going uphill. You split into pairs and follow the leader through the streets, then down a dirt path to an emerald green volcanic lake. It’s a perfect spot for a picnic at sunset and a photo opportunity. Just make sure to wear a bandana and glasses to keep dirt clear of the money maker during the ride.

Once everyone is done hanging out at the lake, you can switch drivers and follow the leader once again up and over the mountain, and back down the path and through the streets until you get back to office.

This activity is great for any thrill seeker or anyone who wants to know what Mario Kart is like in real life.

Plus, I don’t know if I have ever smiled and laughed so much during an activity that is so foreign to me.

After a long day of zipping through the canopies and driving through dust to the volcanic lake, the nearby thermal hot springs were calling our names.

Hidden in the jungle near the town of Ataco, the Termales de Santa Teresa (Santa Teresa hot springs) were a beautiful sight.

Twinkling lights, music, and comfy chairs decorated the edges of the many pools available to use. Ranging from cool and calm to devilishly hot, there’s a pool for any mood you’re in. Even the changing rooms were relaxing, so by the time you were changed into your bikini you were ready to relax and float around in magic.

One of my favorite parts was nature’s music humming in the background. A mix of cicada songs and crickets created a rhythm that became meditative. The crew enjoyed the medium temperature pools, cold drinks, and french fries.

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Alfredo Avalos photographs Leah as she swings through the jungle

“Casa 1800 Ataco Made up of bright orange and red cement buildings and an incredible courtyard immersed in wild flowers, it was something out of a fairytale.” - Sophia

Morning shopping with the girls in Ataco

The best litttle salesman in Ataco

The local market | Photo by sophia knox

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Exploring

try their top tier pool. None of us could handle that type of heat! To say it was the perfect recovery for lots of surfing and activities is an absolute understatement.

Note: Termales de Santa Teresa, in addition to their beautifully curated thermal spas for rejuvenation, health care, or relaxation, also offers travelers a grand resort experience featuring individual cabins (be sure to check out the Presidential Suite!) and three restaurants. Conveniently located in the western part of the country, less than a mile from the city of Ahuachapán on Ruta de las Flores “the flower route”.

What’s the best thing to end a long day full of fun and relaxation? I’ll tell you. The most amazing pupusas you will ever try.

A hidden gem in the town of Ataco, located on a busy street corner, is a little Pupusaria called Restaurante La Raglette de Ataco.

They have every combination of pupusas you can dream of.

Pollo con queso, carne con queso, frijoles con queso, you name it they had it. Personally, I ordered jalapeño con queso, frijoles con queso, and the local favorite- Laroca con queso.

If you’re wondering, Laroca is one of the most popular additions to El Salvadoran cuisine. Laroca is a flower often sautéed and eaten with eggs for breakfast or added to dishes such as pupusas or queso dip. Long story short, the pupusas hit the spot and if you’re in Ataco it’s a “must stop”.

Our evening in the mountains ended at Casa 1800 Ataco.

A hotel made up of bright orange and red cement buildings and an incredible courtyard immersed in wild flowers, it was something out of a fairy tale. Originally the hotel was owned by a woman that had collected famous art throughout the 1800’s. With new ownership the art is no longer there, but the same unique feeling lives on.

We woke up to an amazing view of the “sister volcanoes” outside of our balconies and tropical birds chirping to the sunrise.

The crew congregated to the breakfast lounge, which was also accompanied by the breathtaking views of the mountains. A wide variety of breakfasts were made available and cooked to absolute perfection, and it was all partnered with locally produced coffee that needed no sugar it went down so smoothly.

Casa 1800 Ataco is located in the heart of Concepcíon de Ataco El Salvador or “Ataco”. It’s an amazing little town brimming with food, handmade souvenirs, Indigo clothing and incredible artwork. So, once we finished our breakfasts we were able to explore the Saturday market that is full of life and color.

Another “must stop” in Ataco is Café Santa Matilde. This unique and carefully curated cafe showcases local artists, and sells amazing coffee.

The owner supports her local Ataco community by giving the youth free art lessons, and many of their beautiful collaborative murals can be seen around town. She also loves her local furry community, and donates proceeds to help the stray cats and dogs of the area.

Termales de Santa Teresa

Leah Moore @ 1800 Ataco Photo: Sophia Knox

Breakfast at 1800 Ataco

Volcanoes, art, culture...

Ataco has it all

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Palo Verde Sustainable Hotel We aim to bring the concept of ‘sustainable luxury’ to El Zonte beach by providing our guests with an unparalleled experience while minimizing our environmental impact. The name “Palo Verde” hints our dedication to preserving the beauty and health of the ocean.

www.paloverdehotel.com

Reviving El Salvador’s “Blue Gold” Industry Since becoming a surfer and traveling, there isn’t much room in my usual itinerary for activities outside of the ocean. However, a culture is larger than just that of the communities around the ocean.

Thank you to Rhina & everyone at Hacienda Los Naciemientos for sharing El Salvador’s “Blue Gold” with us!

Dan & Rhina

The WSSM crew were taken up into the mountains to visit the “Los Tres Volcanes” and to meet the woman, Rhina Yolanda de Rehmann, that is bringing the historically important business of Indigo dye, the “blue gold” of El Salvador, back to life.

We learned that Indigo dye is also known as “blue gold” due to its importance in El Salvadoran culture; a deeply meaningful color that is actually displayed in the blue stripes of the country’s flag.

Gabeto Fernandez creating an Indigo masterpiece

Leah lovin’ her new creation

You see, prior to the industrial revolution, Indigo was a major export of El Salvador.

Over the years, larger countries took over the Indigo business, but Rhina Yolanda de Rehmann in El Salvador created her own organic Indigo dye manufacturing and distribution network, reviving this precious industry, and her families multigenerational history in it. Through hard work and dedicated and intricate training, she is now one of the top distributors of Indigo in the world, selling her organic dyes to large companies such as Gap Inc. and Levis.

You can learn more about Rhina and the El Salvador Indigo industry by visiting Hacienda Los Naciemientos in El Salvador, or online at www.haciendalosnacimientos.com After learning about the process of creating the dye, the crew had the chance to create our own unique Indigo creation. We had an absolute blast getting creative in the misty mountains and learning from such a legendary woman.

Tres Volcanes - by Glamping El Salvador

While our personal Indigo art hung to dry, we were given a tour of the “glamping” tents made available on the Tres Volcanes park property by Tres Volcanes- by Glamping El Salvador.

The facility offers the fun aspects of camping (beautiful views and adventures) without sacrificing too much comfort for the family. All of the tents have proper beds with mattresses, a lamp, small space for luggage, and bathroom facilities a short walk away. In the bath facilities there are showers, lockers, and plenty of restrooms.

So if you are in the market for a unique, El Salvadoran mountain experience between three towering volcanoes, book your stay with Tres Volcanes- by Glamping El Salvador. You won’t regret embracing the full glamping experience with the dedicated team on site.

Learn more at www.tresvolcanes.travel

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Beautiful oceanfront boutque hotel Palo Verde in El Zonte

PLAYA EL ZONTE (La Libertad region)

After a few exhilarating nights in the mountains, the WSSM crew was ready to get back to the ocean and surf scene, so we headed to a new boutique hotel, located in Playa El Zonte, called Palo Verde.

BOOK A GUIDE ...

But we don’t recommend just any guide. You want the BEST! Alfredo Avalos can be your personal guide to waterfall explorations, mountain adventures, volcanic sunrises, cultural tours, ocean excursions, and of course, the best local cuisine. He deeply loves his country and is a valuable source of information for all things El Salvador.

Knowledgeable, respectful, and helpful in every way, Alfredo will undoubtedly help make your El Salvador experience incredible.

Contact: @exploreElSalvador WhatsApp at +503 7736 6583 www.ExplorElSalvador.com

Hotel Palo Verde offers direct access to the El Zonte break, making it an ideal location. The hotel itself was stunning. With running stairs, colorful buildings, and an upscale pool, there isn’t too much more that you need. The staff was all extremely friendly and made us feel right at home as soon as we entered the front doors.

As surfers, our gear is extremely precious and how it is taken care of can make or break a trip. The Palo Verde staff handled our boards incredibly well and were extremely flexible with our needs as surfers. Rooms that have board racks outside and staff that know how to handle a board makes all the difference.

Palo Verde also offers a restaurant on-site that does not disappoint. I had been very mindful of my diet thus far on the trip, but decided to splurge because of all the raving reviews I heard about the seafood at the hotel. I went all in and ordered the main lobster dish, and let me tell you, it stole the show at the dinner table! Fresh Lobster paired with grilled Ahi Tuna filled me to the brim and I was ready for our night on the town in El Tunco, a short car ride away.

The next day we transferred to Puro Surf. This beautiful hotel located right next door to Palo Verde is modern-yet-cozy and a surfer’s dream. Also located in directly in front of the El Zonte surf break and only a short drive from El Sunzal and the town of El Tunco, it’s a great home base from which a surfer can easily find whatever break they want to spend their time on that day. wSSm | womenssurfstyle.com | 203

Gorgeous accommodations at Puro Surf

Exploring

Leah Moore at sunset Photo by Sophia Knox

Dan Olson enjoying the surf city coastline 204 | womenssurfstyle.com | wSSm

The first thing that came to my mind when exploring the Puro Surf property was “This is the perfect spot to take a ladies surf trip & really focus on improving our surfing.”

Puro Surf - A boutique oceanfront surf experience wSSm | womenssurfstyle.com | 205

Located in the heart of the San Benito District, the most exclusive area of the city and close to businesses, shopping and commercial areas. The hotel is just 45 minutes from the International Airport San Oscar Romero y Galdámez and from La Libertad Surf City beaches.

205 richly appointed luxurious hotel guestrooms overlooking the volcano or the city, including one royal suite (141 with one King size bed and 64 with two double size)

Travel safely by taking your test at Authorized Laboratories. Present your travel document on the day of the test.

Without closing at noon

Monday to Saturday 7:00 am to 5:00

Sunday

7:00 am to 3:00

85 and 83 Ave. Sur, Calle Padres Aguilares, N.436 Colonia Escalón, San Salvador

PCR and Antigens tests with results on the same day.

Tel. (503) 2527-5454 Quality - prestige - Experience

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Puro Surf doesn’t just offer a great location though, they create a full surf experience for any level of surfer spending time in El Salvador. On the property there is a skate bowl, surf academy, massage, a pool with an amazing view of El Zonte, as well as a restaurant on-site with incredible food to offer.

Leah Moore, dropping in on another Sunzal bomb

The first thing that came to my mind when exploring the property was, “This is the perfect spot to take a ladies surf trip and really focus on improving our surfing”.

The Puro Surf Academy offers skate lessons, surf coaching for all levels, personal filming for coaching purposes, yoga classes, and personal guides to explore the different breaks along the El Salvador coastline. If you are looking for the most fulfilling and surf focused trip in El Salvador, Puro Surf is the place to book your stay. You will feel taken care of and stay stoked your entire stay with the Puro Surf team.

With Puro Surf being the best surf hotel in the region, it was only natural to sit down at their restaurant with the Minister of Tourism, Morena Valdez, to have a conversation about the plans for building Surf City for the world to experience.

THE LOCAL SURF GALS I had the opportunity to chat with a few of the local surfers in the area, Claudia Tacamas and Eva Gauidia.

Eva was a main prospect for the Summer Olympics and Claudia is a local longboarder in the area.

They agreed that there aren’t enough girl surfers out in the water yet. It’s simply considered a “man’s sport”, and to get in the water you have to have a boyfriend.

So, to see the way that the Surf City team is promoting surfing, especially women’s surfing, is something extremely important to the local women of the breaks.

I asked the ladies how they felt about their local breaks being blown up to the world and the potential for them to become extremely crowded. The conclusion was, it gave them the feeling of a double edged sword. On one hand El Salvador deserves and needs the respect of the world to promote its tourism and economy, but no one actually wants a crowded break.

However the beauty of the El Salvadoran coastline is that there are just endless breaks. So, if one is crowded the local gals will be sure to find an empty peak somewhere to surf.

MORENA’S MAKING HISTORY

Since the 1980’s El Salvador has been known as a violent country that was not safe for many of its citizens and its tourists. As of recently, the country has shifted this dynamic and is more safe and peaceful than ever. The next steps for the country’s growth is to promote tourism once again, to boost the economy and show the world just how great a country El Salvador is.

Their success lies on the shoulders of a woman named Morena Valdez, the Minister of Tourism of El Salvador.

Morena’s plan is to use El Salvador’s incredible coast to draw surf tourism to the country. This proposal all revolves around the development of Surf City, El Salvador.

Sitting in the Puro Surf cafe, the WSSM crew awaited the arrival of Morena. Excited because we learned that she also surfs, and anxious to hear exactly what the plans for Surf City, El Salvador are.

Morena walked in and we all finally got to meet after such a fulfilling week in the country.

There’s a sparkle in the Minister’s eye when she speaks about her love for surfing. You could tell she rides a shortboard due to her spunky personality. She shared that she started surfing at an older age and how it has become such a major part of her life. wSSm | womenssurfstyle.com | 207

The coast is home to many El Salvadorian’s, but the ocean is often avoided.

In El Salvadoran culture, many people are raised to fear the ocean out of respect for it’s incredible power.

Until recently, there were not many local surfers, and especially female surfers in the ocean.

Morena told us that the coast is home to many El Salvadorian’s, but the ocean is often avoided. In El Salvadoran culture, many people are raised to fear the ocean out of respect for it’s incredible power. So, until recently, there were not many local surfers and especially female surfers in the ocean.

She pushed through those preconceived ideas of fear or doubt to cultivate her own experience with the ocean and surfing. Just hearing her talk about her own love for the ocean and the sport, you can tell that Morena is extremely passionate about the country’s plan to promote El Salvador’s surfing to the world. That passion seeps into her work of creating the ultimate surf destination that is Surf City, El Salvador.

Here is a bit of our conversation with Morena Valdez about Surf City, El Salvador.

Note: All responses are translated by our amazing guide, Alfredo Avalos. They have only been slightly edited to make reading as clear as possible.

W

hat is your personal relationship with surfing and how does El Salvador as a country view surfing?

MORENA: My introduction to surfing was a little late. When I was 35 a friend told me, “You can not live in a country with the best waves for surfing without surfing!”. That first wave was the first time I swam into the open sea. That was my best experience to this day.

(Morena shared that her first experience in the ocean was at El Sunzal.)

MORENA VALDEZ El Salvador’s minister of tourism

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Normally, El Salvadorians are afraid of the sea.

The idea has been in people’s minds since they were young. El Salvadorians have not been taught to respect or appreciate the ocean.

That may be because not so long ago it took a long time to get to the beach. Now it is easy to come down quickly, grab lunch and then leave.

It is common that people just have lunch with

their backs to the ocean. This is the first time in our history that our government will bet on tourism and surfing.

What is the main idea of Surf City? What is the overall goal?

MORENA: We have world class surfing, let’s use it. It is a pretty big challenge to organize natural and human resources. The most important thing is to have skilled people. To achieve that level of world class surf destination like Hawaii, Australia, or Indonesia we need to train.

We need to train people with the skills necessary for this long-term project. We believe the Surf City project is an inheritance for coming generations, and a key element is empowering women. Traditionally women have been left aside, but surfing empowered myself. We want more girls to be involved, not only in the sport, but in the whole project.

To me, surfing is the perfect analogy. When you see those big waves coming, it gives you courage to face the challenge. It is the perfect match to empower new generations and develop surfing here.

Promoting women in the water seems to be a foreign concept to most Central American cultures, do you consider yourself a leader in that idea?

MORENA: Yes, but it’s a challenge. It’s complicated working with the communities. Working with the communities is so hard because the core of the problem has been a lack of opportunities (from the government). Now we are facing rejection because the people of the communities are suspicious of us because they were never supported.

So, what are the city limits of Surf City? What do the signs “Surf City under construction’’ mean?

MORENA: Surf City is all the coastline of El Salvador. We are building the project in 5 phases. The main sections of our project are divided into a pyramid. First, the people or human resources. The second is the economic development that involves local business and

Perched on a cliff above world-class waves, PuroSurf Hotel & Performance Academy is all about living the dream.

Our boutique hotel of just 15 rooms is set into beautiful tropical surroundings. At the academy you’ll find everything you need; and more, to learn, practice and perfect your surfing as a holistic sport.

As a guest you will be amazed with our facilities and incredible ocean views. Healthy food, multiple pools, a yoga studio, functional gym, concrete wave skatepark, ISA certified instructors and friendly faces everywhere. i you are looking for a full surf experience And if come and join our surf coaching camps. Whether you are catching your first wave or surfing your first barrel, we want to share the stoke with you.

At Puro Surf enjoy paradise at your pace, with everything you could want within reach.

generating wealth from tourism. The third is the base infrastructure.

Morena continued with showing us a detailed diagram of the plan layout for the development of the project. Her map showed many differences. This includes public services such as power, and water treatment for nationals and internationals. Also development of equipment, water safety, waste systems, and easy access to the breaks such as safe roads and parking. The government has plans to work with local owners to create safer/easier access to the breaks. Their plan revolves around the idea of building around and with the community to make quality of life better for both locals and tourists. Plans even include introducing surf/water safety to public school systems on the coast.

The key is always the children, and they are building Surf City as an inheritance for the future generations of El Salvador.

What does the development of water safety include for the future of Surf City?

MORENA: We are willing to train lifeguards in the zones of Surf City.

We want to promote them as local heroes to the community so they can be proud of being lifeguards. And we want to open a university for lifeguards to train and even become tour guides.

What is your plan to keep the locals happy and keep them from becoming displaced as more tourists come to visit the El Salvador surf?

MORENA: Every tourist project involves connection with people. That is key. Trying to loop all of these sections with local communities has been a real challenge because of the history of being left aside. Slowly, little by little, we want to change that to work with every particular community. Each spot has different needs and different characteristics that make them unique. El Zonte is a great example because it has been developing in a sustainable way. It (the development of the break/hotels) has created job opportunities and also brought benefits to the local communities such as water pumps or water treatments.

Still, even with those efforts the locals are still wary, because of the history of distrust. It is a challenge. But, we can do it. Step by step.

What do the Olympics/World Surfing Games mean to El Salvador and your athletes?

MORENA: This is the first time that surfing is in the Olympic games.

This is a great opportunity for El Salvador to change the thought that El Salvador is a dangerous place. It will be like a window to display the beauty and potential that El Salvador has. And also try to change that idea that surfing is just for back-packers or low budget travelers.

El Salvador is a destination for top end travelers or surfers as well.

How will El Salvador prevail over neighboring countries that are already so popular to visit such as Nicaragua or Costa Rica?

MORENA: So, geographically, El Salvador has good surf all year round.

That is the big plus of El Salvador compared to those other countries.

El Salvador has nearly 200 miles of coastline. Beach breaks, point breaks, lefts and rights. Nearly 50 spots for surfing. Another plus is short distances. Very close to each other you have different surf spots, villages, lakes, etc.

What was the decision behind the name of Surf City?

Why in English?

MORENA: The idea came from the President. When he hired me, his idea was to place El Salvador in the big leagues. The English name was meant to be easier to understand and share with the world. Our name is verified and is already growing.

So, I have to know, what is your fin set up and choice of board?

MORENA: Shortboarder with 5 fins. Fast! My favorite break is El Sunzal!

In conclusion, El Salvador has a lot of work ahead of itself, but Morena and her team seem more than confident in their development plan.

Success has already shown in the decision to have El Salvador host the ISA World Championships even when competing with popular destinations such as Australia or Costa Rica. With so many layers included in such a major project, bumps in the road are expected. We compared the patience and persistence of surfing with that of the development of Surf City. Just keep paddling, keep pushing forward no matter how hard you might be thrown around. If you can do that, you can succeed. F 210 | womenssurfstyle.com | wSSm

Headed to surf with our trusted driver and good friend, Chepe

Photo: Sophia Knox

Exploring

Sandra Olson, enjoying a rare left at Sunzal

Sophia Knox, on assignment in El Salvador

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the archaeological routes of el salvador