2025 El Salvador Surf Retreat
hosted by Venice Beach Surf Club
Join us for a 10-night surf camp adventure in the fall (Oct 27th- Nov 5th 2025)
Unleash Your Stoke
Join us for an unforgettable 10-night surf adventure in El Salvador, featuring two world-class locations. This retreat is designed for surfers looking to level up their skills with personalized instruction in the following beautiful locations:
7 Nights at Las Flores – Located on the eastern side of El Salvador’s Pacific coast, Playa Las Flores is a secluded tropical paradise with a consistent right-hand point just steps away from your accommodations, with an accessible inside section that accommodates beginners and learners well. We’ll be a short 20-minute trip away from Punta Mango as well, a world-class wave when it’s on. The fall season brings optimal swell, ensuring you catch multiple perfect waves daily.
For the final 3 nights, we'll move to
Punta Roca- a legendary wave featured on the World Surf League (WSL) professional tour every year. This portion of the trip offers a different flavor of El Salvador, as Punta Roca is located in a more urban setting with access to 7 other surf breaks in the area—giving you the opportunity to explore and experience the country’s rich surf culture from a new perspective.
Updates that we made to this years retreat:
Expanded from 5 to 10 days: Whether conditions aren’t ideal or you need a down day. We wanted to relieve the pressure of a time crunch so you can unwind if you need it and have more of an opportunity to have some of the best sessions of your life. We also wanted to have more time to take group excursions beyond surfing without making our guests feel like they were sacrificing a significant portion of their trip in order to go explore the country a bit more.
A tide research system to determine the best dates to go: We wanted to maximize our time while in country. Last year we missed out on some better days to due to some misalignment with tide conditions. We developed a tide rating system and found the best 10-day period out of a 2-month window to offer us the best shot at consistent surf while we’re there. We may not be able to predict swell-size or wind months in advance. We tried to work with the factors we do know to deliver the best experience possible.
More Cameras: So we can capture more of your special moments and so we can deliver more in-depth film reviews.
Expanded Coaching Staff: We not only want a more personalized experience for you but our instructors to be fresh to give you their best every day. We are also looking to bring in a certified yoga instructor to build out a surf-focused yoga plan to keep you fresh and ready to attack each day.
Bring El Salvador to you: In addition to the available excursions we are working to bring some uniquely Salvadorean cultural experiences in to create a more immersive retreat.
Within the surfing community, El Salvador has often been known as a hidden gem for consistent, solid surf. It is the home base of the International Surfing Association (a feeder program for the Olympics) and a destination for the World Surf League’s professional tour. It can be found on many avid surfers’ bucket lists.
Until recently, El Salvador was a difficult destination due to endemic issues with crime. But the current government has taken great strides in recent years to address its longstanding issues with crime and now boasts the lowest homicide rate in the Western Hemisphere in 2024. With El Salvador opening up, tourism—particularly surf tourism—is becoming a huge economic driver.
What We Looked for in a Location:
Safety
Wave Quality
Minimal Crowds
Unlike overcrowded surf destinations like Costa Rica and Bali, we want to offer a different experience—one where students can maximize wave time and progression.
Why Las Flores & Punta Roca?
Located on the eastern side of El Salvador’s Pacific coast, Playa Las Flores is a secluded tropical paradise that offers some of the best surfing conditions in the world. There are two amazing breaks on-site for all levels of surfers, plus boat and road access to multiple other locations including Punta Mango. After last years retreat at Punta Mango we decided to add a little bit of city life and include Punta Roca in this years trip. 3-hours west and nestled in La Libertad, Punta Roca offers surf for all levels on an average day and has 3 distinct surfable sections. On bigger days they all connect into one long ride. Being in the city Punta Roca can get more crowded particularly on weekends. With access to many other locations close to La Libertad (such as Sunzal) there will be plenty of waves to be found. The fall season typically brings optimal swell, ensuring you catch multiple perfect waves daily.
Why El Salvador?
-
Comfortable beachfront bungalows (with AC and wifi), 3 meals a day, and transportation to and from the airport are all included at this secluded surf resort just steps away from a world class surf break. Dedicated surf guides and surf boat trips are also available to take us to other waves of varying difficulty levels.
-
We bring the VBSC curriculum and teaching style with us. Will continues to do most of the teaching with personalized plans and goals to help you maximize your improvement. Daily film reviews and pictures included with your surf sessions.
We cannot emphasize enough how much better you can get on high quality, consistent, uncrowded waves. There is really no place in Southern California to compare to this location. Just as the water is starting to get cold in Venice, you'll get to ditch the wetsuit as water temps are in the low 80's (F) in November.
There will be two sessions each day (conditions permitting). You are free to relax if you're surfed-out, or surf more if you so choose. With unbridled access to waves, film review, and instruction you can pack the equivalent of multiple months worth of improvement into 5 days.
-
No. You will have plenty of time for rest and relaxation if wanted or needed. There are hikes to be done in the area if that's what interests you. We'll have daily stretching sessions and a massages will be available as well.
-
$2750 or about $275 a night for 10 nights. Payment plan options available. Flight and travel insurance are not included.