(NOTE: Reviews may be edited by our content team for the purposes of ensuring accurate and relevant information)
“I went to Guatemala in the hopes of scoring some nice empty waves and exploring the country. I rented a car and was in El Paredon for a week in April. The waves were big and glassy (in the morning) but there was nothing to really break up the swell which resulted in 90% of the waves being close outs. The paddle out was a bitch and that's coming from someone that's surfed all over the world. The mid bar on an overhead+ day was a super heavy impact zone and I would say half the people trying to get out didn't make it. The wind turned on mid day and made it pretty unattractive to surf. A couple days it did glass off in the afternoon and was worth a second paddle. You are guaranteed empty waves here especially if you have a car. I got sick of the close outs and ended up driving an hour to another town with jetties and scored much better waves still by myself. On my last day in El Paredon the swell dropped and I saw the best waves of my trip. Under head high it closed out much less but still barreled and raced down the line. Guatemala as a whole was amazing, great food, cheap accommodations and great opportunities for adventure. I will definitely be back but not necessarily to surf.”
steve from UNITED STATES - 14 Jul 2025
El Paredon Ratings
Overall: 3.0. Based on 18 votes and 7 reviews. Vote
Quality on a good day: 3.9(1 star: Even when the swell and winds are optimum, the waves are poor quality, 5 stars: If conditions are right, the waves will be World Class). |
Consistency of Surf: 3.4(1: El Paredon is a fickle surf spot that only works a few times a year. 5: Reliable year-round spot). |
Regional Rating: 3.9(1: El Paredon is usually very poor quality compared to other spots in Guatemala - Pacific Coast. 5: the best break in Guatemala - Pacific Coast). |
Difficulty Level: 3.6(1: Suitable for Groms. 3: Intermediates. 5: Expert tow-in surfers only). |
Onshore Wind: 2.9(1: even a light onshore ruins the surf. 5: El Paredon can offer better rides with a light wind behind them). |
Other Options: 2.3(1: If wind or tide conditions are poor at El Paredon, it will be poor everywhere nearby. 5: other locations nearby provide a rich variety of wind and swell exposures). |
Wind and Kite Surfing: 3.3(1: An unsuitable spot. 5: Wind and wave conditions at El Paredon are often excellent). |
Water Quality: 3.8(1: Known health risks from pollution. 5: Never any pollution). |
Crowds: 3.4(1: Often too crowded. 5: El Paredon is an isolated spot where you are unlikely to meet other surfers). |
Access: 4.2(1: Getting to El Paredon requires an overland expedition or chartering a boat. 3: A 30 minute walk from the nearest parking. 5: Park a vehicle right by the break). |
Scenery: 4.2(1: An ugly industrial backdrop. 5: A spectacular setting). |
Local Attitude: 4.3(1: Locals are hostile to visitors. 5: Either there are no locals who surf, or else they are accommodating and friendly). |
Accommodation: 4.4(1: No convenient places to stay indoors. 5: A wide variety of accommodation near El Paredon for all budgets from hostels to luxury hotels). |
Camping: 2.4(1: Camping at El Paredon is not possible. 3: Camping tolerated but no facilities. 5: A nearby camp ground has excellent facilities and a good vibe). |
Entertainment: 2.9(1: Besides the surf and the solitude there is nothing to do when it is flat. 5: El Paredon is in such an interesting area to visit that getting wet is a bonus). |
Equipment and Repairs: 2.8(1: Nothing can be sourced, not even wax. 5: Quality surfing equipment can be purchased or hired. Major repairs can be fixed too). |
Eating: 4.2(1: Bring your own food, there isn't even a shop. 5: A wide variety of places to eat and drink at El Paredon, from fast food and cafes to fancy restaurants). |
Drinking: 4.1(1: Alcohol is not allowed in the country. 5: There is an excellent pub near El Paredon where you can stay or park a camper van overnight). |
“The reviews are correct. It's NOT such a great place for consistent surf, or a surf vacation. If you are a beginner and want to learn on the whitewash and like beer pong and not sleeping, then yes! This is the place for you! It's really noisy.
I imagine it might have been nice when some of the earlier reviews were written, probably in the high season. But if you want to SURF, then El Salvador is so close and 1000 times better.
Oh and girls beware, keep your eyes on your drinks at ALL times.”
Pro surfer from GUATEMALA - 30 Apr 2025
“Reply to: “While I appreciate that the owners of the accommodations need to fill their rooms, El Paredon really isn't a great place for beginners ...."
Why are you leaving a surf review when you're a beginner?
Did the place you stayed at forced you to take a surfing lesson during bad conditions?
Unfortunately, you were here in the summer months when it rains more and the ocean currents are strong.
Conditions of the place aren't equal 365 days a year and this website can tell you about what they currently are.
If a place to party and drink exists it doesn't mean that the whole town is drunk 24/7.
You can go explore mangroves on stand up paddle boards or kayaks, go deep sea fishing, go on a turtle and sea salt farm tour, take a cooking class, yoga class, go horseback riding on the beach or have a calm dining experience at one of our restaurants.
Can someone normal and not a surf Karen come here and leave an honest and informed review please.”
Someone who lives here from GUATEMALA - 10 Jul 2024
“While I appreciate that the owners of the accommodations need to fill their rooms, El Paredon really isn't a great place for beginners -unless you want to just ride white wash in VERY STRONG currents. The town has its charm, but it does seem like drinking/partying is the number one pastime.”
Dissapointed surfer from GUATEMALA - 15 Jun 2024
“I'm here, to straighten out Franchie's review which is a dogsh1t representation of truth, so here's an honest depiction of the spot called El Paredon by someone who has lived here for years.
You can surf here all year round but the ocean floor is sand and it changes throughout the year so it's not consistent.
"Not really a spot for beginners or intermediate surfers." -
There are MULTITUDES OF INSTRUCTORS/SURF CAMPS FOR BEGINNERS as they are visible on the beach almost every day. That said the waves are much stronger in the spring and summer months - Oct-Feb is best.
"rip tide make for non-stop paddling" -
Don't get it mistaken the rip current can be dangerous but it doesn't fill the whole length of the shore and if you can't recognize where it is on the day you're surfing - maybe don't write surfing reviews?
The town is growing but to say it's "loosing it's charm" or that it's "concrete and asphalt" is a hysterical dramatization you'll quickly understand once here. We have ONE ASPHALT ROAD that leads to town that we had to wait for 5 years. The rest of the roads are sand.
"a quickly (over)growing town" -
Yes people are building more and more and the town is getting luxury places to stay also but this place is 10 years behind let's say Sayulita in Mexico.
"The locals are fewer and fewer every month." -
Some people sold their land and moved further out and some are still here. Before this was a tourist spot there was nothing here and no opportunities for the locals.
"the boozing crowd" -
Some areas near hostels are more crowded than others and will have more party people but we are trying to establish associations and rules and we care about it not being a booze/noise/party town because that's not everyone's business plan. A lot of us want to provide a place to relax and reset and we wouldn't stay here and keep investing money if that wasn't possible.”
Someone who lives here from GUATEMALA - 26 Apr 2024
“Not really a spot for beginners or intermediate surfers.
The waves are also not consistent. Ever. You might get a 2 or 3 day stretch of good waves, but they are really powerful, and the current and the rip tide make for non-stop paddling. It's a quickly (over)growing town, losing it's charm by over commercialization, and the boozing crowd.
The locals are fewer and fewer every month.
Sad, but it used to be a gem, now it's concrete and asphalt.”
Franchie from GUATEMALA - 19 Nov 2023
Nearest