El Sunzal sits on the La Libertad coast, about 90 minutes east of Barra de Santiago and 30 minutes from San Salvador airport. American surfers arriving in the late 1960s put this beach on the global surf map; it's been one of Central America's most beloved waves ever since.
The wave is a long, mellow right-hand point break with a wide takeoff zone — kind to beginners, generous enough for intermediates to find their line. Beginner lessons run roughly $40 for two hours including board rental. Just down the beach is Punta Roca, a much heavier point break (advanced surfers only) and the location of scenes from the 1977 surf film Big Wednesday.
Spend a day with breakfast at one of the El Tunco cafés before the lesson, surf two-hour session, lunch on the sand at a thatch-roof comedor, second session in the afternoon, and you've covered Surf City the right way.