La Bocana • Surf Spot Statistics

Best Surf Season (November - February)

Winter in El Salvador is a surfer's reward. As high pressure settles over the Gulf of Mexico, cold fronts spill through the Chivela Pass and fire the famous Tehuano winds out of the NNE - blowing directly offshore at La Bocana and grooming the lineup to a glassy, rippable state. The Southern Hemisphere continues to send consistent SSW groundswell, averaging 3-4ft (1.0-1.2m) with 12-13s periods, and the ideal-wind clock runs at 65-70%. With air temps in the mid-20s, water at 28-29°C and almost no rain, this is the most consistent window for clean, fun surf.

Fair Surf Season (March - April & October)

The shoulder months are a classic trade-off. March and April see the Southern Hemisphere swell machine powering up - periods stretch to 13-14s and average heights climb to 3.5-4ft (1.1-1.2m) - but the offshore flow starts to weaken and ideal-wind percentages slip to the high 50s. October is the reverse: the swell is still strong at 4ft (1.3m) with 13s periods, while the first strong N/NNE offshore pulses of the dry season return. Expect a few onshore afternoons, but the dawn windows are world-class.

Low Surf Season (May - September)

The rainy season is a mixed bag. While this is technically the biggest-swell period of the year - 4-4.5ft (1.3-1.4m) at 13-14s from persistent SSW/SW groundswell - the wind regime turns unreliable, with ideal conditions dropping to just 52% in May, June and September. The ITCZ and Eastern Pacific tropical activity bring daily showers, thunderstorms and variable E/SE winds that make the surf lumpy. Persistent rain (5-8mm/day) keeps the river mouth pushing muddy runoff through the lineup. Still, between the passing tropical waves, the sheer level of south energy offers plenty of rideable, if less polished, surf.