El Salvador Retreats….
Why I Keep Going Back to El Salvador
I first went to El Salvador probably 10 years ago—maybe even a little longer. I went with two girlfriends, and we happened to arrive during a huge swell.
Las Flores was pumping.
We surfed for three days and had the best time. It was one of those trips that sticks with you—the kind where everything comes together: good waves, good friends, adventure, and that feeling that you've discovered somewhere really special.
Years later, a friend told me about her experience at Punta Mango. The more she talked about it, the more curious I became. So I started digging.
That's when I found Hotel Punta Mango.
The hotel sits right above the wave, overlooking the ocean. To get down to the beach, you walk down 50 or 60 steps—which is definitely a little bit of a workout. But honestly, I kind of love it. By the time you get to the bottom, you're warmed up and ready to paddle out.
But what really got me was the feeling of the place.
Punta Mango reminded me so much of what Costa Rica felt like when I first went there almost 20 years ago as a teenager.
Remote. Wild. Beautiful.
There was no light pollution. At night, the sky was completely dark and full of stars. There was this incredible feeling of emptiness and space—like you were truly somewhere far away from everything.
But at the same time, you didn't have to sacrifice comfort.
Hotel Punta Mango has an infinity pool overlooking the ocean, bar service, amazing margaritas, and seriously incredible food. The food had so much flavor and spice—fresh, bold, delicious food that made every meal something to look forward to.
And then there was the wave.
We arrived and it was pumping.
It was also my birthday.
The waves were enormous. Triple overhead, giant barrels, and the kind of surf that makes even a confident surfer sit on the shoulder and have a serious conversation with themselves.
Chelsea and I paddled out.
We each caught maybe one or two waves.
And then we looked at each other and thought, Okay. That was enough for today.
We went in.
The plan was to try again tomorrow when things were a little smaller.
And thankfully, they were.
The next day was perfect.
Still big. Still intimidating. Still requiring some calculated risks—but now we were going for it. We were getting some sick waves, and that fear started turning into confidence.
And then came the really cool part.
The retreat started.
We were there with a group of women who were surfing at a slightly different level than us, and suddenly we realized that we had just experienced exactly what they were feeling.
Two days earlier, we had been the ones sitting on the corner, watching the waves, feeling intimidated, but also wanting one.
Now we were sitting with our clients, helping them work through that same feeling.
And it made us better coaches.
We understood the nerves. We understood the hesitation. We understood what it felt like to look at a wave and think, I don't know if I can do this.
So instead of just telling them to go, we could actually meet them where they were.
We worked with them. We helped them choose waves. We helped them build confidence.
And then they started getting sick waves.
It was incredible.
We surfed our brains out—sometimes three sessions a day—and by the end of those days, everyone was exhausted, smiling, and completely stoked.
That trip really showed me what makes a Sister Surf retreat different.
We're not asking you to surf waves we're not willing to surf ourselves.
We want to experience the place, understand the waves, feel the nerves, figure out the best way to approach the lineup, and then help you do the same.
And that's exactly why I'm so excited to go back.
This time, we're doing the full six-day El Salvador retreat.
We're keeping it intentionally small—just six clients—because we want the flexibility to work with each surfer individually and make sure everyone gets the experience they're looking for.
And right now, we have four spots left.
It's too far away to know the forecast for sure but that swell we got was one of the biggest swells of year! The chances of that happening again are pretty slim but we choose this time of year because its shoulder season.
Because the beauty of a surf trip is that you never know exactly what the ocean is going to give you.
But I can promise you this:
There will be incredible waves.
There will be adventure.
There will be margaritas by the pool.
There will be plenty of laughs.
And there will probably be at least a few moments when you sit on the shoulder and think, Okay… am I really going to go?
And we'll be right there with you.
Come to El Salvador. Let's find out.
We loved this place so much we have decided to add a retreat again next year. Here is some inside information on what to expect.
When: October 31st- November 6th
Getting there: Fly into SAL San Salvador airport, there multiple flights a day from the US. Our drivers will be waiting for you as you exit the airport. Our location is a 2.5-hour drive to the hotel.
Is it safe? Yes, in the last 5 years the country has been focused on making the country safe for travelers and tourism. El Salvador is rapidly becoming a surf destination and is now ranked as a travel #1 advisory for tourist.
How are the waves? There is an perfect right point and if its smaller a nice beach break right with peaks in both directions. There is good white water for first time surfers and plenty of options for waves.
Hotel info: Los Mangos Hotel sits above the beach with a perfect view of the waves.
