Central America Surf
A gallery of surf images from Panama, Costa Rica, Nicaragua and El Salvador
With water temperatures sometimes exceeding 30 degrees celsius, Central America is a wetsuit-free zone for surfers. In fact, after the exertion of prolonged paddling on hot days, you'll often wish the water was a couple of degrees cooler.
The southern hemisphere winter (June - September) is when Central America receives its biggest and most consistent waves. These swells are generated by huge Southern Ocean storms, which travel massive distances - crossing the equator and finally breaking on these shores. At other times of the year the surf is smaller and more suitable for begginers.
Unfortunately, Central America's tropical charms and close proximity to the United States mean it can be tough to find an uncrowded wave. Costa Rica is the worst affected by overcrowding and rampant commercialism, but Nicaragua and El Salvador offer some welcome relief from the madness.
The following is selection of images from Panama, Costa Rica, Nicaragua and El Salvador that will give you an idea of the type of waves you can expect in each country.
