DISCOVER THE UNCROWDED SURF IN GUATEMALA
by John Elwell, Surfers Path MagazineGuatemala has 150 miles of pristine coastline for surfing. There are less than 100 surfers in Guatemala City and no more than 300 in the country. They have a lot of surf rolling in on their southern Pacific sand beaches all year round. Strong rip currents prevail with a few lifeguards available. As Costa Rica is becoming more crowded with too many surfers, many have been moving up the coast of Central America to escape the crowds.
Guatemala borders Mexico, Belize, Honduras and El Salvador. Guatemala also has many side attractions like Mayan temples and the famous Tikal National Park, and beautiful lakes. Guatemalan hospitality and prices are right for budget minded surfers who want waves all to themselves. They have excellent beer, some of the best rums in the world, great food, and exceptionally handsome men & women. Marimba’s are the national instrument and marimba music is the local music.
Guatemala is now a world class sport fishing destination boasting world records. It is the new surfing Frontier.
The top surf spots from 22 beach breaks are: MARINA DEL SUR, IZTAPA, LOS PINOS, TULATE, EMPALIZADA, CHAMPERICO, OCOS, EL PAREDON, SIPACATE and NAUHAULATE RIVER MOUTH. You can find in all of them Hotels, cabins and restaurants and bar. For a budget minded surfer you can get a hammock in this protected secluded compound over the beach for $5 to S 45 a night. They also have a fresh water swimming pool. It is two hours or less down hill on a freeway form Guatemala City, which is at the altitude of 5000 ft., from the coast the roads get more narrow and the way gets more complicated on unpaved roads to isolated Beaches. The drive resembles Hawaii because of the sugar cane fields and high coconut trees.
The little town of ANTIGUA nearby has some best restaurants, Hotels, cantinas, and market stores with very friendly people.
You must take a small boat to some of the surf camps which is a short ride down an estuary to the beach. The location and facilities is excellent model of what a first class surf camp should look like. Guatemala is expecting to put in some more of these surf camps on their miles and miles of empty beaches.
It is recommended that you use MAYA EXTREME SURF CAMPS, to furnish your transportation and surfboards. You can rent a car and take your own boards but now airlines are charging $50-65 dollars for a surfboard bag, MAYA EXTREME SURF CAMP will save you money and time renting you a guide with private transportation, a Land Rover Mercedes Benz Buses and Helicopters.
They can also show you many breaks and how to get there in rural sparsely populated Guatemala.
You many contact Pedro Pablo Vergara Barrios, General Manager , who has a surf shop, and surf school and a surf board factory and is the finest most knowledgeable surfer in Guatemala. His phone and fax is (502) 6634-7772 Cell 5571-9250-60 for more details click this websites. www.surfinguatemala.com. if you want to learn to surf go to www.mayaextremesurfschool.com
