What to Pack for a Surf Trip to El Salvador (What I Actually Wore)

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Here’s exactly what I packed for my surf trip to El Zonte, what I actually wore every day, and what I’d leave at home. The good news: you need way less than you think.

First, what the weather’s actually like

It’s hot. Like, hot and humid every single day, the kind where you’re a little sweaty the second you walk outside. The water is warm too, so you don’t need a real wetsuit.

I went in September, which is rainy season. Most days were sunny and then the sky would just open up for a bit. If you go between roughly May and October, expect some big downpours and plan your packing around getting wet and drying fast. November through April is the dry season.

That’s really the whole packing strategy: light, breathable, quick-drying, and nothing you’d be sad to get soaked.

What to wear in El Salvador: what I wore pretty much every day

Honestly, I lived in my CRZ Yoga running shorts and a sports bra. Every day. I’d surf, walk into town, grab food, and go right back to the beach without really changing.

They’re soft, they dry super fast, and they take up almost no room in your bag, so you can pack a bunch. The running shorts have a built-in liner, which makes them perfect for hot days when you don’t want anything extra on.

• CRZ Yoga Dolphin 3″ running shorts: my go-to. Light, quick-dry, with a liner.
• CRZ Yoga Butterluxe 6″ biker shorts: good when I wanted a little more coverage.
• CRZ Yoga Butterluxe V-neck sports bra and the ruched V-neck sports bra: easy, comfy, and cute enough to wear on their own.
• Square-neck crop tank and Y-back crop tank: built-in bra, so it’s one piece and done.

I put all of them in one place so they’re easy to find: my CRZ Yoga favorites on Amazon.

Light, flowy clothes (even when it’s hot)

This one might sound backwards, but trust me: light, flowy clothes are way more comfortable than tight stuff when it’s this hot. Air actually moves through them, they keep the sun off your shoulders, and they don’t stick to you when you’re sweaty.

I brought a couple of flowy dresses for evenings and going out to eat. They pack small, throw on over a swimsuit, and you instantly look like you tried.

Dresses

• A long, flowy maxi like this ZESICA off-shoulder dress. It’s airy, covers your shoulders and works for dinner.
• A sheer chiffon swim cover-up to go between the beach and lunch without changing.
• Surf brands make the best beach dresses because they’re built for exactly this. I love the O’Neill Sai maxi and the shorter O’Neill Rilee mini, Roxy’s Stillwater maxi and swim dress, and this Billabong smocked maxi.

Flowy shorts

When I wasn’t in running shorts, I wanted something loose and breezy to throw on over a swimsuit.

• Roxy Oceanside beach shorts: soft, loose and quick-drying.
• Billabong Road Trippin shorts: elastic waist, super easy.
• Rip Curl Classic Surf pull-on shorts: comfy and cute for walking around town.

Skip anything heavy, stiff or tight. Denim especially: it’s too hot and takes forever to dry.

Shoes: just sandals

You really don’t need real shoes. You’re walking on sand, in and out of the water, and everything gets wet when it rains. A couple of good pairs of sandals is all you need.

I wore my Crocs Getaway Strappy Sandals pretty much the whole trip and I loved them. They’re so comfortable to walk around in all day. The only downside: they get slippery when they’re wet, so be careful on wet tile and rocks. Otherwise, they’re great.

A couple of other good options:

• Flip-flops. Rainbow single-layer sandals are a classic for a reason. They mold to your feet and last forever.
• Waterproof slides. The Birkenstock Arizona EVA is the waterproof version of the classic. You can rinse them off, wear them in the rain, and they still feel like Birks.

I saved all the clothes and shoes from this post together here: my surf trip clothes and shoes on Amazon.

Surf gear

I didn’t bring a board. I stayed right in El Zonte and could walk to a surfboard rental, which made traveling so much easier. If you’re staying somewhere central, I’d do the same.

Because the water’s warm, you don’t need a wetsuit. What you do want is to cover your skin, because you’re in the sun all day and you’ll be out in the water for hours.

Get a long-sleeve surf suit made of swimsuit material, not neoprene. It’s basically a long-sleeve swimsuit: light, stretchy and quick-drying, so you’re not overheating, but your back, shoulders and arms are covered and you don’t have to keep reapplying sunscreen on them.

• Roxy long-sleeve surf suit: a one-piece with a back zip and UPF 50+.
• Rip Curl Classic Surf long sleeve: same idea, super easy to surf in.
• Body Glove Sloane long-sleeve one-piece: front zip, built-in shelf bra and UPF 50.
• A couple of regular swimsuits that stay put when you duck-dive, for the days you want less coverage.

If you want a little extra warmth or protection from your board, a thin neoprene shorty works too, like the AXESEA 1mm or the KMT 2mm. Totally optional in water this warm.

All my surf suits are saved together here: my surf trip one-pieces on Amazon.

Sun protection (don’t skimp here)

The sun is strong. Between surfing and walking around all day, it adds up fast. I stick with mineral sunscreen, plus a stick for my face because it actually stays on in the water.

• Body: Blue Lizard Sensitive Mineral SPF 50 or Project Reef SPF 50.
• Face: a stick like Freaks of Nature SPF 50 or the travel-size Sun Bum mineral face stick that fits in your pocket.
• A hat and sunglasses for the walk to and from the beach.

Stay hydrated (you’ll sweat a ton)

Between the heat, the humidity and surfing all day, you sweat out way more than you think. Water alone doesn’t really cut it, so I drink electrolytes every day to replace what I sweat out.

I use Trace Minerals Hydro Pak Sport (the Strawberry Coconut is so good). If you don’t want the sugar, Trace Minerals ZeroLyte (Salty Berry Lemonade) is a zero-sugar option. Both come in single packets, so they’re easy to throw in your bag and mix into a water bottle on the beach.

Toiletries and hair

Salt water, sun and humidity do a number on your hair. A few small things made a big difference:

• TSA-approved travel bottles so you can bring your own shampoo and conditioner.
• BioSilk Silk Therapy leave-in to keep my hair from turning into straw, plus BioSilk Pure Moisture for extra hydration after a day in the salt water.
• Paul Mitchell Super Skinny Serum for frizz. It’s humidity resistant, which you need here.
• A mini Wet Brush for detangling after surfing, or the full-size Wet Brush paddle if you have room.
• A big claw clip to get your hair off your neck when it’s hot.

Bags and packing

I packed carry-on style. When everything you own is lightweight, you really don’t need much space.

• Compression bags to keep things organized and squish everything down.
• Waterproof wet bags for wet swimsuits. You’ll use these every day, especially since things don’t fully dry in the humidity.
• A carry-on duffel with a wet pocket.

A few other things worth bringing

• A light rain jacket. It’s rainy season for half the year, and storms come in fast.
• Some cash. El Salvador uses the U.S. dollar, and small spots don’t always take cards.

The time the police pulled us over (they just wanted a ride)

One of my favorite moments of the trip: we were driving down the road when the police flagged us down. We were SO sure we were in trouble. They started talking to us in Spanish, and since none of us are fluent, we had no idea what they were saying. So out came Google Translate.

All they wanted was a ride, lol. We had no idea it’s normal in some countries for police to hitch rides with civilians, so we were very confused. But we drove them a few miles down the road, said our goodbyes, snapped a selfie and went on our way.

The lesson: download Spanish in the Google Translate app before you go so it works offline, and don’t panic if you get flagged down.

If there’s any chance you’ll ride

I didn’t plan to ride on this trip, and I ended up on a dirt bike in the mountains anyway. (Here’s that whole story: Dirt Biking in El Salvador.) The only thing I’d change is having my own gear, because the tour didn’t have women’s sizes.

If there’s even a small chance you’ll ride, toss in the small stuff: gloves, goggles and a jersey. They barely take up any room.

My El Salvador surf trip packing checklist

• 3–4 sports bras or crop tanks
• 3–4 pairs of running shorts
• 1–2 pairs of flowy beach shorts
• 2–3 flowy dresses + a swim cover-up
• 2–3 swimsuits
• Long-sleeve surf suit (swimsuit material, not neoprene; thin shorty optional)
• Mineral sunscreen + face stick
• Electrolyte packets
• Hat and sunglasses
• Travel bottles, leave-in, anti-frizz serum, brush, claw clip
• Compression bags + wet bags
• Waterproof phone pouch
• Light rain jacket
• Comfy walking sandals + flip-flops
• Cash (USD)

All the gear and essentials (sunscreen, electrolytes, hair stuff, bags and more) are saved here: my surf trip packing list on Amazon.

Where I stayed

I stayed at Wave House in El Zonte. It’s right in the middle of everything, so I could walk to the break, the board rental and food. (Transparency: my stay was part of a social media collab.)

El Salvador surf trip packing: FAQ

What should I wear in El Salvador?

Light, flowy clothes, even when it’s hot. Flowy dresses and shorts for going out, and honestly my running shorts and a sports bra most days. Breathable beats skimpy when you’re out in the sun all day.

Do I need a wetsuit to surf in El Salvador?

No. Skip the neoprene and bring a surf suit made of swimsuit material instead. It covers your skin so you’re not getting cooked while you’re in the water for hours.

What shoes should I pack for El Salvador?

Just sandals. Comfy walking sandals plus a pair of flip-flops covered everything for me.

Pack light, you’ll be glad you did

The best thing about packing for El Salvador is how little you actually need. Bring a few comfy things that dry fast, something flowy for dinner, and a lot of sunscreen, and you’re set. Leave a little room in your bag for whatever you bring home. Wondering about safety? Here’s my honest take on whether El Salvador is safe to visit.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Hi, I’m Lindsey. I learned to dirt bike in Virginia, have been snowboarding since the East Coast and surf whenever I can, and I write the trip guides I wish I’d had.

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