Las Flores, Punta Mango and 19 kilometers of coastline designated by Save The Waves

(November 18, 2024) Oriente Salvaje, El Salvador has been officially dedicated as the 13th World Surfing Reserve (WSR) site.

The Oriente Salvaje World Surfing Reserve has over 12 waves in its 19 kilometers of diverse coastline, including the renowned point breaks Las Flores and Punta Mango, and is the first WSR in El Salvador. 

At the dedication ceremony on Saturday, November 16th, those 19 kilometers of coastline were inaugurated by Save The Waves Coalition and local partners, marking Oriente Salvaje’s official admission into the global reserve program that recognizes, designates and protects world-class surf breaks and surf ecosystems.

Despite the rainy conditions, the speeches, plaque unveiling and ceremonial paddle out were carried out with raincoats, umbrellas and unfazed smiles. The local surfing community and Stewardship Council, as well as representatives of the Municipal governments of San Miguel and Usulutan, the Environmental Investment Fund of El Salvador (FIAES), Catholic Relief Services, and Inter-American Development Bank were present to inaugurate and celebrate the new reserve.  Local professional surfer Sindy Portillo opened the event with a moving speech about the importance of protecting Oriente Salvaje’s surf

“This is the beginning of a collaborative partnership to ensure Oriente Salvaje’s waves and precious coastline remain intact. The community and the Local Stewardship Council are committed to the vision of creating more opportunities for conservation, establishing sustainability standards, and creating tools, pathways and plans that lead to sustainable development.” said Rodrigo Barraza, President of ADETCO and co-owner of Las Flores Resort.

The World Surfing Reserves program is managed and implemented by California-based Save The Waves Coalition, an international nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting surf ecosystems across the globe. The program was launched in 2009 and is comprised of 12 World Surfing Reserves spanning around the world including Malibu and Santa Cruz in California, Ericeira in Portugal, the Gold Coast, Manly and Noosa in Australia, Punta de Lobos in Chile, Playa Hermosa in Costa Rica, Huanchaco in Peru, Guarda do Embaú in Brazil, North Devon in the United Kingdom, and Bahía de Todos Santos in Mexico.

Wild East: A Surf Ecosystem Worth Protecting

“Oriente Salvaje is a truly diverse coastline and deserving of the WSR title. Some of Central America’s last wild dry tropical forests are a backdrop to these world class waves. It really is something special and worth protecting,” says Trent Hodges, Senior Manager of World Surfing Reserves at Save The Waves.

The Oriente Salvaje World Surfing Reserve represents a coalition of passionate individuals and local groups, all dedicated to the preservation and integrity of the area. For years, organizations such as ADETCO, Sociedad Salvaje Salvadoreña, and Paso Pacifico have led conservation initiatives and instituted tourism sustainability standards. Together, they led the effort to nominate and dedicate the eastern region of Oriente Salvaje as a World Surfing Reserve.

“This geography is unique on the Pacific slope of Northern Central America. It hosts mature and secondary forests bordering biodiverse and wave-forming rocky reefs. Threatened and endangered wildlife like hawksbill sea turtles, Salvadorean spider monkeys, and Pacific mahogany trees depend on this area,” says Sarah Otterstrom, Executive Director of Paso Pacifico. “The vision set forth through the World Surfing Reserve designation will support its sustainable management into the future.”

A Critical Juncture for the Environment and the Economy

El Salvador’s eastern region is at a key turning point with a rapidly developing coastline. As the popularity of surfing has grown in the country, the Oriente Salvaje WSR is working to proactively protect its pristine coastline while balancing ongoing development pressure.

The work of the World Surfing Reserve will focus on expanding protected areas in the tropical dry forest, instituting sustainability standards, collaborating on a master plan for development, and working towards marine protection initiatives. All of this work will help safeguard the ecosystems that create the incredible point breaks of Oriente Salvaje.

With the government’s tourism sector targeting Oriente Salvaje as “Surf City 2”, the World Surfing Reserve will also work to ensure that the country’s growing love for surfing provides economic benefits to the local communities while protecting the natural environment.

In addition to the environmental initiatives of the World Surfing Reserves program, the area around Las Flores will also be the site of an innovative pilot program conducted by Save The Waves to create the world’s first parametric insurance for climate resilience at a surfing location. The project was created with the support of the Ocean Risk and Resilience Action Alliance (ORRAA) and Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC). 

“This pilot project is the first of its kind to leverage parametric insurance to support the communities of Oriente Salvaje who rely on surfing for their livelihoods during extreme weather events. It's a great opportunity for the WSR and El Salvador to be at the forefront of climate resilience for surf ecosystems,” said Diego Sancho Gallegos, Stewardship and Resilience Manager at Save The Waves.

 To learn more about the Oriente Salvaje World Surfing Reserve, visit here.

To learn more about Save The Waves and the World Surfing Reserve program, click here.