Wondering is it worth visiting El Paredon? We think so.
Lots of travellers skip past the sleepy surf town of El Paredon whilst travelling through Guatemala. This is mostly due to El Paredon’s location, tucked away on the west coast – a much less touristy area. The location, paired with bumpy roads and logistical issues, can put many off visiting El Paredon.
When visiting Guatemala I had not planned to visit El Paredon I had never even heard of it. But I had a week to kill before my bus to Nicaragua and thought it would be great to visit somewhere more off the beaten track. I was wondering if it was worth visiting El Paredon, but after a few hours of research, I decided it was the perfect spot – and it was.
I fell in love with El Pardeon, its people, the surf and its amazing weather. There’s so much to see in this Pacific town and plenty to do. I believe that El Paredon is going to gain a lot of popularity over the coming years so I highly recommend visiting before the masses.
Here are some of my key reasons to visit…
Great Surf
El Paredon has probably the best surf in Guatemala and arguably some of the best in Central America. You have a consistent swell in the warm Pacific waters. The swell comes from the south and southwest throughout the year, providing reliable waves for surfers. Pair this with the warm waters and you have perfect surfing conditions. There is also a mix of beach breaks and point breaks which provides diverse surfing experiences for all levels of skill sets.
You will find surfboard hire shops dotted around the streets, you can hire by the hour or day. They can also provide instructors with an hourly fee of around 150Q to 200Q Many locals will also be happy to teach you as well.
The surf can get a bit rough in El Paredon so it is always worth buddying up and making sure that somebody on the beach is keeping an eye on you. There are many experienced surfers in the area who do their best to keep everybody safe.
Social
Easily the most sociable place I have visited in Guatemala. El Paredon only consists of a handful of hostels and Airbnbs. There are a few independent local places to eat and the only watering holes (drinking spots) are in the hostels. This leads to a really social atmosphere around the town. If you spend a week in El Paredon, you will probably know everyone by name.
I think this is especially nice as a solo traveller, everybody is approachable and 99/100 are super friendly.
Safe
Due to the size of El Paredon, there is next to no crime whatsoever, and virtually zero violent crime. During my visit, I saw one police car patrolling up and down the only road in the town. I never saw or experienced any crime nor did I feel unsafe at any point. There are a few stray dogs so it is always worth keeping your wits about you, but usually they turn out to be really friendly as well.
As with anywhere in Central America, it is always recommended to avoid walking around solo at night, as well as sticking to well lit roads and making sure to be aware of your surroundings. Nothing changes for El Paredon. But from first hand experience, I can say El Paredon is one of the safest places I visited throughout Central America.
Amazing Hostels
There are a few great hostels in El Paredon which have absolutely everything you could wish for. Great pools, great parties, social atmosphere, surf hire and amazing food. You really feel like you are on a luxury beach holiday, which can be a nice break from the city-style hostels.
Cocori Lodge, El Paredon – I spent most days at Cocori during my stay. They have a great restaurant with reasonable prices, a bar serving cold beers and a really good pool. They also do surf lessons or board hire. Cocori also has rooms with AC which is a real treat when travelling Guatemala!
Mellow Hostel, El Paredon – Mellow is tucked away slightly off the beach, it does however have amazing facilities, puts on a great quiz night and serves some of the best food I had in El Paredon.
Driftwood Surf Hostel, El Paredon – The name says it all, a cool surfers hostel right on the beach with an amazing social atmosphere. With cheap board rental and instructors available at request this hostel is really for you if you are here for the waves.
Turtles
This was a once-in-a-lifetime type of activity.
Poaching turtle eggs is not illegal in Guatemala and the eggs are actually eaten by the locals. Poachers are supposed to turn over 20% of the nest harvest to local turtle sanctuaries, but unfortunately, this doesn’t always happen. So, Driftwood Hostel buys the turtle eggs back from local poachers. They then bury them back into the sand, until the turtles are ready to hatch.
Set your alarm for 5:30 am and head down to Driftwood Hostel for 5:45, you’ll then walk along the beach for about 10 minutes until you get to the turtle sanctuary. One of the workers at the sanctuary will put all the turtles that have hatched that day into a bucket, then, you’ll walk down the beach and watch as the turtles are released onto the sand.
The turtles are fragile so you mustn’t touch them. You shouldn’t help them find their way to the sea either, they need to do this themselves as it is an important part of their journey.
This was one of the most magical things we have done in the whole time we have been travelling, and, it was free. The whole activity is donation-based, with the donated money being used to buy more eggs.
Is it worth visiting El Paredon? Absolutely, YES!
Read: Where To Party In El Paredon
Read More: El Paredón, Guatemala: A Hidden Gem on the Pacific Coast
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