Surfing Km 59: The Complete Guide

Km 59 is a point break located in La Libertad, El Salvador, offering a right-hander along Central America's Pacific-facing coastline. Km 59 is El Salvador's quality point break—a right-hander named for its marker on the coastal highway that delivers long, workable walls when solid south swells arrive. Rated as advanced difficulty with lightly crowded conditions, this point break is a worthy destination for surfers looking beyond the usual suspects.

Best Conditions

Swell Direction: The ideal swell direction is SSW (200°), with workable conditions from S to SW (175°–235°). Swells outside this window will either miss the break or produce disorganized waves.

Swell Size: Km 59 needs a minimum of 1m / 3ft to start working and handles swells up to 3m / 10ft before conditions deteriorate.

Swell Period: Look for a swell period of at least 12 seconds, with 16 seconds being the sweet spot. Longer periods deliver more organized, powerful waves with better shape.

Wind: True offshore here blows from the NNE (20°). The full offshore range spans NNW to ENE (340°–70°). Glassy conditions under 4km/h from any direction also produce excellent surf. Plan for early morning dawn patrol sessions.

Tide: This spot works best at low to mid tide. Optimal tide range is 0.4m–1.5m.

When to Go

Primary Season: The prime window at Km 59 runs March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October (Mar–Oct). This is when swell consistency and direction align most reliably with the break.

Secondary Season: A secondary window opens November, February (Nov–Feb). While not as consistent, patient surfers can still score quality sessions during this period.

Season Notes: Needs bigger S-SW swells. Quality when it works.

Water Temperature: Expect water temperatures around 28°C / 82°F. Boardshorts or a thin rashguard are all you need.

Getting There

The nearest airport is SAL, roughly 60 minutes by car.

Access: Named for kilometer marker on coastal highway.

Hazards & Tips

Known Hazards:

🪨 Rocks — Rocky entry/exit or in lineup
👊 Localism — Heavy local enforcement

Rocky point. Local surfers. Respect the lineup.

Safety Tips:

Respect the lineup, wait your turn, and be friendly. A little humility goes a long way

Skill Level: This spot is rated advanced (6/10). Crowd Level: Typically lightly crowded (4/10).

Check the Live Forecast

Planning a session at Km 59? Check the live forecast on Strike Mission to see today's conditions and the 10-day outlook. Our Strike Score algorithm rates this spot from 0 to 100 every day, factoring in swell direction, size, period, wind, and tide — so you know exactly when to paddle out.

Don't leave your next surf trip to chance. Let the data tell you when Km 59 is firing.

*Conditions data sourced from Strike Mission's verified spot database.*