THE PACIFIC COAST - Guatemala - page 331

won't have to share a wave with 20 other people, as is the case with other, more
popular regions along the Central American coast. The best surfing beaches in
Guatemala can be found at Iztapa and Sipacate, both of which have more-than-
adequate accommodations.
United States travel magazines have put the word out concerning El Paredón
Surf Camp (tel. [phone] or 5744-9342, www.surf-guatemala.com ) , a bare-
bones surfing paradise on one of Guatemala's best breaks. Still, you wouldn't
know it cruising around the sandy streets of this quiet village where chickens
roam freely. You can still show up on almost any given day with nary another
surfer in sight.
The biggest waves can be found during swells occurring between mid-March
and late October with wave faces sometimes as large as 18 feet. During other
times of the year, waves average 3-6 feet with the occasional 10-foot swell.
If you want to check out the surfing scene in Guatemala, a useful website is
www.surfinguatemala.com , established by Pedro Pablo Vergara, a local surfer
who costarted Maya Extreme Surf School and offers trips to Guatemala's surf
spots. The site lists about 20 breaks along the Pacific Coast with area maps to
help you find them, along with information on accommodations ranging from
budget surf camps to stays in private villas. The school can also arrange trans-
portation for you and your surfboards to various surf spots from Guatemala City.