Between the hours of 6 am to 9 am and 5 pm to 7 pm. For the tourist bus, its around 125Q and you can either book through the accommodation you book to stay in El Paredon, or book through GuateGo. Central America ; Guatemala ; Escuintla Department ; El Paredon ; El Paredon B&Bs / Inns ; Paredon Surf House; Search. After being turned away by most of the other places in El Paredon who werent very helpful at all this place was a breath of fresh air. Weeks with ideal weather are listed above. The town has long been a weekend retreat for locals seeking an escape from the commotion of Guatemala City and expats living in Antigua. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Our best data indicates this area is somewhat safe. To soak up and immerse ourselves in different languages, cultures, tastes and traditions. Many come here to relax, surf, or party as there are honestly not many other choices! Im pretty sure we have all had travel plans messed up because of COVID and not all insurers covered this. Those willing to visit at these times will likely find it the least expensive month. The best time to visit El Paredon for the best surfing conditions is between November and April. El Paredon is situated along a river filled with mangroves, which empties out into the ocean. Tourists are unlikely to visit El Paredon in October. When he told me it was only 100Q a night I couldnt give him my money quick enough! La Choza Chula are located in the heart of El Paredon where you can visit their shop to book a tour or to shop the local ecological products made by the local women. Explore Guatemala's mystical, mountainous, and volcanic landscapes on this tour, including hiking, biking, and boating. They give you the opportunity to experience the true Guatemalan way of life. The complete tour will take approximately 2 hours if you stop several times to see the various species. The beaches in Guatemala arent necessarily well-known, and most wont put these spots on their itinerary while exploring the country. RELATED: 7 Travel Shoes for Women That Are Functional AF. Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. Although it had only just opened and was still a work in progress you can see the potential. They will get you to El Paredon in no time and even pick you up and drop you off at your hotel. The last option would be to take a taxi or Uber. This was during peak season in January 2022. I also use Travel Insurance Master for some short vacation type trips as they are cheaper than World Nomads a lot of the time. This isnt going to be a luxury beach getaway with perfect white sand. The best option to rent a kayak is at El Paredon Surf Camp for 40 GTQ (5 USD) for three hours. One of the many things La Choza Chula offers is a Guatemalan cooking class. Some of these days passes even come with drink vouchers. But this afternoon, the beach is deserted; there are no surfers catching barrels or carving up some of Central America's cleanest waves. Here are the best ways to explore and enjoy this little slice of paradise in Guatemala. Ive linked to the places on Booking.com but those not linked you will need to call to book. The average high during this season is between 92.8F (33.8C) and 90.2F (32.3C). Some people would recommend using the chicken bus, but Guatemalas public transport isnt the most reliable or safe. For 120 quezales($15), I had a private one-hour lesson with Bagley. Unlike many other surf towns in Central America, El Paredon is a very quiet one. The area is less temperate than some in the 17th percentile for pleasant weather compared to tourist destinations worldwide. Our last night was on a Friday and we met multiple people coming from Guatemala City for the weekend. Canadian Rockies Road TripAn Epic 1-Week Itinerary, 15 of The BEST Things To Do in Antigua, Guatemala, Hi, friend! If you are a big surfer and love relaxing by the pool, then I highly suggest you visit El Paredon in Guatemala. Even though El Paredon is a small town, youll find many things to do to keep you entertained. Other than this it is practically not worth grabbing your board to head out there, which is sad. El Paredon off the beaten path. El Paredon is known as an up-and-coming destination ever since it caught the attention of many foreign surfers. El Paredon Guatemala surf spot is also suitable for intermediate surfers. Tourism data for this area is extrapolated based on nearby areas. However, even though it is extremely well-known, this beach town maintains its laid-back, almost remote feeling. As there arent that many places if its full you will be sleeping on the beach as you wont be able to return to Antigua until the next day. I'm Phillip, an adventure enthusiast from the U.S. traveling the world full time. Here are the best ways to explore and enjoy this little slice of paradise in Guatemala. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. This means any day of the week, you can use the 100q you pay for entry towards food and drink. Often times you will be sitting on the beach and only be able to see so far because of the darkness of the sand reflecting. Also, this is pretty much the main thing to do here, as Ive mentioned. There are many surf schools and accommodations that offer surf lessons and a place to rent a surfboard if you dont have your own. La Choza Chula are a social enterprise and rely on donations/tour bookings to drive their mission another reason to book your adventures here! Keep in mind that these services do not operate on the coast, so they wont be an option for your return. I would love to stay here if I came back to El Paredon! The lowest chance of rain or snow occurs around early January. On average, it rains or snows a very small amount: 0 to 1 times per month. You can choose to keep the fish to cook or donate some of the fish to the local families. Im sure it is finished now and much better equipped. I would suggest a minimum of 2 nights so you can take the time to relax as well as get a surf lesson and go turtle watching! It has a pool (with a bar inside), a volleyball court outside, and pool tables. Depending on when you come to El Paredon, there wont be a ton of restaurants that you are used to having. You can visit the park by boat and by kayak. From air-conditioned rooms to its beautiful pool and beachside location, there is nothing not to love about Driftwood Surfer. As Ive mentioned, El Paredon is small. I did the homework, so you dont have to. Check this page for any recent changes or regions to avoid: Travel Advice and Advisories. You're probably more likely to have your food taken from a hostel kitchen or your drink swiped at a weekend party. Guatemala | Zoah Surf Hotel | El Paredon The surf here in winter, when the waves are at their best, are of decent size. One of the main spots to hang out! You will definitely want to wear shoes while walking on the beach, or risk burning your feet. I think its popular because of its undeniably popular location (right on the beachfront) and because word has caught on and lots of people hang out here. Being a tropical country, Guatemala experiences rain for most of the year. Your options for beaches in Guatemala are pretty slim. With calm waters and great views of the mangroves, its perfect for paddle-boarding. Instead, they use a washing line. Along with trendy and spacious rooms that offer the most comfortable sleep, there is nothing more you could want! The ride here from Antigua is around 2 hours and 3 hours from Guatemala city. Is it Safe to Travel to El Paredon? The streets of El Paredn, Guatemala / Paredon Surf Club Facebook Page The beach is fronted by a line of small hotels and hostels. Dining in El Paredon, Guatemala: A Foodie's Guide to Local Cuisine Additionally, La Choza Chula provides workshops and proper training to all of its staff. If you are a bit of an adventure junky then you could also book a Summit to Surf tour through OX Expeditions. Top tip: The black sands get very hot during the day for obvious reasons so whilst its nice to be barefoot on the earth, Id bring flip flops to save yourself the burn! Youll learn how to prepare Guatemalan tortillas, empanadas, ticucas, and much more! This is a good, affordable place to learn how to surf for beginners. A really wholesome tour exposing you to the abundance of Guatemala and the species that thrive within it. You can take a boat ride out to the feeding grounds to see them. Weather stations report no annual snow. I saw many of the same people night after night, which made this town seem very close-knit. This is the place to do it. The 20km. El Paredon is more for backpackers, and though it is a little bit smaller, more of the locals speak English. Your options for beaches in Guatemala are pretty slim. The highs and lows of spending coronavirus quarantine in paradise Many hostels will have a set of their own as well as Airbnbs. The weather in El Paredon was great every single day I was there. This time three weeks ago, Playa el Paredon a popular surf spot on Guatemala's remote Pacific coast would have been packed. At 34 I sold all my worldly possessions that wouldnt fit into 3 boxes or my backpack and hit the road. One way to get to El Paredon is by shuttle. This is my complete travel guide to El Paredon, Guatemala. If youve never surfed before, most hostels will offer lessons. Not everywhere has WiFi. The most popular places to stay in El Paredon are: Surf House (Bit more upmarket but on the expensive side and always full), Surf Camp (cheaper, not so nice and always full), Casa Macano Surf-Yoga(If you want to have more of a retreat-style stay I stayed here so see below for full review), Soul Food Kitchen and Guesthouse (best Thai food in Guatemala! I do hope it stays like this in some ways as it is being built up quite fast by the growing popularity. Go and grab a board from your hostel and start shredding! Choose your slice of paradise! A guide to the Acatenango volcano hike, Guatemala, The best things to do and see in Guatemala, A San Cristobal de las Casas travel guide, 10-minute inner joy visualisation and journal prompts, Goal setting: How to bring your dreams to life, What is journaling? To start off, the design of the property is gorgeous. Unfortunately, I didnt confirm a booking before I went and ended up wandering down the beach looking for somewhere to stay! While I didnt see this hotel while I was in El Paredon, it looks like a really nice option. Like the one below. Happy days! These months see the most precipitation with 10 to 12 days of precipitation per month. If you are staying for a few days you can negotiate a reduced rate for multiple lessons. The location is right on the beachfront but it was the same price as nicer hostels in my opinion. If you're looking to experience an off-the-beaten path destination in Guatemala, look no further than El Paredon. Two reputable organizations are El Paredon Surf Camp School El Paredon Surfing School (not online) and Pacifico Tours (not online). var Latitude=13.921353;var Longitude=-91.068703;var rootSlug='el-paredon-gt';var PlaceName='El Paredon';var today = new Date();var dd = String(today.getDate()+2).padStart(2, '0');var mm = String(today.getMonth() + 1).padStart(2, '0');var yyyy = today.getFullYear();today= yyyy + '-' + mm + '-' + dd; The best times to visit El Paredon for ideal weather are. Tourism is the slowest during these months due to the weather, so hotels may be affordably priced. Between the hours of 6 am to 9 am and 5 pm to 7 pm. Everyone knows everyone, and the town is generally very safe. Its mainly the kind of destination you go to if you want to surf, or just kick back and relax at the beach or pool (and party at night! If the sun is not out, it might take a day or two to get your clothes back. This makes El Paredon one of the best places in Guatemala to go surfing. Cost During the week, its a 100q tab ($13), and on weekends its 150q ($20), but you only get a 100q towards your bar tab. How magical is that!? This is due to volcanic activity. But for those that arent staying, they can also come and enjoy their restaurant and bar! document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This article may contain affiliate / compensated links.