President Nayib Bukele officially launched Surf City 2, a transformative tourism project in eastern El Salvador, marking a milestone in regional development. The initiative centers on a newly constructed 13-kilometer coastal highway linking 11 beaches in Usulután and San Miguel departments, with an investment of $41 million.
In this eastern region of El Salvador, specifically in the department of La Unión, is where the Port of La Unión is located and where the Pacific airport will be built.
“Several tens of millions of dollars have been invested to build this road with bike lanes, lighting, and viewpoints. But this project is more than just a highway—it benefits not only the beaches it connects but the entire eastern region. It’s so significant that we’ve named it Surf City 2,”
Bukele stated during the inauguration.
The area, stretching across Las Flores, Punta Mango, and 19 kilometers of coastline, holds the distinguished title of World Surfing Reserve, one of only 13 globally.
This recognition aligns with Surf City 1 in La Libertad, where the 2025 Surf City El Salvador Pro competition is underway. Bukele emphasized that safety and infrastructure are key to boosting tourism, noting El Salvador’s status as Central America’s fastest-growing tourist destination.
The new highway connects 11 beaches—including El Cuco, Las Flores, Punta Mango, and El Toro—and will integrate with the under-construction Pacific International Airport. “I don’t just see a road; I see restaurants, jobs, tourism, economic growth, and all the positive outcomes this project brings,” the president added.
Which beaches are connected?
The beaches in the eastern region of El Salvador that are connected by this 13-kilometer road are the following 11 beaches:
- Playa El Cuco
- Playa Las Flores (The Flowers Beach)
- Playa La Vaca (The Cow Beach)
- Playa El Toro (The Bull Beach)
- Playa La Ventana (The Window Beach)
- Playa El Carrizal
- Playa Punta Mango
- Playa La Periquera
- Playa El Floral
- Playa El Bonjo
- Playa El Abrojal
- Note: The word “playa” means “beach“.
We have translated the full name of some beaches into English so that people can better understand the name. All the beaches in El Salvador have names in Spanish, or they come from words whose origin I personally don’t know, or they are invented names.
Beyond tourism, the project includes renovated educational facilities. The Agua Fría School in Jucuarán has already been upgraded, and plans are underway to build a new school in El Carrizal. The highway itself features dual vehicle lanes, LED lighting, underground wiring, bike paths, bus stops, seven bridges, and parking zones for cars, motorcycles, and bicycles.
To give you an idea, in the following video you can see what the street used to look like versus what it looks like now.
Bukele contrasted his administration’s progress with past governments, recalling unmet promises by the FMLN to develop the east over a decade. His administration has delivered the $160 million San Miguel Bypass, the $386 million airport, and bridges like San Antonio ($11.5 million) and Carolina ($12.5 million).
With Surf City 2, El Salvador continues to chart a course toward sustainable growth, blending tourism, infrastructure, and community development under Bukele’s vision of a revitalized nation. 🌊🇸🇻
