President Nayib Bukele officially inaugurated Surf City 2, a major tourism and infrastructure project aimed at transforming El Salvador’s eastern region into a thriving destination for both international and local visitors. The launch marks a significant milestone in the country’s ongoing effort to promote sustainable tourism and regional economic development.
The centerpiece of this second phase is a newly constructed 13-kilometer coastal road, which connects 11 beaches in the eastern departments of Usulután and San Miguel. Built with an investment of $41 million, the road includes two traffic lanes, bike paths, LED lighting, underground cabling, bus stops, seven bridges, and ample parking for cars, motorcycles, and bicycles.
“Several tens of millions of dollars have been invested to have this road with bike paths, lighting, and viewpoints,” said President Bukele during the inauguration. “But this project is more than a road; it benefits not only the beaches it connects, but the entire eastern part of the country. This project is so large that we’ve called it Surf City 2.”
The new road links Punta Mango, one of El Salvador’s most renowned surf spots, with 10 other beaches, including El Cuco, Las Flores, La Vaca, El Toro, El Majague, El Carrizal, La Periquera, El Floral, El Bonjo, and El Abrojal. The corridor will also connect to the future Pacific International Airport, currently under construction.
In his address, Bukele also announced that the area comprising Las Flores and Punta Mango beaches—together with 19 kilometers of pristine coastline—has been officially declared a World Surfing Reserve, one of only 13 such designations globally.
The president emphasized the broader economic vision behind the project, stating, “I don’t just see a highway; I see restaurants, jobs, tourism, economic growth, and all the good things that a project like this brings.” He also underscored the importance of security in making Surf City 2 a viable and attractive destination, crediting El Salvador’s improved safety as a key driver of its rise as the fastest-growing tourism market in Central America.
In addition to the road, the Surf City 2 initiative has incorporated educational infrastructure improvements, including the remodeling of the Agua Fría School Center in Jucuarán and plans to build a new facility in the El Carrizal hamlet.
Bukele contrasted these advancements with what he described as years of unmet promises by past administrations, particularly the FMLN governments. He highlighted that, under his leadership, the eastern region has already seen the completion of the San Miguel bypass ($160 million), investment in the Pacific International Airport ($386 million), and construction of major infrastructure such as the San Antonio Bridge ($11.5 million) and the Carolina Bridge ($12.5 million). In El Mozote, $28 million has been invested to address a long-standing historic debt, contributing to a total investment of $1.424 billion in the eastern zone alone.
With Surf City 2 now operational, El Salvador is poised to continue building on its growing reputation as a world-class surfing and tourism destination, while simultaneously driving inclusive development for communities that have long awaited such opportunity.