El Paredón has something that many destinations look for: authenticity. Its waves, nature and calm atmosphere are part of what attracts those who come there.
The growth can be seen in the supply of hotels, hostels, restaurants and other businesses that serve both local and foreign visitors. Surfing has been one of the elements that helped place the beach within the tourist circuit.
A team of Guatevision for Guatemala No Se Detiene traveled to Sipacate, in Escuintla, to talk to tourists and experts not only about how surfers see this emerging attraction, but also about how it can scale as a destination.
Three different stories converge on the same beach. Milton found a passion as a child; Morris arrived from Germany after hearing recommendations about the destination, and Elad is just beginning his surfing adventure. Their experiences show how El Paredón became a meeting point for people from different parts of the world.
One of the main alerts is that El Paredón is not the only Central American destination that seeks to grow without losing its essence. El Salvador and Costa Rica have also worked on tourist attractions, trying to preserve what makes their beaches unique.
According to the International Surfing Association, the world surfing championships are held in countries such as El Salvador and Costa Rica, which have already managed to position themselves as venues for these events.
Are beaches like El Paredón ready to take the leap?
In the documentary we explore how the country does not need to invent beauty: it needs to build the conditions to transform it into opportunities.
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