Salvacion
Surf guide
Salvacion is located roughly 25 minutes from General Luna in the humble Barangay of Salvacion. The wave is only accessible by boat, and is an amazing right-handed reef break for surfers of all skill levels depending on the wave height. On smaller days, with knee to waist high swells, the gentle waves are ideal for beginners learning to ride. As swells grow to shoulder to head high, the wave is better suited to intermediate surfers with a slightly faster take off, and 3 fairly defined peaks that can get crowded at this size. For advanced surfers, overhead to double overhead conditions offer powerful, square waves that can seem to come out of nowhere as they wrap around the island. This is definitely a local favorite but can dish up some serious hold downs as the swell gets bigger. The winter months (December to March) are prime, as an eastern island shields the break from east winds keeping waves cleaner when other spots are blown out. Salvacion is usually less crowded than waves in GL, but seems to be getting busier during peak conditions, so try to go early if possible.
Ideal conditions
Swell direction
3-8 ft East to Northeast swells.
Wind direction
South offshore winds are best, but Salvacion is fairly sheltered and can handle more wind than other more exposed breaks.
Tide
Mid tide is the sweet spot for surfing Salvacion, but it can be surfed at almost any tide depending on the swell.
Wave difficulty
Intermediate
Suitable for a range of surfers and not overly extreme until the swell is over 6ft. Beginner-intermediate surfers might prefer to sit on the inside peak, but always be aware of other surfers and use proper surfing etiquette.
Wave quality
Good
Good to perfect right-handers when conditions align. The wave is also located in a stunning location within the Pilar river.
Crowd factor
Moderate
Definitely less packed than famous breaks like Cloud 9 but can still see a decent number of surfers during prime conditions or peak season. Arrive early to beat the crowds.
How to get there
Traveling from General Luna to Salvacion takes about 25 minutes by motorbike or car, followed by a 5-minute boat ride to the surf spot. Two main routes lead to the town of Salvacion: National highway via Consuelo route: Head toward Dapa on the national highway, then turn right at Conseulo (marked by Wakepark signs). Pass Wakepark and Corazon, then turn left onto the paved road to Salvacion. For navigation, set "AJL Homestay and Foodhaus" in Google Maps — this route is simple and well signed. Catagnan Bridge via Sta Fe route: Cross the Catagnan (Sunset) bridge, then wind through Cabitoonan, Libertad, and Santa Fe (making a sharp 90-degree left). After Santa Cruz, turn right onto the paved road to Salvacion. This scenic path may need local guidance, as maps can be less reliable. Upon reaching Salvacion, a short boat ride (5 minutes) is required to access the wave, costing 150-200 PHP per person for a 2 hour round trip (rates might change with island prices increasing) and 20 PHP as an environmental fee when leaving the town. Boats typically need at least three passengers, so solo or duo surfers might wait or pay for extra spots. The boats are small and generally don't have a cover, so don't forget sunscreen or a dry bag if it's raining.
Surf forecast & live wind
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