El Tunco is a sleepy surf destination found on the northern Pacific coast of El Salvador. This quintessential Central American village is the most visited, and touristic, place in the country. Located to the south, the nearest city is La Libertad. El Tunco, is even the perfect place to use as a home base while exploring the famous surf north, in El Zonte and El Sunzal.
This once sleepy coastal town still retains its quiet atmosphere during the week. However, it transforms into El Salvador‘s biggest party getaway during the weekend. A destination where rich El Salvadorans, generally from the capital of San Salvador, escape for the weeks end. This tranquil destination has two paved streets with a handful of residential dirt roads. Come Friday, the music gets turned up while the crowds unwind from the monotony of the week.
Every night a row of art vendors line main street. This makes it the perfect place to find that handmade souvenir, while simultaneously supporting a local. This is a safe destination and one, almost everyone I’ve spoken with, that feels safe to walk around at night. Just like any city, in any country, be aware of your surroundings and avoid dark and/or dimly lit streets that do not have many people on them.
El Tunco is an affordable destination. At least until the most touristic time of the year, such as Holy Week (or Semana Santa). Prices soar during Easter week and hostels become quite expensive even when there’s no one in them. I checked one of the main budget hostels during this period. It was empty and with a minimum dorm price of $20 USD per night.
This is the perfect destination to escape from the busy city centers of Santa Ana and San Salvador. Take some time and immerse into the local culture, some ecotourism, and a little relaxation. The Pacific coast is known for its incredible surf and is becoming a backpacker’s oasis. Travelers in El Salvador are few and far between, but those that do generally fall in love with its diverse landscapes and world-renowned surfing.
Surf’s Up!
The Pacific Coast is considered a haven for both beginner and intermediate surfers. Visitors will be pleased to discover that surfing lessons are cheap and relatively easy to find. Almost anyone living in town, will know someone who is eager to give lessons. Just ask around upon arrival. Beginners can get in the water for a calm morning surf. The morning tends to have the gentlest waves throughout the day, which can be a great time to practice some newly acquired skills.
This backpacker hotspot is a wonderful beach town during the dry season. The beach is still present during rainy season, but only during a low tide. High tide combines with heavy rains and sweeps in to wash away the black sand beaches. The surf cascades into the rocky areas and can be frustrating for those that want to relax. Unfortunately for me, this was the case when I passed through, forcing me to miss out on some much-needed relaxation.
Beach Caves
During the low tide, it is recommended to walk to the southeast of town and turn left at the end of main street. Follow along the uncomfortable rocky shoreline, for a 10-minute walk, to visit the highly regarded beach caves. Even during low tide, it is likely you’ll get wet, so arrive prepared and bring a dry bag for your cell phone, camera, or other valuables that you want to keep dry.
Cascadas de Tamanique (Tamanique Waterfalls)
Adrenaline junkies will be excited to learn that cliff jumping is close and accessible at the Eco-Park of Cascadas de Tamanique. Just hop on chicken bus #187 from the T-intersection, where the edge of town meets the highway. The bus to Taminique departs once an hour for $.50 cents. There are two options, hire a tour guide for $5-$10 per group or have offline maps to Google Maps or Maps.me downloaded for the area.
After a short hike in the park, there will be a small entrance fee. At the time of writing the cost was $2.50 per person. The best two waterfalls are waterfalls 3 & 4. I recommend hitting these two first, snap some pictures and cool off in the swimmable pools below. Also, behind waterfall 4, there are a handful of secluded falls with swimmable private pools. One of these has a 4-meter jump that is quite enjoyable and was my favorite spot I’d found to jump from.
Waterfalls 1 & 2 are where the crowds hang out. The pools are incredibly accessible and near the entrance station. Falls 1 & 2 include some prime locations for jumping in. The jump at waterfall 1 is around 2-3 meters and a good starting point. The jump from waterfall 2 is much higher, and jumping is the only way to reach the base of the waterfall. Personally, I wouldn’t recommend making the leap. If cliff jumping is a priority for you, then I’d recommend securing one of the local guides in town before arriving. They can point out all the places that you can safely jump from without concern.
Getting Around the Pacific Coast
I highly recommend exploring all the incredible territory around El Tunco. Traveling in the chicken buses is quite simple and worth the cultural experience. It is also the cost-conscious route to go. They’re extremely well organized throughout El Salvador and are incredibly affordable. The most expensive bus I took during my three weeks cost $1.75 and that was for a 2.5-hour journey.
Scooter rentals begin at $25 for 24 hours and go down from there. The price for a full day rental, beginning in the morning with an evening drop off time, is $20. A half day rental can get as cheap as $15 for a handful of hours. There are options for everyone depending on the budget. The scooter rental will give lots of flexibility and allow tourists to explore the coast.
Where to Stay
El Tunco is full of places to stay, with over 20 hostels and several lavish accommodations as well. The most cost-effective hostel is the Papaya Lodge. This party hostel is the only budget option found on Hostelworld. The Papaya Lodge can be found by searching in La Libertad. Hostelworld
If sharing the stay with a friend, or lover, then stop into Hotel El Viajero on the edge of town. This budget friendly option offers $25 private rooms that include hot showers, access to a kitchen, Wi-Fi, and a $5 typical breakfast that includes coffee. Check out Booking for the best available budget hotels.
Eat a Popusa!
Do not miss eating a popusa! Popusas are a Salvadorian staple. These delicious snacks are perfect for a quick bite or gorging down several, for a quick meal. A popusa is a corn or rice dough, filled with cheese and whatever else you could want inside. My favorite was the pollo con aquacate (or chicken with avocado). I’d recommend selecting the rice dough, as it is what the locals recommend. The corn ones tend to be far less satisfying and a little on the dry side.
Mangoes and Coconuts!
If you love mangoes, then March is the perfect time to visit, yayyy mango season! Mangoes fall right off the trees and litter the streets. Locals scavenge what they can and try to sell them for cheap. The best mango is a mango that has just fallen off the tree and is bursting with flavor. These delicious buggers tend to have a small bruise from where the fall impact occurred. I’ve never had a better mango than these and they quickly became a staple of my morning diet.
Visitors struggling to hydrate, should take full advantage of the cheap coconuts for sale. Coconuts are the only food source, in the world that produce proper drinkable water. The water of a coconut is twice as hydrating as water itself. A coconut has two times the electrolytes while the meat is full of protein and essential vitamins. The meat can also be used to supplement a cheap meal or snack.
I spent a couple of days in El Tunco and could have easily spent many more. I quickly fell in love with this paradise. There is more hiking than consumable during a couple days stop. The surf looked just as amazing, yet it’s not a sport that I particularly enjoy. There is so much to do, and the locals are super friendly too.
I’ll take this moment to note, that my friends and I visited with a rental car. We discovered that the town of El Tunco charges for the entrance and parking of said car. However, the fee is only $1 per day. This $1 is put toward tourist amenities. The city uses the funds to run a daily clean up at 6 am. The fee also helps to pay the tourist police, while paying for security cameras and guards as well. Collectively helping to bolster the safety of town.
El Tunco was once a fishing village that has quickly become the biggest tourist attraction in the country. This once sleepy village is now a weekend party haven for both locals and tourists. However, it is one that returns to its quiet roots during the week. Overall, it’s a destination that is incredibly accessible, affordable, and generally regarded as all around safe. El Tunco is a place that I would recommend to both backpackers and families alike. Besides the Pacific Coast is home to some of the best surf and sunsets throughout Central America, and alone are worth the trek to see.
Quick Notes:
- Surf Lessons start at $20
- Beach Caves: Turn left at end of main street and walk 10 minutes along the low tide rocky shoreline.
- Cascadas de Tamanique: Take bus #187 to Taminique for $0.50.
- Cascadas de Tamanique ent. Fee: $2.50.
- Budget/Party Hostel: Papaya Lodge on Hostel World search in La Libertad.
- Scooter Rental: 24 hours-$25 Full Day (8 hours)-$20 Half Day (4 hours)-$15
