i went for a specific reason (to surf) so i only saw a little slice, but the people were welcoming, the beaches were awesome, the value (and food) was very good and it was beautiful (as long as you understand that it is a country that is still developing and is not too far removed from a civil war). i think this may be one of the reasons that most people i spoke with and encountered seemed to genuinely appreciate that tourists were beginning to come to el sal. a direct flight from LA also helped. san salvador airport was fine. i stayed at a place on a beach that had a great surf break, a pool, room with A/C (shared with a buddy) and three cooked to order meals for $70 a night...we stayed in a pretty remote spot around an hour from san salvador but we went out on a saturday night in el Tunco and partied with a good mix of locals and tourists (about 70/30) and everyone was partying together and we didnt have any issues....i ended up getting two staples in my head from a surfboard fin (got lucky that an ER doc from jacksonville was staying at the same place and had an emergency kit!) and still had a blast and will be going back
Here is some of the wikipedia info on the area (we stayed/surfed about 30 mins from el tunco but this is where we went out)
Playa El Tunco is a little surf village in El Salvador. 8km from Puerto La Libertad, 35km from the airport and 35km from the capital San Salvador. Only few years ago this place was unknown and quiet. It is now the most visited town of El Salvador, by backpackers and surfers all year long, and by salvadorians on the week ends for the nightlife. There are now around 20 hostals, bars, restaurants and everything needed to practice surf. Playa El Tunco is actually the gateway to surspot El Sunzal, and is few kilometers away from El Zonte and Punta Roca, 2 other famous surfspots.
El Tunco is a small resort in La Libertad, a department of El Salvador... El Tunco is a great place because the weather is always hot everyday of the year. It is located 5 minutes from La Libertad harbor. This place is a dream come true for travelers, especially those who like rock climbing, surfing, hiking, swimming, water skying, and of course, tanning. El Tunco has many little ranchos, where a person can eat fresh sea food, and drink cold beverages. Some of the establishments have rooms for rent to rest from the hot day. There are also Hotels that will make your stay unforgettable in El Salvador. The people are very nice, happy, and humble.
Here is some of the wikipedia info on the area (we stayed/surfed about 30 mins from el tunco but this is where we went out)
Playa El Tunco is a little surf village in El Salvador. 8km from Puerto La Libertad, 35km from the airport and 35km from the capital San Salvador. Only few years ago this place was unknown and quiet. It is now the most visited town of El Salvador, by backpackers and surfers all year long, and by salvadorians on the week ends for the nightlife. There are now around 20 hostals, bars, restaurants and everything needed to practice surf. Playa El Tunco is actually the gateway to surspot El Sunzal, and is few kilometers away from El Zonte and Punta Roca, 2 other famous surfspots.
El Tunco is a small resort in La Libertad, a department of El Salvador... El Tunco is a great place because the weather is always hot everyday of the year. It is located 5 minutes from La Libertad harbor. This place is a dream come true for travelers, especially those who like rock climbing, surfing, hiking, swimming, water skying, and of course, tanning. El Tunco has many little ranchos, where a person can eat fresh sea food, and drink cold beverages. Some of the establishments have rooms for rent to rest from the hot day. There are also Hotels that will make your stay unforgettable in El Salvador. The people are very nice, happy, and humble.
