A couple days after my arrival into the country, my husband and his family arrived to El Salvador. We chose this as our first international family trip because it was a quick and cheap direct flight for them (flying from TX), it’s on the US dollar, and it’s a relatively inexpensive country with something for everyone. We had a lovely week stay at Playa El Palmarcito, which is a small beach between El Sunzal and El Zonte. There was plenty to keep our group of 7 happy throughout the week. We stayed just a 5 minute walk from this beach, so it was easy to go for a swim or grab an ocean-side beverage whenever.
There were also a couple pupuserias (pupusas are the national dish of El Salvador, and are masa/corn or rice flour filled with various veggies, beans, meats and cheeses) within walking distance, plus a brewery a few minutes drive down the road (Cadejo Brewing) with the best sunset view around.
El Zonte was right ‘next door’ to Playa El Palmarcito, so we went there for our first dinner at the beautiful Covana Seaside Kitchen (really impressive bamboo structure, open-air style so you can hear the crashing waves below), checked out the uncrowded black sand beach and also enjoyed the ocean views from a beach bar.
One day (and one night) we explored the town of El Tunco, which gets probably the most tourists in the country, including a good amount of backpackers and surfers. There are lots of good restaurants, bars, and shops, and the beach goes on and on.
Another day, we did a strenuous waterfall hike in Tamanique, we’re talking straight down then straight back up! We were all pretty sore after that one, but it was nice to see the waterfalls and cool down with a swim under them. A guide is required, and the per-person fee was pretty reasonable. That being said, I’m sure there are more enjoyable hikes in El Salvador, so I honestly would not recommend this difficult hike for the casual vacationer unless you’re a hardcore hiker.
The drive up to Tamanique was beautiful and provided some nice views too. The town itself was also small and charming with a nice central square (pictured below) and pupuserias with very affordably priced offerings ($0.50 per pupusa!) plus the most colorful and cheerful looking cemetery I’ve ever seen!
On a Sunday, we went to the capital, San Salvador, which was maybe the wrong move because it was impossible to find a place to park in the center of town where the famous churches and squares are. But we still got to get a feel for the city and checked out (and parked easily at) the National Artisan Market, which was a great place to buy souvenirs and sample some El Salvadorian coffee.
I’d have to say that perhaps the highlight of my week was enjoying a chilled day at Captain Morgan’s Hostel at Lago Coatepeque. This is a volcanic crater lake near Santa Ana that’s a stunning shade of teal. We had lunch and drinks at Captain Morgan’s and were able to rent jetskis, SUPs, and kayaks there. The views were great and the jumping platforms were a fun way to jump into the cool waters of the lake. The lake water felt so refreshing after a week of sand and saltwater, I left the country wishing we had more time to spend in that area. Next time!
You can also stay at Captain Morgan’s Hotel instead of doing a “day pass” like we did. You can book your stay here: https://www.booking.com/hotel/sv/captain-morgan-hostel.pt-br.html?aid=898409&label=affnetawin-index_pub-1548930_site-_pname-Earth%20N%20Oven_plc-_ts-_clkid-6776_1708276764_2822c2f090b5fd884d761c245ce2db60&sid=ecf3c043b971dd40fb56415239fc14b1&dest_id=3302631;dest_type=hotel;dist=0;group_adults=2;group_children=0;hapos=1;hpos=1;no_rooms=1;req_adults=2;req_children=0;room1=A%2CA;sb_price_type=total;sr_order=popularity;srepoch=1708276788;srpvid=118679d836060182;type=total;ucfs=1&#hotelTmpl
I hope this post shows you some amazing places in El Salvador and inspires you to take a trip there too! Being a small country, it is possible to see so much on day trips from your home base at the beach. Just remember, like many developing countries, the water is not safe to drink in El Salvador, so I always travel with Joypur Filter Water Bottle (affiliate link through which I earn a small commission at no cost to you) to avoid using disposable plastic water bottles and be able to drink the tap water anywhere. One more El Salvador destination post coming soon, so stay tuned for the next adventure!
Wonderfully written article about a beautiful country. This trip was truly an adventure and so worth it for our family to be together. Anyone considering El Salvador as a destination for a holiday, will not be disappointed!