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Beaches in El Salvador

A Dose of Palm Trees: My Favorite Beaches in El Salvador

Patricia Trigueros takes you to some of her favorite beaches in El Salvador. The best way to cope with the grind of San Salvador city life is to get out sometimes.

There’s room in the smallest, most densely-populated country in Central America for a vast and diverse coastline. The beaches in El Salvador may surprise you.

From one end of El Salvador’s coastline to the other, you get palm trees aligned by the shores of sandy volcanic beaches. Some beaches stretch out, and the palm trees don’t manage to hide the setting sun in fading colors.

Sneaking a trip to the beach is how you make the best of living in El Salvador. Everything here – from jobs to entertainment – revolves around the city of San Salvador. To get away from the daily grind, one must get away from San Salvador. And among the best-kept secrets is how close the beach is.

Depending on what you have on your plate, it’s possible to take a peek at those beaches, a view that comes with a side of waves and seafood.

El Zonte

The early bird gets the worm,” and the surf lessons, too. I’m usually reluctant to get up before… well, I snooze my alarm a lot. But it takes will and the right mood to head down to Puro Surf in El Zonte. Start the day with a class (they provide the best surf lessons in the country) and enjoy the rest of the day practicing in the ocean or relaxing. There’s a great restaurant here, too, for any moment of the day. Between surfing and eating, there’s also the wonderful infinity pool.

Pull out a chaise lounge and sunbathe, if you’re tired from the surfing. Use your towel as a replacement for a yoga mat, to truly relax.

The backdrop of the infinity pool is, of course, the vast blueness of the Pacific Ocean. Look at it too long and it will make you think twice before driving back to San Salvador. It’s less than an hour away, so why not do it on a regular basis? On Saturdays or weekdays or whenever.

El Tunco

Say you decide to spend the night (a Sunday?) after all, without driving back to the city. You’re in for a great evening, with warm weather that feels cooler as the night progresses. Toss the book you’re reading and stare at the sky. Let the feeling you get from long conversations and good company sink in.

You’ll wake up early enough to have a smoothie for breakfast, on the main strip of El Tunco. The place that says Pupusas and Bar de Jugos is where I go. Mondays are better when they start at the beach, and you get away with prolonging your weekend a little bit more.

You can also try getting away to the beach right after work. The sun won’t set until almost 7:00pm, and there are plenty of restaurants around to start your early evening.

I’d stay away from tequila, but I wouldn’t be totally surprised if someone at the table suggests we suck on a lemon and salt. The weather is hot and sticky, so this burning Mexican firewater might make sense.

There are many options for food, drinks, and a few laughs on terraces in El Tunco. You’ll be relaxed by the time you’ve wolfed down a meal and drinks, and listened to some live music at La Guitarra. It’s always a good idea to know who’s playing, in case you want to drive there and back, for a change of scenery.

El Obispo

It’s an unspoken rule that when you go out for brunch you have time to spare. So if you have time to spare, and a craving for oysters, you should drive down from San Salvador to Playa El Obispo.

Take a beachfront seat at the spot where the sign reads Blanchy in bold letters. Order the freshest oysters, brought right to you from the neighboring port. Leave room for local beer and bite-sized servings of garlic shrimp. I hear this is the recipe for a successful Saturday, which is usually a cue for cars to form traffic jams in the city.

And if you’ve come this far, why not go a little further outside the city? Ignore everything along the way and continue until you reach the K59 Surf Resort, another place to stay with great food. What else do you want? The view of palm trees, waves, and bluish hues of the ocean.

Anywhere I go, my homesickness kicks in after a couple of months of not seeing the sunset on any of these beaches in El Salvador.

Patricia Trigueros is a free spirit, writer, and translator from El Salvador. She has the habit of drinking too much coffee and writing in English, French, and Spanish. Check out her blog or follow her on Twitter and Instagram.

Patricia Trigueros

Patricia Trigueros

Patricia is a free spirit, writer, and translator from El Salvador. Has the habit of drinking too much coffee and writing in English, French, and Spanish. She works as a freelance consultant. Studied French Literature in l'Université de Bordeaux and Integrated Marketing Communications in Escuela de Comunicación Mónica Herrera. When not traveling, she lives in San Salvador, El Salvador.