Want to plan an off-the-beaten-path adventure? Lucky for you, I’ve compiled an El Salvador Trip 2025 travel guide for your next adventure.
Earlier this year, four friends and I spent a long weekend on the El Sunzal beach in El Salvador. This small country has faced crime and security issues over the years, but there has been a big improvement lately. The NY Times included it on their 2024 Places to Visit list, and the US State Department lowered its traveler risk to a Level 2, which aligns with my personal level of comfort. I’m really happy we chose to visit this beautiful country. The culture was vibrant, the beaches and mountains were breathtaking, the food was delicious, the prices were reasonable, and, above all, the people were welcoming and friendly.
If you’d rather jump to a specific category, use these links:
Where to Stay What to Do What to Eat Transportation and Money
I. Where to Stay:
We stayed at Casa de Mar near El Tunco (aka Surf City). This hotel is built into some giant rocks and is situated right on the beach. This not only provides amazing views, but also super easy access to a gorgeous beach where you can surf, swim, and sun.
They have a beautiful pool next to a bar that serves great drinks and solid food. The bar serves the same food as the restaurant, so there’s no need to venture too far to get a decent meal. I highly recommend the guacamole and tortillas (tortillas in El Salvador are about 1/4 inch thick and toasted before they are cut into slices or triangles).
Breakfast was included each day and included a plate of fruit, options of various egg dishes and acai bowls, fresh bread, coffee, and fresh juice. I tried new things every day, including the açaí bowl, eggs with a side of beans & plantains, and a surfers scramble.
The hotel was very helpful in arranging activities and drivers. While I didn’t travel with my children, they noted that they were able to arrange babysitters or nannies if needed. They also have activities at the hotel—ping pong, kayaking, surfboards, and swimming.
Our room was spacious, clean, and comfortable. The bathroom had a window overlooking the ocean and one behind framing the mirror that looked onto the giant rock the hotel is built into. The patio is what really sold it for me, though. It was a huge space, with one wall composed of the giant rock, facing an incredible view of the ocean. Each night we could walk out to an ocean sunset and each morning we were greeted with an ocean sunrise. There were several lounge chairs, a sofa, and a hammock… oh, and did I mention that it had a private soaking tub… truly an incredible offering and for a very reasonable price.
II. What to Do:
El Salvador is a small country, but there is so much to do and see. As we will go into detail below, we went to the top of a volcano, ventured out on the ocean looking for whales, explored some local artisanal markets, took a yoga class, went dancing, and surfed. But we were only there for a long weekend – there is so much more you could do! Next time, I would like to do some of the waterfall hikes, visit a coffee or cocoa farm, or go diving.
A) Yoga and Massage
On our first day, we wanted to expedite our desire to unwind and decompress, so we leaned into what I call “aggressive relaxation.” We took a private yoga class overlooking the ocean, got a massage, hung out by the pool, and ate great food. Our yoga instructor was great – Zonteyoga.com. She came to our hotel and brought enough mats and blocks for us all. The hotel can help arrange both the yoga and massages.
B) Volcano Hikes
You can visit several volcanoes. We chose Boqueron because it was nearby and easy to access. Plus, we wanted to do a few other things that day. The volcano park is overflowing with gorgeous flowers and plants that are thriving in the volcanic-rich soil. It isn’t a long hike to the top, where you can look down from the rim into the center with a large crater from the 1917 eruption.
We had a driver take us around all day – up to the volcano, then to a great restaurant overlooking another volcano and volcanic lake – Finca San Cristóbal. In addition to the amazing view, the food was delightful – a rich chicken soup, lomo sandwich, and fried yucca. The view is truly breathtaking – the volcano Chinchontepec looms over the volcanic lake Ilopango, which is encircled by the city of San Salvador. We then stopped at Planes de Loreno – a small town with a very nice coffee shop called Ikatu. We indulged in some super fancy coffees and desserts. Then we were off to a market to shop.
C) Waterfall Hikes
We ran out of time, but we really wanted to check out these Tamanique Waterfalls. It is only 30 mins from El Tunco and a short 30-min hike from the base.
D) Markets
El Tunco has plenty of shops and stands, but if you are looking for a full market experience, you can check out the Mercado Nacional de Artesanias.
E) Whale Watching
The whales migrate past El Salvador each winter from November to April. We took a boat out to try to spot them, but came up empty-handed. It was also in a very small boat that was pretty choppy. If I could have a do-over, I would look for a catamaran excursion that allowed you to relax on or swim off the boat, and also look for the whales. Here is more information.
F) Surfing
If you’ve ever wanted to try surfing, this is a great place to give it a go. We had two instructors working with four of us. By the end of the lesson, I was able to catch a wave and coast into the shoreline. As you might imagine, there is no shortage of surf shops offering lessons in “Surf City” (El Tunco). They all seemed fine. We went with a private teacher recommended by our hotel. Here is his instagram.
G) Dancing
There are several bars in El Tunco with lively music for dancing, but I think La Bonita takes the cake in this category. While they do have a $5 cover charge, it seemed well worth it. It had the best ambiance of all the El Tunco bars – it is right on the beach with white lights wrapped around the trees and comfortable seating. The music wasn’t ear-ringing super loud like some of the others too. We had a great time here dancing well past midnight. And, if this appeals to you, a local tattoo shop sets up in the back and offers tattoo and piercing services.
II. What to Eat:
As a coastal country, el Salvadoran food often showcases fresh seafood that will not disappoint. There is also an abundance of different soups or “sopas” to choose from, which usually come packed with protein and vegetables – often stacked on an accompanying plate. Last but certainly not least, no visit to El Salvador would be complete without trying their famed pupusas – their national dish, and my personal favorite! You will of course also find a variety of fresh fruits and guacamole native to the region. One thing is for sure, you will eat very well on any visit to El Salvador.
A) Pupusas
El Salvador is known for its pupusas, so you absolutely have to try them. You can get either rice or corn flour (both are great) and lots of interesting fillings. I recommend trying some of the local vegetables, like the loroco flower or ayote.
Pupusas are served with a tomato sauce and curtido. The tomato sauce is plain but adds a lovely acidic balance to the rich pupusas. The curtido is a fermented cabbage slaw that adds a nice crunch and salty umami flavor.
We checked out three different pupuserías on Main Street in El Tunco. Each was good in its own way. Here is the rundown:
- Dale Dale: This is your best choice for those looking for a nice ambiance and a variety of other foods and drinks. Dale Dale has a patio in the back that overlooks a river with lots of birds and weeping trees. The pupusas were excellent, but the curtido was not my favorite.
- Pupusaria Aqua Marina: This is a small shop with several women making pupusas fresh to order. There isn’t much seating, but we took ours to go and ate them on our patio. Even after a long walk on the beach to our hotel patio, these pupusas and fixings were excellent.
- Pu-chi-ca: This pupusaria doesn’t have a sign, but you’ll know it from the colorful picket fence with a few steps up to some humble seating. There is also an open window out to the street where passersby can see the pupusas being made. At the time of this post, there was no internet presence for this restaurant. It is just a little past Aqua Marina on the same side of the road, across from Esquina La Comadre.
B) Seafood
El Salvador is right on the water, so there is plenty of fresh seafood. In the mornings in El Tunco, you can see the fishermen bringing in fresh shrimp, fish, and squid to the restaurants. We enjoyed lots of fish—filleted and whole, shrimp—in tacos or as an entrée, and ceviche with a variety of seafood.
We enjoyed a night out at Beto’s, a restaurant that the locals seem to flock to, as well as some tourists. We had almond fish fillet, ceviche, a whole fried fish, yuca croquettes stuffed with shrimp, and a slice of excellent flan to celebrate my friend’s birthday.
We also had a lovely meal at Erika’s, which has great food and a nice patio dining room that overlooks the river. We had great shrimp tacos and guacamole, but they have much more to offer on their menu.
C) Sopa de Gallo
El Salvador takes its chicken soup seriously. I tried it at a few different locations, and it was always worthwhile—rich broth with fresh chicken and carrots. Some places serve it with a plate of chicken, vegetables, and rice to add to your soup.
D) Chocolate
El Salvador makes its own chocolate, so it is worth trying if you come across it.
IV. Transportation and Money:
Transportation in El Salvador includes buses, taxis, and ridesharing services. The currency used in El Salvador is the Salvadoran Colón (SVC) but everyone uses the US dollar.
A) Transportation
Our hotel provided transportation to and from the hotel, the airport, and other activities. On the recommendation of a friend who is from the country, we also booked a driver to take us around on the day we visited the volcano. He was excellent and very reliable. Send me a message if you need a referral in this area.
You can also get around fairly easily with Ubers. If you are feeling more adventurous, there are also colorful buses around town, which we understand are safe but can be quite crowded.
B) Money
Most businesses and individuals use the US Dollar. There is also a fairly broad acceptance of Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies. There is even something called Bitcoin Beach.
El Fin
Bottom line, El Salvador is definitely worth a visit. It is the perfect destination if you live up north and are looking to escape the cold over the winter. It’s easy to get to, is still fairly economical, the people are welcoming/friendly, there is a lot to do, and the food is excellent. We had a wonderful El Salvador Trip 2025 – looking forward to the next one!
