One of the best surfing destinations in Latin America, El Tunco on the Pacific coast of El Salvador, is a beautiful blend of sun-soaked beaches, thrilling surf waves and vibrant nightlife.
In the recent years, El Salvador has put a lot of focus on growing their tourism, with the sport of surfing spearheading that strategy. The project of Surf City emphasizes on promoting El Salvador’s destinations that offer great surfing opportunities for professional as well as recreational purposes.
El Tunco is the face of this Surf City initiative of El Salvador.
Whether you are looking for a relaxing beach vacation or an adventurous surfing season or something in between, El Tunco promises an unforgettable holiday.
So, to help you plan your holiday, in this comprehensive guide, we are going to share with you the best things to do in El Tunco, how to get there, where to stay, when to visit and other planning logistics, including sample itineraries for El Tunco.
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El Tunco, El Salvador – Quick Planning Resources
⭐️ Top Things to Do:
- Surfing
- Beach Sunsets
- Tamanique Waterfalls Hike:
✅ Day Trips from El Tunco
🏨 Where to Stay:
- Luxury: Boca Olas Resort Villas
- Mid-Range: Roca Sunzal Hotel
- Budget: Hostal Camila’s
🚗 How to Get Around: Rent a car
10 Best Things to Do in El Tunco, El Salvador
From surfing waves to watching beach sunsets, from doing local hikes to visiting other interesting places of El Salvador on day trips, here are our recommendations for 10 best things to do in El Tunco.
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Check packages here →Surfing
Surfing is one of the best things to do in El Tunco as the world-class surfs and surf breaks here attract surfers from around the world.
If you are a seasoned surfer, just get your surfboard, catch some of El Salvador’s best waves and hone your surfing skills, and enjoy the surf town vibes of El Tunco. You may even find a community of surfers to hang out with.
If you are a beginner level surfer or even someone who is looking for their first ever surf lesson, El Tunco is a great place to get started and feel inspired.
There are many surf schools to choose from in El Tunco. If you prefer, you can also sign up for private lessons with a surfing instructor. Ask your hotel or hostel for recommendations.
Per our hostel host’s recommendation, Indranil went for private instructor-led surf sessions with a young guy named Papo. He was excellent.
🏄🏽 When you sign up for a private instructor-led surf session, you might even discover another beautiful beach. For example, Indranil got his first surf lesson at El Palmarcito beach, somewhere between El Tunco and El Zonte.
📃 Do not forget to purchase travel insurance for your trip. We use:
- Heymondo Travel Insurance (get 5% discount, auto applies), OR
- SafetyWing Nomad Insurance
* Discount not applicable for US residents
Beach Days
Not into surfing? You can still consider El Tunco for that blissful beach vacation as the beaches here provide the ideal setting for relaxation.
Swim in the warm waters and sunbathe on the golden sands. Take a leisurely stroll along the beach or lounge with a book and a cold beverage under a palm tree.
Caves and Rocks
Stunning rock formations on the beach create interesting caves in El Tunco, enhancing the beauty of the frame of an already pretty scenery.
During low tide, walk eastward to explore these coastal caves from up close, and enjoy mesmerizing views of the ocean.
Apart from these slightly difficult to access coastal caves, there is also the Tunco Rock, projecting right on the beach.
This rock creates the signature sights of El Tunco beach, and becomes a lovely silhouette at sunset hour. During high tide, the Tunco Rock becomes submerged and appears like an island.
🌊 We also enjoyed exploring the coastal caves of El Zonte, another Surf City beach town that we loved, if I may, even more than El Tunco.
Tamanique Waterfalls Hike
This turned out to be one of our favorite things to do in Surf City – hiking to the Tamanique Waterfalls.
It is a half-day activity where you walk on rugged trails passing through dense tropical vegetations of El Salvador to get to four different waterfalls of Tamanique.
🚐 If you are looking for an organized tour of theTamanique Waterfalls with transportation included, book this half-day tour. It starts in Surf City.
All of the Tamanique waterfalls lie in serene settings with rocks imposing over them to create picturesque frames.
💦 Read our post on everything you need to know to plan a DIY trip to Tamanique Waterfalls.
We gasped at the spectacular sights of the waterfalls, cooled down by getting into the clear waters of one of the waterfall pools, and sat silently on a rock by another waterfall, enjoying the fresh water droplet sprays on our faces.
If you are feeling adventurous, you can also jump off the edge of a rock in to the waterfall pool or slide down the waterfall on another rock to splash yourself into the pool below.
⬇️ Related:
🔖 Read: Tamanique Waterfalls Hike – The Complete Guide
🎬 Watch: Our Tamanique Waterfalls Hike Experience
Eat Pupusas
While traveling in El Salvador, we had pupusas for many of our meals. A little too many, may be? And all of that started in Surf City, when we got our first bite of pupusas in a small family run shack.
🫓 Pupusas are round flatbreads made of cornmeal. These typical Salvadoran dishes can have various kinds of fillings like meat, chicken, cheese and vegetables.
So, when you are in El Tunco, do try pupusas. There are many pupuserias to choose from. Pupuseria La Guanaquita is known for serving a wide variety of this local delicacy.
Some restaurants, like Dale Dale Café, also have pupusas on their regular menu, and if you want to try imaginative fusion of local and international cuisines, head to Loroco Bistro, where you can sample pupusas in different platings with international twists, like pupusa burgers.
Spectacular Sunsets
Catching the sunset is usually on the top of my things to do when visiting a beach town. El Tunco was no exception for that expectation setting, and what the place delivered was a magnificent beach sunset experience.
Shades of orange painted the clear blue sky and the last rays of the sun showered the beach area in golden light. The caves on the beach added a striking character the sunset and as the hour progresses, the structures became silhouette.
🌅 We witnessed a few different sunsets from different parts of Surf City, and definitely enjoyed the one in El Tunco. But our favorite sunset was the one we saw from the top of a beach cave in the neighboring beach town of El Zonte.
Nightlife
El Tunco is known for its vibrant nightlife. As the sun sets, this tiny touristy beach town transforms into a lively hub of music and dance, with bars and clubs hosting live music and DJs.
Couple of popular places to hangout for drinks and dance are La Guitarra Bar and La Bonita Beach Club.
Having said that, partying hard is not really our jam. If you are like us, to get a feel of the nightlife in El Tunco, you can just take a walk around town and see the shops, restaurants and bars light up in the evening glow, when everyone around seems to be in a jovial mood.
Day Trip: Santa Ana Volcano Hike
To take a break from your beach days in Tunco and pack in some adventure, hike up to the summit of an active volcano!
🌋 Ilamatepec Volcano, also known as Santa Ana Volcano, at 2381 m (7812 ft), is the highest volcano in El Salvador. It last erupted in 2005.
We enjoyed this hike, not just for the beautiful emerald crater at the volcano summit, but also for the spectacular views throughout the hike, of the neighboring volcanos, lakes and mountains.
🥾 Read our post on everything you need to know about planning the Santa Ana Volcano Hike on your own.
With a moderate difficulty level, Santa Ana Volcano hike can be completed by anyone with decent fitness and without any obstructing health conditions.
🚐 For a guided day tour with transportation and hotel pickup and drop in El Tunco, book this private tour of Santa Ana Volcano Hike and the nearby crater lake, Coatepeque Lake.
⬇️ Related:
🔖 Read:
🎬 Watch:
Day Trip: Ruta de las Flores
Take a day trip from El Tunco to see the highlights of Ruta de las Flores.
Ruta de las Flores, Spanish for “The Flower Route” is a scenic mountain route between Ahuachapán and Sonsonate. Some of the other prominent towns along this route are Juayúa, Apaneca, and Concepción de Ataco.
🌼 The Flower Route derives its names from the wildflowers that blossom along the route between the months of November and February.
This route offers a variety of attractions, from charming mountain towns, colonial architecture and coffee plantations, to adventure parks, waterfalls and hot springs, to vibrant art, local markets, and food festivals.
We loved spending more than a week in Concepción de Ataco and exploring other towns of The Flower Route from there.
If your trip duration does not permit a stay in one of the towns of Ruta de las Flores, you can still see some on the highlights of this beautiful region of El Salvador.
From El Tunco, take a day trip, like this one. It is a convenient way of experiencing Ruta de las Flores in a day as it includes transportation and hotel pick and drop.
🚐 On the tour, you will visit:
- Cafe Albania in the town of Apaneca, for adventure activities like Bicycle Zip-line and Rainbow Slide. Entry tickets included.
- Concepción de Ataco, a beautiful town with cobblestone streets and vibrant markets.
⬇️ Related:
🔖 Read: Ruta de Las Flores – The Complete Guide
🎬 Watch:
- 7 Waterfalls Hike + Juayua Food Festival (Ruta de las Flores)
- Ataco to Nahuizalco (Ruta de las Flores)
Day Trip: San Salvador + El Boqueron National Park
How about combining urban attractions and natural beauty in one day? Take a day trip from El Tunco to the capital city of El Salvador, San Salvador.
Visit historic landmarks like National Palace and Metropolitan Cathedral, unique architecture like Rosario Church, and experience the vibrant vibe of the historic center of San Salvador.
🕰️ Since San Salvador is less than 1 hour’s drive away from El Tunco, explore the city’s historic center in the first half of the day, and then go for another activity in the second half.
For the afternoon, we suggest visiting the Boqueron Volcano National Park in Santa Tecla region.
Once you purchase the tickets and enter the park, a short hike will take you to the crater’s edge where you can marvel at the Boqueron Volcano’s unique double crater and its lush surroundings.
🚐 If you are not renting a car, go for a guided tour of San Salvador, like this one, that includes transportation and hotel pick and drop in El Tunco.
🫓 In addition to the San Salvador city highlights and Boqueron Volcano, this tour also offers pupusa tasting as part of the experience. Lunch is included in the tour price.
⬇️ Related:
🔖 Read: 5 Days in San Salvador Itinerary
🎬 Watch: 2 Days in San Salvador
How to Get to El Tunco, El Salvador
If arriving from another country, you can either fly in or avail a cross-border bus ride in Central America.
- El Salvador International Airport to El Tunco: 69 KM (43 miles)
- San Salvador to El Tunco: 38 KM (24 miles)
By Air
Fly in to El Salvador’s only International Airport, Saint Óscar Arnulfo Romero y Galdámez (SAL), and from there, get a taxi or a shuttle service to get to your hotel in El Tunco.
🚘 For flexibility of travel between destinations, rent a car for your entire El Salvador trip.
🛬 Upon arrival, pick up the rental car at the airport and return it at the same location on the day of departure.
🚗 Check Rentalcars.com by Booking.com to find the best deals across different rental car companies →
By Bus
Backpacking Central America and looking for a budget-friendly route?
Travel by bus to San Salvador from bordering countries like Nicaragua, Honduras and Guatemala.
TicaBus operates in all of these countries, and Pullmantur runs buses in Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala.
🚐 To get to El Tunco from San Salvador, take the AC microbus 102A. It costs 1.50 USD.
Where to Stay in El Tunco, El Salvador
From luxury resorts to backpacker hostels, you can choose from different kinds of accommodations in and around El Tunco.
📈 El Tunco is the most popular destination in El Salvador, for both domestic and international visitors. So accommodation prices here are higher than other places in El Salvador.
Here are some hotel recommendations and the highlights of these stays:
🏨 High-End: Boca Olas Resort Villas
- Walking distance from the beach 🏝️
- Spacious rooms and suites, and villas with kitchen 🏡
- Onsite amenities like outdoor swimming pool, games, free private parking, restaurant 🍽️
🏨 Mid-Range: Hotel Roca Sunzal
- Beachfront hotel 🏝️, close to the happening nightlife
- Neatly appointed rooms, some with pool view or sea view 🌊
- Free private parking, onsite bar 🍸
🏨 Budget: Hostal Camila’s
- Located in quieter Tamanique, yet close to the beaches 📌
- Compact room with private bathroom, and some units with equipped kitchen and kitchenware 🍽️
- Free private parking, garden views and patio/terrace access 🪴
Best Time to Visit
El Tunco is a beach destination with tropical climate. So, depending on what you are looking for, you can visit this place any time of the year.
🏝️ For sunny days, clear skies and beginner level surfing, visit El Tunco in the dry season, between November and April.
🌊 For lesser crowds, lush landscapes, big swells for advanced level surfing, visit El Tunco in the rainy season, between May and October.
We visited El Tunco in the month of December. The weather was hot and humid, but we enjoyed the beautiful blue skies, fiery orange sunsets and overall nice beach weather. The wave conditions were also ideal for Indranil to get his beginner lessons in surfing.
Is El Tunco Safe?
In our years of traveling and living in this part of the world, in most places, we have found the people of Latin America to be friendly, warm and welcoming.
This experience peaked in El Salvador. At every turn of our journey, we were amazed how the Salvadorans always went out of their ways to extend help and greetings.
In the past, El Salvador may have held the title of one of the most dangerous countries in the world. But things have changed now, drastically.
✅ Being one of the most popular destinations in the tourist-friendly nation of El Salvador, El Tunco is generally safe for tourists.
Having said that, we always recommend staying vigilant. Ask your accommodation host about the areas to avoid, if any, for venturing out alone, keep your belongings secure, pay attention to your surroundings and follow your instincts.
➡️ Related Reading: Story of how we lost our drone in El Salvador
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What to Pack for El Tunco
Your packing list for a tropical beach getaway should suffice for El Tunco.
🩳 Clothing: Light, breathable fabrics ideal for hot and humid days, swimwear for beach and waterfalls.
🩴 Footwear: Comfortable footwear. Include hiking sandals if going for waterfall hikes.
😎 Sun Protection: Reef safe sunscreen, beach hat or cap, sunglasses.
🏄🏽 Surfing Gear: Bring yours or rent from the local surf shops.
➡️ Related Reading: What to Pack for El Salvador
Sample Itineraries for El Tunco
3-Day Itinerary
| Day | Activities |
|---|---|
| Day 1 | Beaches, Surfing, Sunset |
| Day 2 | Day Trip: Santa Ana Volcano Hike, OR, Day Trip: Ruta de las Flores |
| Day 3 | Tamanique Waterfalls Hike, Beach Sunset |
5-Day Itinerary
| Day | Activities |
|---|---|
| Day 1 | Beaches, Surfing, Sunset |
| Day 2 | Day Trip: Santa Ana Volcano Hike, OR, Day Trip: Ruta de las Flores |
| Day 3 | Tamanique Waterfalls Hike, Beach Sunset |
| Day 4 | Day Trip: San Salvador City + Boqueron Volcano |
| Day 5 | Beach Time, Surfing |
Plan Your El Salvador Trip
- El Zonte Travel Guide
- Tamanique Waterfalls Hike
- Ruta de las Flores
- Things to Do in Santa Ana
- Santa Ana Volcano Hike
- El Tazumal Ruins Visit Guide
- El Salto de Malacatiupan Hot Springs Waterfalls
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Travel Resources
- Flights: Skyscanner
- Hotels: Booking.com | Expedia
- Tours: Viator | GetYourGuide
- Travel Insurance:
- Heymondo (get 5% off)
- SafetyWing Nomad Insurance
- eSIMs:
- Transfers: Bookaway. Code PARADISE5 for 5% off
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