El Salvador has a coastline of several hundred kilometers along the Pacific Ocean. It is the only country in Central America which doesn’t have a coast on the Caribbean Sea. The vast majority of this is occupied by beautiful sandy beaches, often dark in color, due to volcanic activity. These beaches are without exception lined with palm trees and occasionally also by steep rocky cliffs, giving many beaches an intimate and unspoilt character. Many of these beaches are excellent surf spots and although still not discovered by the masses, El Salvador’s perfect waves are being discovered little by little by the international surfing community. Besides surfing, there are also reefs which are perfect for diving.
We are treated to over 50 great beaches all along the coastline, so there is plenty of space to choose from. Each of these beaches has its own charm and in the villages and towns you will enjoy the hospitality and the kindness of the Salvadorans. Enjoy tasty sunset cocktails and discover the coastal gastronomy with excellent fish and other seafood. If you like to go out and party, some of the beach towns also offer excellent nightlife.
In this post we’ll give you a list with the most important beaches spread over the different coastal regions to help you make a choice of which beaches to visit for your trip to El Salvador.
Beaches In The East
El Espino
El Espino is a beautiful and popular beach, which is over 10 kilometers long and covered with white sand an hour drive from Usulutan in El Salvador. El Espino Beach is part of the Jiquilísco Bay, where we can also find Puerto Parada and Puerto El Triunfo. Playa El Espino has a nice lagoon surrounded with green vegetation. The sea is calm in here thanks to the formation of the beach so you can enjoy the waters without being bothered by big waves. The beach is popular with both Salvadorans and tourists and is regarded as one of the best beaches in El Salvador. It is possible to go on a boat trip and visit nearby islands.
Jiquilisco Bay
Jiquilisco Bay is part of the central coastal plains landscape system of El Salvador and is listed as a “Ramsar site” due to its uniqueness and fragility and because it’s home to many marine-coastal birds. Several rivers drain their water into the main channel of the bay. The oil has a high concentration of salt, so most plants cannot grow here, but mangrove thrives well.
For many birds it is the only nesting place and an important destination for 87 species of migratory birds. Jiquilisco Bay is also home to seven species of sea turtles. We can find leatherback turtles, olive ridley sea turtles, brown roofed turtles and hawksbill turtles, which are listed as endangered. Jiquilisco Bay is a very important site for hawksbill turtles, as it’s home to 40% of the nesting area in the Eastern Pacific. We can find hawksbill turtles throughout the whole year in the bay.
Torola
Playa Torola is a unique beach and close to Playas Negras and El Tamarindo, all of these beaches have their own particular and distinctive characteristics, but Playa Torola stands out for its exceptional beauty as it has golden sand and a deep blue sea, this in sharp contrast with the black sand beaches from Playas Negras, together with the warm water this makes it a great destination to swim and tan and away from the masses as Playa Torola is a peaceful, quiet beach. As the waves here are calm, it is a good destination for families to come here with children, without having too much fear of intense waves. You will enjoy the rock formations, especially the Piedra del Encanto, which has a natural jacuzzi inside, perfect to chill with a cold beer!
El Cuco
El Cuco beach is one of the most famous beaches in El Salvador and one of the best tourist destinations to disconnect or party on the beach. It is located in the department of San Miguel and offers all kinds of services such as accommodation and restaurants, whether luxury restaurants or more modest restaurants where you can enjoy fish and exotic fruits. The vast expanse of this black sand beach and the calm waters make it the ideal place to practice sports such as volleyball, jogging, football, swimming and even surfing for beginners. It is nice to walk along the shore and disconnect from the hustle and bustle of the city to the sound of crashing waves. Not too far from El Cuco we can find Playa El Esteron and Playa Las Flores, one of the best surf spots in El Salvador. Make sure to also visit Intipuca Beach , near Playa El Esteron and go visit El Salvador’s first microbrewery. You can also go paddle boarding in the area where the river meets the ocean.
Las Flores
Playa de las Flores is probably one of the most famous beaches in El Salvador and is located near El Cuco. Las Flores is a little isolated, which gives it the air of a virgin beach. The beach is characterized by its grayish sand, crystal clear waters and big waves. It is an ideal place for surfing. Camping is allowed on the shore, as the dimensions allow it. But the charm of Playa de las Flores does not stop there. We also recommend that you visit one of the nearby restaurants and food stalls. You can taste top quality fish and seafood, fresh from the sea. On one side of the beach are moored some small traditional wooden boats that you can hire to take you on excursions along the coast. The green backdrop gives a true tropical atmosphere. It is a great place to relax a few days for families and it is also one of the most important surf spots in El Salvador as the waves are perfect to surf. Many surfers stay here for several weeks. It was once a fishing community, but due to attention from international surfers several hotels and restaurants have come to the area.
Las Tunas
Las Tunas is characterized by its black sandy beaches and rock formations, which form natural pools you can enjoy. These rock formations also help make the water calm breaking the incoming waves. There are several cabins on the beach where you can sleep and you can take boat excursions as well.
El Tamarindo
Playa El Tamarindo is one of our favorite beaches in the east of El Salvador because of its natural landscape and tranquility as it still doesn’t receive too many tourists. This makes it a perfect getaway to spend a few hours away from the crowds, enjoying a serene natural scenery. As the waves are calm, this is a safe beach for you to swim. You can complete your visit with a boat tour which will take you to the mangroves and nearby beaches. It is also possible to see sea turtles at El Tamarindo. You can combine Playa Tamarindo with Playas Negras and Torola on the same day if you’re looking for an itinerary in the area. There are several hotels at the promenade in different price ranges and you can enjoy local food at the restaurants. Enjoy a perfect grilled fish and try the tamarind, which grows plentiful and gave its name to the beach.
Beaches In The West
Barra de Santiago
Playa Barra de Santiago is located south of Jujutla, El Salvador. It is known for its mangroves where you can take an excursion by boat to explore the area and observe the different kinds of birds. The area is a Ramsar site as the wetland is extremely important for local fauna and flora. Besides birds, we can also find turtles here, which come to lay their eggs on the beach. Some of the species are endangered as locals used to steal the eggs from the nest. In recent years conservation organizations are doing efforts to protect these beaches.
A wide variety of water sports is available here: sailing, kayaking and water skiing.
Metalio
In the Sonsonate department we find kilometers of black sand at Playa Metalio, where you can have long walks on the beach and also can explore the nearby mangroves. The beach offers a pleasant experience as there are few stones and rocks in the sand, so you can walk barefoot in the soft sand, enjoying the gentle waves arriving from the ocean on one side and green palm trees on the other side. As there are very few visitors at Playa Metalio, you’ll enjoy a peaceful atmosphere. Enjoy the sight of the fishing boats setting out in the sea and explore the local culture or simply relax in a comfortable hammock between the palm trees. It is also possible to camp on the beach and enjoy a campfire. Another great way to spend the night, is to stay at one of the local ranches, often in a great setting. Make sure to try the fresh sea food while you’re in Metalio Beach!
Los Cobanos
Playa Los Cóbanos is a protected area in the Sonsonate department of El Salvador known for its golden sands and where tourists come for snorkeling, diving, beach volley or just relaxing. The name Los Cobanos comes from the cobano tree, as there used to be a farm on the beach hosting many cobano trees. Nowadays there are only a few remnants of these trees.
Los Cobanos has around 265 km² of protected marine area, the first official protected marine area in El Salvador, enjoying its status since 2008. Here you can hike, but also dive or snorkel. We also advise you to visit Playa Salinitas a little further. 97% of the protected area is marine and 3% of it is terrestrial. A lot of effort has been put into awareness and locals strive to preserve the area. Tourism actually boosts the need for conservation as locals know preserving their environment attracts tourists, which generates income.
A possible activity to do at Los Cóbanos beach is whale watching. February and March are the best months to see humpback whales at Playa Los Cobanos, so you should try to come here during this period. Besides humpback whales, there are also orcas and several dolphin species which you can spot at Los Cobanos. You can also see four turtle species at Los Cobanos: brown roofed turtle, hawksbill turtle, leatherback turtle and olive ridley turtle. Leatherback turtles can grow up to two meters, an impressive sight if you encounter one of them!
Besides whale watching and turtle spotting you can also enjoy activities such as jet skiing, fishing or snorkeling, the latter best done in the morning as the water level is low. You’ll enjoy the beauty of the coral reefs and will explore two types of coral: soft coral and hard coral. The hard coral is responsible for the typical color of the sand. You can spot fish such as tiger fish, angelfish, blowfish, burrita and starfish, sea slugs, eels, sharks, lobsters and even whale sharks.
There are all kinds of accommodations available at Los Cobanos ranging from budget hostels to comfortable uprange hotels, so you can spend a few days here to relax. You’ll enjoy a nice warm climate between 24 and 33 degrees Celsius, with a nice gentle ocean breeze. During your stay you’ll be able to taste the best the ocean has to offer: fresh fish, shellfish, shrimps, squid and more.
Beaches In The Center
El Palmarcito
El Palmarcito beach is a lesser-known beach in El Salvador and a tropical paradise where you can both relax or engage in several activities. This beach is fit for both individual travelers and families or groups.
Playa Palmarcito starts after the El Palmar bridge, a tranquil beach away from the noise of the cities, where you don’t need to worry about anything. Just like many other beaches in El Salvador, Playa El Palmarcito consists of volcanic sand, perfect for beach volley or soccer. There are a few hotels and restaurants in the area, so you don’t need to rush towards the next beach and can take things slow. Surfing is also possible here and you can rent a surf board and even take surf classes. Palmarcito is still not discovered by the masses, so you’ll be able to surf in a top destination, without having to worry about crowded beaches.
El Sunzal Beach
El Sunzal is the perfect beach to disconnect from the world and forget all your problems. This beach, like that of El Tunco, belongs to the department of La Libertad and is also characterized by its crystal clear waters, its rocky relief riddled with coconut palms and its big waves that invite you to surf. The exuberant nature of this beach makes it an ideal habitat for shellfish, oysters and lobsters, which can easily be spotted among the rocks when snorkeling or snorkeling at shallow depths.
The main drawback is the lack of services in the village, which, apart from a few luxury hotels, has practically no shops or restaurants. Of course, if you are looking to get away from civilization, El Sunzal Beach is one of the best beaches in El Salvador.
La Libertad
The dock of Puerto de la Libertad is a popular tourist site in El Salvador. The dock has been around since 1870 and was initially used by pirates. The site was restored in 2003. On the dock you can buy the catch of the day, brought in byy fisherman. Besides fresh fish you can find lobster, crabs, squid, shells, clams and other seafood. If you like to fish you can rent a boat through our agency and we can set up a fishing trip so you can fish in the open sea. During a fishing trip, you can see dolphins, marlins, and even whales between November and March.
El Tunco = Surf City
Playa el Tunco, known as Surf City is undoubtedly the beach in El Salvador with the most atmosphere and best nightlife. The main reason most people travel here is because of the excellent waves which they want to surf. You can rent surfboards and also take surf lessons if you’re a beginner. Besides surfing, this place is good to hang and relax for a while because of its chill ambiance. You will have no trouble finding accommodation as there is a wide variety in all kinds of accommodation. In Tamanique, the municipality to which Playa El Tunco belongs, there is a rich nightlife with parties, night clubs and live music where you can dance to the newest latin tunes. El Tunco Beach is popular with surfers looking for big waves, but is not the best beach to swim as it is quite rocky and it is advised to have some footwear to go into the sea. From the village of Tamarique, you can go on trips such as Ruta de las Flores, Santa Ana Volcano and Tamanique Falls. A great walk is from Playa El Tunco all the way to the nearby village of El Sunza for a scenic beach walk.
For those who are interested in cryptocurrencies and especially Bitcoin, Surf City is one of the best places in El Salvador, besides El Zonte and Punta Mango, to learn about Bitcoin.
La Paz
Located in the department of La Libertad, La Paz is one of the most interesting beaches in the country. Here, besides surfing and relaxing in the sun, you can kayak and watch whales and dolphins during the migration season, from November to March. The beach is also well equipped and has facilities such as shops, surf schools and restaurants where you can taste incredible fish and seafood dishes.
Playa La Paz is a popular site for national and international surfers and several international surf tournaments have been held here. If you like fishing you can rent a boat and an experienced local will gladly assist you. We can find tuna, marlin and other fish.
Playa San Diego
San Diego is one of the best beaches in the department of La Libertad, El Salvador. The beach is over seven kilometers long and thanks to the soft sand there are many parts where you can play beach volleyball or football. It is also possible to camp on the beach.
Playa El Zonte
Playa el Zonte, located 50 km from San Salvador, is one of the favorite destinations for surfers because its waves have nothing to envy to other famous beaches like El Tunco, Las Flores and El Sunzal. This beach, like the previous ones, is characterized by its grayish sands and the coconut palms that adorn the coast. The main difference is that El Zonte is much quieter and less touristy than some other beaches. This means that there are fewer choices of activities to do. The good news is that it is very well connected by bus to other nearby beaches and tourist attractions. Make sure to learn more about the Bitcoin Beach Project while you are at El Zonte and get to know more about how Bitcoin helps the local economy grow!
Mizata
Mizata is one of the most spectacular beaches in El Salvador for its privileged location surrounded by lush tropical nature and cliffs. The long coastline is met by the mouth of the Mizata River. The atmosphere is one of peace and tranquility. After spending some time there, you won’t want to leave. In fact, it’s one of the least touristy beaches in the country and a favorite of many surfers due to the good surf vibe of its uncrowded village. Mizata Beach, characterized by its black sands, is the last place in the west where you can go surfing. The beach is also ideal for diving and snorkeling, as there is plenty of marine life to observe.
