A surfer’s paradise – but not quite Australia.
El Tunco is a small surf town on the Pacific coast of El Salvador, and when I first saw photos, it looked like the perfect place to spend a few days. With surfing firmly in mind, I planned to make the most of the beaches and finally get some time on a board.
But did I?
Spoiler: no.
Here’s what I got up to instead and whether I think El Tunco is worth adding to your El Salvador itinerary.
Where to Stay
I stayed at Sunset Surf Villa, a beautiful property on the outskirts of El Tunco, right on the beach.
Unfortunately, the beach directly in front of the villa isn’t recommended for swimming or surfing. The waves are extremely powerful and crash in close to the rocks. The villa makes up for it with a lovely pool and plenty of hammocks, making it a great place to spend a lazy afternoon.
I stayed in a four-bed dorm and was lucky enough to have the entire room to myself for my first two nights. The room also had air conditioning, which was a huge bonus in the El Salvador heat.
The main downside was the location. Being on the outskirts meant I wasn’t within easy walking distance of the main town, but once I made some friends, we could split the cost of transport and it became much less of an issue.
Getting Around El Tunco
Getting around El Tunco wasn’t quite as easy as some of the other towns I’d visited, where I could walk almost everywhere.
Luckily, Uber and inDrive are both available and worked really well for getting around.
I also made friends at the hostel, so we were often able to split the cost of rides between us.
Over my four days and three nights in El Tunco, I spent just US$13 on local transport, which I thought was very reasonable.
Food & Drinks
There are plenty of good restaurants and cafés in El Tunco itself, although staying on the outskirts meant they weren’t always particularly convenient for me.
Instead, I did a grocery shop and bought supplies for breakfast and lunch, then ate out occasionally when I was in town.
And, admittedly, I also ordered a couple of Pizza Hut deliveries!
El Tunco has some really beautiful breakfast spots, with smoothie and açai bowls being particularly popular.
I spent around US$26 per day on food, although I think this could easily have been lower if I hadn’t been craving pizza delivery!
Things to Do in El Tunco
There’s actually not a huge amount to do in El Tunco itself beyond surfing, relaxing, wandering around the small town and exploring the surrounding beaches.
But I think that’s something you should expect when visiting.
At first, I felt a little stressed about being so far from everything. But after settling in and making some friends, I ended up really enjoying the slower pace.
Some days were simply spent hanging around the hostel, relaxing by the pool and enjoying the sunshine – and honestly, that was exactly what I needed.
Surfing
Of course, the main reason most people come to El Tunco is surfing.
Unfortunately, I found that some of the advertised beginner surf spots were a little more technical than I’d expected, including having to paddle out past rocks. I didn’t feel quite confident enough to attempt it, so once again, I found myself in a surf town without surfing.
There was one beach, Playa San Blas, that looked much more suitable for me. There were surf lessons operating there, and when I visited with some new friends, it looked like the perfect place to give it a go.
Unfortunately, we couldn’t find anywhere to hire a board that day, so we decided we’d come back the following afternoon and rent one from town.
Except when the next day arrived and I was finally ready to surf, there was an offshore wind and the conditions weren’t great.
So, despite my best efforts, I still didn’t surf.
But this wasn’t my last opportunity – I still had San Juan Del Sur coming up in Nicaragua!
Tamanique Waterfalls
One thing I didn’t miss out on was a trip to the Tamanique Waterfalls, which ended up being one of the highlights of my time in El Tunco.
I booked the tour through someone I found on WhatsApp, paying US$40 for return transport and a guide (cheaper with more people).
Usually, they wait for other people to arrive before heading off with a larger group. However, after waiting around 10 minutes, it looked like nobody else was joining, so we set off with just myself and the guide.
It ended up being a really special experience because we could completely go at my own pace.
The hike to the waterfalls was mostly downhill along a 4WD road and took around 30 minutes to reach the first waterfall.
And it was HOT.
I was looking forward to getting into that water!
There are four waterfalls in total. The first two are smaller but have deep pools that are perfect for natural water slides and cliff jumping.
The third waterfall has a beautiful natural swimming pool where you can swim and stand underneath the waterfall itself.
And finally, the fourth waterfall is the tallest and most impressive, dropping around 40 metres into a large, crystal-clear pool.
After enjoying the waterfalls, we had to make the steep, exposed walk back up to the top. It was hot, hard work and probably the least enjoyable part of the entire experience.
Luckily, we got very lucky – someone driving past in a 4WD offered to pick us up and drove us and the guide back to the top.
What a relief!
The Tamanique Waterfalls were genuinely one of the highlights of my El Salvador trip, and I’d strongly recommend adding them to your itinerary if you’re staying in El Tunco.
Wet Wednesday Beach Party
If you’re in El Tunco on a Wednesday, the Wet Wednesday party is practically a rite of passage.
For around US$5, you get a wristband that gives you access to several different venues throughout the evening. The night typically includes a pool party, beach party and beach club/bar.
Unfortunately, the timing wasn’t ideal for me because the party was the night before my Tamanique Waterfalls tour.
I didn’t want to be completely hungover while hiking in the heat, so I played it safe and only attended the beach party component.
One thing to know if you’re planning to go: the party starts early, around 3pm, so don’t expect to turn up late and still experience the whole thing.
Is El Tunco Worth Visiting?
When I first arrived in El Tunco, I felt a little overwhelmed by how isolated my hostel was.
But after quickly making friends and finding a balance between relaxing and exploring, I actually came to love it.
I think El Tunco works best when you don’t try to pack your itinerary full of activities. It’s a place to slow down, spend time by the pool or beach, meet other travellers and enjoy the laid-back surf-town atmosphere.
If you’re looking for somewhere packed with sightseeing and attractions, you might find El Tunco a little too quiet.
But if you’re after a few relaxed beach days, some nightlife, surfing and easy access to adventures like the Tamanique Waterfalls, it’s definitely worth considering.
And as for the question I started with…
Did I surf in El Tunco?
No.
Not even once.
But somehow, I still had an amazing time.