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The most popular tourist destination in El Salvador, El Tunco, aka Surf City, is a world-famous surf and party town on the Pacific Coast.
Nearly every traveller working their way through Central America stops in El Tunco, even if they donât visit anywhere else in El Salvador.
Everything we had heard about El Tunco had us imagining a Cancun-style nightclub party hotspot. As self-confessed Grandmas and sleep lovers, we were a bit concerned we wouldnât like it.
But El Tunco was nothing like we expected! Admittedly, we planned our visit for during the week to skip most of the weekend parties, but honestly, we loved it.
It has all the right ingredients for a good surf town, and it was one of the best we visited in Central America.
The town is small, but packed with great cafes, cheap pupusas, amazing international food options (hello bao buns) and aesthetic beach bars. The sunsets are exceptional, the surf is consistent, there are sea caves, ocean pools and epic coastal views, and the vibe is fun and laidback.
Read on for everything you need to know about El Tunco, including how to get there and around, where to stay (important), where to eat (even more important) and the best things to do in the area. Vamos!
How to get to El Tunco
By bus
- đïž From San Salvador: buses depart San Salvador from both the Terminal de Occidente or Estacion Ceiba de Guadalupe.
There is a direct bus from San Salvador to El Tunco. The #102A (emphasis on the A) is an air-conditioned minibus that runs from San Salvador to El Sunzal, passing El Tunco on the way. Itâs slightly more expensive than the regular chicken buses, and they often charge extra for big luggage.
You can also take bus #102 (regular bus), but it only runs to La Libertad where you will need to change. In La Libertad, most buses heading west should stop at El Tunco but just check with the driver. The most common options would be #102A, #80, #192, #192A or #192B, just wait on the highway.
- đ From Lago de Coatepeque: if youâre staying at the popular Captain Morgan Hostel on the lake, take bus #242 to El Congo.
You then need to walk down onto the highway (Carrareta Panamericana) and wait for the #201 to San Salvador. Get off at Estacion Ceiba de Guadalupe and cross the road to wait for bus #102 or #102A, and follow the instructions as above.
- âȘïž From Santa Ana: you need to take bus #201 to Estacion Ceiba de Guadalupe in San Salvador, and then follow the instructions above. There are two companies that run this route, one is express and one is a regular service. They depart from different places in Santa Ana, check out CentroCoasting for more info.
- đž From Ruta de las Flores: from whichever town youâre staying at on the Ruta de las Flores (Ataco, Juayua etc.) you need to take bus #249 to Sonsonate, which departs frequently throughout the day.
In Sonsonate, switch to bus #287, which runs all the way to La Libertad via the coast, passing El Tunco on the way. However this bus only departs twice per day, once very early in the morning and once after lunch, and there is always a big line for it. Check with your accommodation for the current times and make sure you allow plenty of time to get to Sonsonate.
- đ From La Libertad: in La Libertad, most buses heading west should stop at El Tunco but just check with the driver. The most common option would be #102A, #80, #192, #192A or #192B, just wait on the highway in town.
- đŽ From El Zonte: wait on the side of the highway outside El Zonte town for any bus heading west. All buses should pass El Tunco, but triple-check with the driver. The most common option would be #192, #192A or #192B.
By rental car
El Salvador is a really great country to drive around. Itâs very small and the distances between destinations are short. If you want to rent a car, itâs best to do so in larger cities like San Salvador, or from the international airport when you arrive.
I donât think you need a car to get around El Tunco itself (itâs tiny!), but it makes the trip to town easy and youâve got freedom to explore other parts of the coast.
Just check with your accommodation about parking, you may have to pay at the lot in town. Also note you’ll most likely have to pay an entrance fee if you’re driving in and out of town, there are guarded gates and the fee contributes to the community (cleaning, tourist police, security etc.).
đ Browse for rental cars in San Salvador or the international airport
By Uber
Uber is popular in El Salvador, and it’s possible to use it for longer trips if you can find a driver who is happy to accept your booking.
To get to El Tunco, Uber would most likely work from San Salvador, or from the international airport. Any other destination (Ruta de las Flores, Santa Ana etc.) would probably be too far to find a ride.
By shuttle
El Tunco is a common place for travellers to stop en route between Guatemala and Nicaragua, and also to come across from Honduras.Â
A lot of shuttle companies run these routes, most commonly from Antigua in Guatemala or Leon in Nicaragua. There are also routes that run from Copan Ruinas or La Ceiba in Honduras.
You can find and book all these shuttles on Bookaway.
Orientation of El Tunco
El Tunco is a small town. Like two main roads small. It’s bookended by the highway, and there are two main ‘entrances’ to the town. We were surprised to find guarded gates at either end of town, which I guess keeps things safe and secure.
Most of the action happens on the beach, which you can access from a couple of places, but most commonly a pedestrian-only street at the west end of town.
The beach is divided into two parts by a small river. The river has been kind of dammed, with a lot of rock and gravel, so it doesnât empty into the ocean and you can easily walk along the beach without needing to wade through the water.
Just in front of the river mouth, youâll see the famous âTunco Rockâ that gives the town its name. Tunco means pig in Spanish, and supposedly the rock looks like a pig but I didnât really see it.
The eastern part (to the left if youâre looking at the beach) is completely covered in pebbles. Itâs very hard to walk on, uncomfortable to sit on and impossible to swim in. It makes such a nice sound as the water rushes in and out over the pebbles, but if you want to sit here, youâre better off in one of the bars on the boardwalk behind, like La Guitarra, La Bonita or Monkey Lala.
Just offshore is a beach break known as La Bocanita, best for advanced surfers. La Bocana is further east near the second river mouth.
If you keep continuing to the east on the beachfront boardwalk, youâll come across the second river which kind of marks the end of town. The sea caves are beyond here.
From the main beach entrance, if you turn right, to the west, youâll hit the bigger stretch of sandy beach. This is a much nicer spot for a beach walk, to lay down your towel and swim with a sandy bottom (itâs still wavey!).
If you keep walking all the way to the end of this beach youâll reach a point. Way out in the water is El Sunzal, one of the most popular surf breaks and the best for beginners.
Getting around El Tunco
Once youâre in El Tunco, you can get everywhere by walking.
If you want to explore the further reaches of the coast, and you didnât drive to town with a rental car, there are some options:
- đ Bus: the local bus passes El Tunco on the main highway, going west (usually towards Los Cobanos) or east (usually towards La Libertad). This is handy for getting to neighbouring towns, beaches and surf spots, and most things are within walking distance from the highway. It doesnât really matter what number bus you get on, as long as itâs heading in the right direction and youâve checked with the driver it goes where you want to go. #102, #102A, #80, #192, #192A, #192B and #287 all traverse the highway past El Tunco.
- đ” Rent a scooter: you can rent a scooter in El Tunco for about $25 for 24 hours. We rented ours from WAYO and highly recommend it, but youâll notice scooters lined up around town for rent from lots of shops and hostels.
- đ Uber or taxi: you can get Uber in El Tunco, but itâs unreliable. Youâll usually have to wait until a driver is dropping someone off to be able to get one. There are taxis too, but theyâre not abundant, private drivers are more common and youâd be best off getting your accommodation to organise one if needed.
Hotels in El Tunco
BUDGET đ°
- Papaya Lodge: the hostel in El Tunco. If you want to party and meet people, Papaya is your place. Itâs become really popular so prices have increased, probably more than the facilities are worth, but free breakfast is included, thereâs a small pool and the vibe is great.
- Canuckâs Guest House: a social but chilled-out hostel a short walk from the main party area. Itâs generally a bit rundown and could be a bit cleaner, but it’s one of the only dorm options that isnât noisy and party-centric.
- Casa Makoi: a budget-friendly option for those who donât want a hostel or a party vibe. Private rooms with bathrooms and AC are spread across a lovely, quiet garden area with a small plunge pool and great breakfast included daily.
MID-RANGE đ°đ°
- The Cabins: a fantastic choice, a collection of converted shipping containers. Each is self-contained with a kitchenette and an aircon (needed!), and they share a nice pool and garden area. Itâs situated closer to the highway, meaning no party noise, but just a short walk to the beach.
- Guaimea Minilofts: where we stayed in El Tunco, the Minilofts are a set of self-contained apartment rooms on the upper storey of the Tunco Town Plaza. It could not have been more central, and despite not being beachfront or very tropical, it had all the amenities we wanted. A small kitchenette, spacious room, private bathroom and a little balcony. We had access to the pool at Monkey Lala, a beachfront hostel thatâs owned by the same person. You can only book via Airbnb, just look for âMiniloftâ in the hostâs listings.
- Hotel Zelen: the rooms here are slightly dated and basic, but very clean and spacious. The location is very close to the beach, and the grounds are lovely and tropical with day beds, hammocks and a small pool.
HIGH END đ°đ°đ°
- Boca Olas Resort & Villas: the main resort-style property in El Tunco does not disappoint. Itâs not quite beachfront, but itâs just a few minutes walk down a direct path to the ocean. With two pools, daily breakfast, large rooms and fantastic staff, this is the best choice for those with a bigger budget.
- Hotel Roca Sunzal: steps from the beach with many rooms overlooking the famous Tunco rock, you canât get much more central than this. With a huge resort-style pool, daily breakfast and exceptional service, this is the perfect spot for a vacay!
- Balance Surf & Yoga Retreat: a gorgeous surf and yoga-focused retreat, but you can also book a stand-alone room if you donât want a package. The rooms are earthy and modern, the grounds are tropical with a lovely pool, a healthy cafe and plenty of quiet spots to relax away from the noise of town.
Things to do in El Tunco
There are so many great things to do in El Tunco and the surrounding coast, that I wrote an entire post dedicated to them, to avoid making this one waaaay too long.
đđœââïž Check out the best 19 things to do in El Tunco and surrounds
Hereâs a sneak peek of our fave things to do:
- đđŒ Surf: there are a couple of different breaks in town for all levels and tons of places to rent a board or do lessons (Brayden highly recommends WAYO)
- đ Sunsets: the sunsets in El Tunco are something else. Be down on the beach every single night youâre in town!
- đȘš Sea caves: head to the very eastern end of the beach at low tide to explore lots of sea caves
- đš Explore town: colourful street art, good shopping, aesthetic cafes and beach bars
- đŽ Beach: head to the western side of town across the river for a sandy beach better for non-surfers
- đș Cadejo Brewery: have lunch with a view and enjoy their amazing ocean pool
- đč Sunset drinks at Cerveceria Chapultepec: perched on a cliff with a perfect sunset vantage point, all food and drinks (inc. cocktails) are $2
- đ Atami Resort: get a day pass and relax in your own little hut with hammocks, and swim in their 3 ocean pools
- đ” Rent a scooter: drive aimlessly along the scenic coastal highway and explore little towns and beaches
- đŠ Tamanique Waterfalls: hike to a set of waterfalls with cliff-jumping
El Tunco restaurants
LOCAL OPTIONS đ«
- Esquina Los Amigos: on a budget? Pupusas. Want pupusas in El Tunco? Go to Los Amigos. Enough said. This place is cheap, delicious and always full for dinner. Located on the main road to the beach.
- Esquina la Comadre: another solid local option that does a great desayuno tipico (typical breakfast) and lunch and dinner plates with your choice of protein served with rice and beans, salad and tortillas.
- Restaurante La Bocana: this OG beachfront option has been a fan favourite in El Tunco for a long time. Serving mainly seafood and other local options, itâs got one of the best views over the river, beach and sunset with a friendly, lively atmosphere. Itâs not dirt cheap, but if you want a meal with views, this is your best bet.
CAFES âïž
- Day Cafe & Salad Bar: this was one of our fave spots for a fresh and healthy breakfast or lunch. Nice smoothie bowls, avo toast, burritos, savoury bowls, salads and fresh juices, for very reasonable prices. They have AC inside too.
- Soya: a hidden gem tucked away in the Tunco Town Plaza, this was the cheapest breakfast we found in town. Primarily an organic health food store with lots of yummy goodies and pre-made meals, they have a small menu of healthy breakfast and lunch options. You can get a serving of loaded toast for just $5! With two pieces of delicious sourdough bread, your choice of spread (avo, cream cheese or hummus) topped with pickled veg, tomatoes and sprouts. YUM!
- Balance Surf & Yoga Retreat: this gorgeous retreat has an on-site cafe. It was one of the more pricier places we ate, but the food was excellent and the service was fantastic. They had some unique dishes, all home-cooked in front of you in their open kitchen.
- Dale Dale CafĂ©: this wasnât our favourite cafe, but it was much better than Point Break. They have a really nice covered seating area overlooking the river, which is a great place to work for a few hours. Their iced coffee has a special touch, with coffee ice blocks.
- Moo Frozen Yoghurt: I maaaay have gotten fro-yo every single day we were in El Tunco. Oops! Moo is delicious, with a few different flavours of frozen yoghurt and so many good toppings to create your perfect treat!
INTERNATIONAL RESTAURANTS đ
- Bao House: after weeks of eating nothing but pupusas, bao buns and dumplings were the biggest treat! Understandably a bit more expensive than the local options, we still ate here 3 times it was that good. My top pick.
- Mopelia: tucked away in a lovely garden setting lit up with fairy lights, we had a really nice tapas meal at Mopelia. At the time of our visit, they had special prices for tapas between 4:00 – 7:00 pm, and we got a range of small plates, each delicious and quite different to anything else we ate in El Tunco.
- Jungle: mainly Mexican but a mix of other options like burgers and wraps. The crispy deep-fried avocado tacos were delicious, and they made some nice margaritas. Theyâve got games to play while you wait, and a generally fun atmosphere with good music and occasionally live bands.
đ Get all these restaurants, cafes and bars pinned in our El Salvador Google Map
BARS đč
- La Bonita Beach Club: all the boho aesthetic vibes, this beach club is STUNNING. We only had one drink here, as itâs quite pricey, but worth it for a good cocktail in a gorg setting, with amazing beach and sunset views. It picks up later in the night on the weekends if youâre looking for a party.
- Monkey Lala: the location is amazing, everything else is pretty average. The best sunset vantage point in town, I wouldnât waste your time on a cocktail, just grab a beer and donât expect good service. Itâs a popular spot on the weekends and I think they have events and parties often.
- La Guitarra: the go-to place for live music, itâs nothing fancy or bougie but itâs got a fun pub vibe and lots of dancing. Great location right on the beach. Itâs also a budget hotel but if you like sleep, I wouldnât bother!
Travel tips & amenities
- đ«¶đŒ Safety: El Tunco is the most popular tourist destination in the country and has long been visited by international surfers, itâs a very safe area to visit in El Salvador. The town is very small and compact, and we felt super safe everywhere we went, even at night.
- đŽ How long to stay: although El Tunco is a small town, there is tons to do in the surrounding areas, and I guarantee youâll fall into an easy routine of surfing, chilling and drinking that you wonât want to leave too soon. I think 5 nights is a good amount of time if you can spare that in your itinerary.
- đïž When to visit: if youâre not an advanced surfer, the best time to visit El Tunco is during dry season, November – April. The waves are smaller, but better for beginner-intermediate and the weather is at its best, with mostly dry and sunny days. In the wet season, May – October, the surf is better for advanced surfers as the swell really picks up.
- đ§ ATM: there are several ATMs in El Tunco so theoretically you shouldnât have any trouble getting cash from at least one of them, but they can run out in peak times. Come stocked if you can, but larger establishments will let you pay with card.
- đ Supermarket and groceries: there are a handful of small supermarkets on the main roading leading towards the beach. The selection isnât great and theyâre quite pricey, La Libertad is a better place to shop if you want to stock up. We did find a decent fruit and vegetable shop near the eastern entrance to town. There is a fruit and vegetable truck that drives around town most days, listen out for the megaphone yelling.
- đ± Wifi and phone service: wifi and phone service in El Tunco is generally fine. Iâd always recommend getting a local SIM card (Tigo or Claro is best) as itâs more reliable than wifi and still works if there is a power outage.
- đ Power and water: El Tunco is a busy place that isnât really built to handle the number of visitors it receives. The town frequently has power and water outages, and we were without water multiple times throughout our stay. Be prepared and be patient, it affects the locals too.
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Final thoughts on El Tunco, El Salvador
El Tunco exceeded all our expectations. The town was nothing like we thought it would be, and we really loved it.
Itâs got a good vibe that can keep you longer than you planned, so donât underestimate how long youâll want to stay here! Whether you want to surf, party, chill or explore the stunning coastline, youâll love El Tunco.
Donât forget to check out our guide to the best things to do in El Tunco for much more detail on activities in and around town.
Also consider spending a couple of days in neighbouring El Zonte. We split our time between the two towns and were so glad we did. El Zonte is the next level of chill, and where El Tunco has paved roads and parties, El Zonte has sandy streets and seclusion.
MORE PACIFIC COAST POSTS
The Comments
alex white
hi,
I am interested to know when you visited El Trunco, my son who is American is travelling there with his girlfriend this september and I am a little concerend but reading your review it sounds heavenly…
Would you agree?
Sally Rodrick
alex whiteHi Alex, we had a fantastic time in El Tunco and felt completely safe. We were there in 2023. I think September will possibly be a little rainy, but it’s still a beautiful town! I’m sure your son and girlfriend will have a great time, taking the usual safety precautions they would anywhere in the world đ
Heather
Any cooking classes in El Tunco? Thank you! Great information.
Sally Rodrick
HeatherIt looks like Tunco Life have a great pupusa making tour. Hope that helps!