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El Tunco is one of the most popular places to visit in El Salvador and is a must-visit on any El Salvador itinerary.
BUT, this popular surf town is much smaller than its popularity would have you think, and there aren’t actually that many places to stay here.
You’d think that would mean choosing where to stay in El Tunco is easy, but given the high demand and the shortage of supply, accommodation here can be expensive, hard to find and often of really average quality.
Throw in some very noisy bars and clubs on the weekend, and you can have a stinking time here if you’re staying in the wrong spot. Oftentimes, you’ll also see accommodations advertise that they are in El Tunco, but really they’re in neighbouring beaches that are not walkable to town. Confusing, much?
So, you really need to know exactly where to stay if you want to be in El Tunco, and which options are worth your time!
Booking accommodation in El Tunco
El Tunco gets a lot of (deserved) hype from travellers, but what a lot of people don’t realise until they arrive is that this town is actually tiny!
It’s exploded in popularity in recent years, with domestic and international travellers alike, but the town hasn’t been able to keep up in terms of the supply of accommodation. There really aren’t that many places to stay for the volume of travellers visiting.
I think it’s a great idea to spread your time on El Salvador’s Pacific Coast to some of the other smaller, lesser-known towns in the region, of which there are plenty (we loved El Zonte). But most people, ourselves included, understandably still want to spend at least a few nights in the OG favourite of El Tunco.
It can be quite challenging to find good accommodation in El Tunco, because it’s either:
- 💸 Very expensive (they know the demand is high and supply is low!)
- 🗓️ Booked out well in advance
- 👍🏼 Crap quality (again, see demand vs supply)
- 📢 Incredibly noisy near a bar or club
- 📍 Not even in the town of El Tunco
While there are some stunning new boutique accommodations and beachfront resorts cropping up along the coast, the accommodations in El Tunco, for the most part, just aren’t of the same quality. Perhaps because the town is older and has been popular for a while, it’s living on its reputation.
With the exception of a few very well-run options that you’ll want to book way in advance, many of the places in town are overpriced and not that great, so come with your expectations managed! Every option, even the better ones, will have some downsides, so choose what’s most important to you (location, privacy, quiet, style, etc.), and read reviews carefully.
To have the biggest range of options available to you, you should book your accommodation in El Tunco as early as possible!
I know this is challenging if you’re travelling long-term through the region with no fixed plans, but even if you’ve got a loose idea of dates, book a refundable or changeable rate. You don’t want to be stuck with the leftover dregs, especially if you’re visiting on a weekend or holidays when domestic travellers flock to the town.
We did NOT do this, and I spent days scouring every booking platform trying to find something good. Spoiler: we didn’t have a great stay, and it’s because I wasn’t organised. We didn’t even visit on a weekend or holiday either, so that’s saying something!
Which location to stay in El Tunco
Another one of the issues with choosing accommodation in El Tunco is the location, and how it’s labelled online on Booking.com, Hostelworld, etc.
El Tunco is a town in the La Libertad Department of El Salvador. Within that department, El Tunco is part of the Tamanique District, as are many of the surrounding beaches.
When I looked online for accommodation in ‘El Tunco’, I was getting results for places that were either in the entire Tamanique District or even more broadly in La Libertad, not specifically in El Tunco.
It can be really confusing, and it’s very easy to accidentally book something not even close to El Tunco town.
As I said, there are some great beaches around El Tunco that are worth staying at, but it should be a conscious choice, not something you mistakenly do thinking you’re in the heart of the action!
If you want to stay in El Tunco itself, you need to look very closely at the map. You want to be south of the main highway, and ideally between the two rivers that border the town to the east and west.
Some options in neighbouring El Sunzal can be okay, if you’re happy to walk down the beach into El Tunco town. It offers a quieter alternative to being right in the buzz, while still having access. Just be sure that the hotel is accessible to the beach, so you can use it to walk into town easily. You want to walk along the sand, as it’s not walkable via the highway.
🏄🏽♂️ Planning a trip to El Tunco? Go read our El Tunco travel guide for a detailed overview of the town, getting there and around, best spots to eat, things to do and other handy travel tips
Best hotels and hostels in El Tunco
MY TOP PICKS ⭐
- 💰 Dos Palmas
- 💰💰 Eco del Mar
- 💰💰💰 Mirasurf Hotel & Waves
Budget options
- Dos Palmas: a relatively new hostel option in El Tunco, and from the looks of things, the best! Perfectly located right by the beach, this hostel is a mix of social, party vibes on the weekend, with a relaxed, chill vibe during the week. They have an awesome pool, can organise surf rentals and lessons, and their nicer dorms are private, pod-style.
- Karma Muse: this is the best located hostel in my opinion, right on the river near the main beach entrance. You can see and hear the ocean from the common areas, and you’re directly overlooking the river! It’s social but NOT party vibes. There are hammocks strung all over and a well-stocked communal kitchen.
- Papaya Lodge: this was always the go-to hostel in El Tunco, but it’s recently been outshone by a few newcomers. It’s still a popular option that gets mostly good reviews, free breakfast is included, there’s a small pool, and the AC is on all the time.
- Hostal Camila’s: if you’re on a budget but you want privacy, this is the place! Well-located, affordable, with private rooms with private bathrooms and AC. There is a small communal kitchen too. Rooms are basic and a bit sparse, but for the price and comfort, and not having to share, it’s an excellent option.
Mid-range options
- Eco del Mar: spacious apartments with small kitchenettes for breaky and coffee, and little balconies with hammocks. The property is perfectly located, an easy walk to everything, but also very quiet and peaceful. The rooms are spread around a lush tropical garden with a nice pool. If I had my time again, this is where I’d stay!
- Casa Makoi: this is a lovely mid-range option with a relaxed vibe. Private rooms with bathrooms and AC are spread across a lovely, quiet garden area with a small plunge pool and a great breakfast included daily.
- The Cabins: a fantastic choice, a collection of converted shipping containers. Each is self-contained with a kitchenette and an air conditioner (needed!), and they share a nice pool and garden area. It’s situated closer to the highway, meaning no party noise, but just a short walk to the beach.
- Hotel Zelen: 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 options
- Mirasurf Hotel & Waves: a gorgeous, near-new boutique hotel with impeccable boho styling and great amenities. The hotel is located on the second river (east) on the quiet side of town, with some rooms directly overlooking the water at La Bocana surf break. They’ve got a stunning pool, daily breakfast and on-site spa and massage services.
- Boca Olas Resort & Villas: the main resort-style property in El Tunco does not disappoint. It’s not quite beachfront, but it’s 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 can’t 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!
- Casa de Mar: further up the beach in El Sunzal, which I wouldn’t normally recommend for an El Tunco stay, but I’m making an exception for this one because it’s actually on the sand, so you can easily walk up the beach into town (vs other El Sunzal properties being nearer to the highway). Plus, this is an amazing property perched right on the water at the El Sunzal surf break (perfect for beginners). You can see sunrise and sunset views, and you will literally be staring at the ocean all day, every day!
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Where to stay in El Tunco: Final thoughts
I hope this helps you narrow down some of the decent places to stay in El Tunco and has clarified exactly where you want to be.
Book your accommodation as soon as you have a rough idea of the dates, so you have the full choice of hotels available to you.
While El Tunco is absolutely worth a few days on your El Salvador itinerary, you should definitely choose a neighbouring beach town or more distant resort to tack on, so you can experience both sides of the Pacific Coast.
We fell in love with the quieter, laidback town of El Zonte just up the road, but there are some excellent ‘destination’ accommodations too, like Mizata by Antiresort (aka NAWi Beach House) and La Garza Hostel.
MORE PACIFIC COAST POSTS
- Ultimate Travel Guide to El Tunco: Surf City, El Salvador
- 19 Best Things to Do in El Tunco & Surrounds, El Salvador
- El Zonte Travel Guide: Best Beach Town in El Salvador
