Few countries, like El Salvador, have countless tourist destinations and places that encompass the ethnic and natural beauty of the region, as well as its history. An example is its Sun and Beach Route, with an approximate extension of 300 kilometers.
Its coasts are located in the Pacific Ocean and consist of 45 beaches with magnificent waves for surfing, golden sands, and a view from west to east as never seen before.
SUN AND BEACH ROUTE - Routes of El Salvador. Photo by ElSalvadorViajar.
But what makes El Salvador’s beaches unique? El Salvador’s Sun and Beach Route, in addition to the warm waters of the Pacific Ocean, has a beautiful landscape surrounded by palm trees that merge with the sound of the wind and waves.
Not to mention the number of natural attractions you can’t miss to enjoy with your family and friends. So if you want to spend a few days at the beach, El Salvador has Puerto de la Libertad, La Paz, Barra de Santiago, El Golfo de Fonseca, and many others you can’t miss.
What to see and what to do in the Sun and Beach Route?
The Sun and Beach Route of El Salvador will immerse you in a tour of the most beautiful beach and tourist places this enigmatic country offers. And here, we list the best of them. Let’s start.
Puerto de la Libertad and El Sunzal Beach
This fascinating spot is in the center of the road to the Litoral. The power of its excellent waves makes El Sunzal Beach the most popular among surfers and La Libertad beach. Likewise, its rocky sea bed makes it a perfect area for snorkeling and diving in summer.
On the other hand, it is one of the most outstanding on this Route of Sun and Beach for its impressive historical richness. Since 1854 the Puerto de la Libertad has been in operation, welcoming visitors to its beautiful artisan pier.
With the years passing, it has become a new complex for tourists, and it is the access road to get to this imposing beach.
In addition, this region of the Sun and beach route is the recommended area to get lodging, enjoy cozy restaurants and fresh seafood from the sea, and a beautiful theater where you can enjoy multiple celebrations and events.
La Barra de Santiago
La Barra de Santiago is in the Ahuachapán department; thanks to its location, you can have a direct approach to the estuary and the ocean.
This paradisiacal beach is the perfect place to enjoy the area’s best dishes, prepared with the freshest products extracted from the sea. Although the beach is beautiful, it stands out for the variety of activities it offers tourists.
The estuaries are the perfect area for water skiing, kayaking, and even sailing out to sea at high tide.
The Gulf of Fonseca
The Gulf of Fonseca is considered the best natural harbor of the Pacific Ocean and the world. Its dimensions are such that it is on the border of Nicaragua, Honduras, and El Salvador, and the latter is right in the municipality of La Union.
While for the other countries, it covers the municipalities of Morazán and San Lorenzo, respectively, for a total of 32 kilometers. On the other hand, the Gulf offers tourists an incredible view of the Volcanic Archipelago.
Visit the islands La Meanguerita; La Conchagüita; La Meanguera; Zacatillo, and La Punta Zacate, not to mention the islets.
El Zonte Beach
Another surfing option is El Zonte Beach, one of the most popular destinations of the Sun and Beach Route of El Salvador. Here you can choose from a great diversity of restaurants and inns, which adjust to your economy and tastes.
This beach has witnessed important national and international surfing competitions thanks to its location at kilometer 53 of the Litoral.
Los Cóbanos Beach
Located in Acajutla in the department of Sonsonate, Los Cóbanos beach stands out for its clear and golden sands and ideal reefs for snorkeling or diving. The Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources declared it a Natural Protected Area.
As a fact, in the vicinity of this beach were discovered the remains of two shipwrecks dating from approximately 1800. This undoubtedly increases the historical value of this tourist destination.
So if you want to visit this beautiful beach, you should know that here you will find a network of lodging services ranging from villa complexes, international hotel chains, lodging with areas for golf, excellent restaurants, and much more.
A few kilometers away, you will find Salinitas Beach, one of the most beautiful beaches in the western zone. With reef sand and crystal-clear water.
Costa del Sol Beach and Jaltepeque Estuary
This beautiful coastal area is in the La Paz department. It is the largest in El Salvador, approximately 15 kilometers long, perfect for those who enjoy practicing sports such as volleyball, football, and jogging.
The Costa del Sol and Estero de Jaltepeque are undoubtedly one of the coasts in the Sun and Beach Route most visited by locals and foreigners for their vast space for enjoyment. Here you will find a great variety of beaches, including bocanas, islands, and of course, the Estero de Jaltepeque.
But you can also stroll along the boulevard of Costa del Sol, where you will find a path leading you to Lake Jaltepeque. You can navigate in its calm waters and delight yourself with the diversity of bird species typical of the place.
Highlights include herons, gulls, and ducks hidden in the mangroves of Jaltepeque. You can start this tour by boat from the mouth of the Lempa River to Los Negros Beach, a quiet and unspoiled beach.
Jiquilisco Bay
On the Sun and Beach Route, you can visit the Jiquilisco Bay, whose mangroves and salty forests invite you to practice sailing, fishing, and water skiing.
On the other hand, its natural diversity makes this bay a wonderful place to observe birds of different species. Perfect for ecotourism and, therefore, declared a Ramsar site by UNESCO.
Among the species that inhabit the salt forest are seagulls and herons. In addition, this region of the Sun and Beach Route takes you to Chahuantique, where you can observe the spider monkey and the beautiful Big Blue butterfly in their natural habitat.
If this is not enough, the bay takes you on a tour of the water formations and tanks for breeding tilapia and shrimp. Ending at the island of “El Espiritu Santo,” enjoy the coconut oil production process up close.
El Palmarcito Beach
El Palmarcito Beach is the fun place of the Sun and Beach Route, as it has become known by the locals. Here you can practice a variety of recreational sports such as body surfing. In the same way, you can relax in the peaceful artificial pools arranged to fill this wonderful place with attractions.
From its viewpoints, you will contemplate the beauty and immensity of the sea and its beach. And if you are still unsatisfied, you can visit Tamanique, a beautiful village in La Libertad.
Metalío Beach
A traditional destination within the Sun and Beach Route, it stands out among the rest for its black sandy beaches and warm waters. It is the perfect place for lovers of painting and photography. So you can come and capture the most impressive and beautiful sunsets all year round.
Its proximity to the town of Puerto de Acajutla gives excellent energy to the businesses of this place. On this beach, visitors can enjoy a great diversity of cozy restaurants and fresh products fresh from the sea for the most demanding tastes.
El Tunco Beach
El Tunco Beach is right next to El Sunzal. You will find a huge diversity of restaurants and hostels to make your stay an unforgettable experience. One of the most recommended places to stay is the inn “Casa del Mar.”
It offers a wide range of national and international cuisine and beautiful facilities for all tastes. It also has a surfboard workshop where you can request instruction and surfboard rental service to enjoy the waves like an expert.
La Paz Beach
In La Paz beach, important Latin American competitions are held. Likewise, tourists can enjoy a significant number and diversity of services that will adjust to their budget to make their trip unforgettable.
In this sense, you can choose sports such as kayaking and surfing and enjoy its beautiful restaurants, inns and the advice of instructors specialized in water sports. You can also hire a boat to travel along the coast.
You will have the opportunity to see a variety of marine species, such as tuna, marlin, and dolphins, in their natural environment. And if you wish, you can fish a little before returning to the port. As an interesting fact, for March and November, if you are lucky, you can observe the departure of whales that sail the seas towards icy waters in North American territory.
San Diego Beach
San Diego Beach is another of the favorite destinations of the Sun and Beach Route of El Salvador. It has an extension of 7 kilometers and gentle waves and is ideal for those who wish to practice sports such as football, volleyball, and beach jogging.
Also, for those who love ecotourism, at San Diego beach, you can hike or lie on the sand to enjoy the environment, the weather, and the sun.
El Cuco Beach and Las Flores Beach
We continue with this beautiful beach of black sandstone and friendly waves, suitable for those who enjoy a relaxing swim, fishing, or extensive and passable walks.
At El Cuco Beach, visitors and locals alike find attractive opportunities for services that fit their budget. Such as inns and small restaurants, which offer traditional dishes of the area and delicacies from the sea.
About 3 kilometers away, we find Las Flores Beach, undoubtedly one of the most beautiful beaches in El Salvador. With sand that reflects the sun incredibly. Warm and calm sea, but with enough waves for surf lovers. It is a perfect beach to be with your family, as a couple, or alone, relaxing, reading a book, or drinking a cold beer.
Las Tunas, Torola, Playas Negras and El Tamarindo Beaches
Closing our tour, we find this group of islands that gives us the Route of Sun and Beach for our enjoyment. With their sandstones, Las Tunas and Negras beaches delight us with their arid formations that integrate small marshes, where you can enjoy an exquisite bath in this natural pool.
On the other hand, Playa El Tamarindo and Torola are two beautiful beaches that surprise visitors with their formations of shallow lakes, calm waves, and shallow depth.
Other beaches you can visit on the Sun and beaches Route
As we have already mentioned, there is plenty of variety in beaches in El Salvador, so if you are looking for other tourist alternatives in the Rol y Playa Route, we recommend you to visit:
- Playa Mizata in the department of La Libertad.
- Las Flores Beach in La Libertad.
- La Puntilla Beach in the department of La Paz.
- La Zunganera Beach in La Paz.
- El Espino Beach in the department of Usulután.
Visiting tips
If you have already planned your trip to one of the sun and beach route of El Salvador destinations, it is not superfluous to consider some aspects.
- Choose the activities you want to do well and that you can cover with your budget.
- Check if the destination of your choice has lodging and restaurants nearby.
- Do not forget to bring insect repellent and sunscreen.
- Bring beach clothes, sandals, a hat or cap, and sunglasses.
- If you plan to take a boat ride or go fishing, take a small backpack where you can store your belongings. This way, you will avoid losing them in the sand or having them fall into the sea.
- If you are going to travel by bus, check the value of the tickets and always carry a little extra money as a precaution.
- If you are going to hire the services of a water sports instructor, verify that your place of lodging offers this service and its cost.
- If you wish to go on night walks, bring calm and comfortable clothes so you can enjoy all the region’s attractions fully.
