Pacific Coast holidays
Pacific Coast holidays at a glance
El Salvador coast is dotted with small fishing communities, and though tourism here is still young, accommodation ranges from big all-inclusive resorts to small eco-conscious lodges. Beaches shift from soft white sand bays to dark volcanic ones as you move along the shore, and most of the El Salvador coastline sits under three hours by road from the capital, San Salvador.
The rugged bays and big breaks along here have made this one of the best El Salvador beaches for surfing, and several major international competitions have been held on these waters. Away from the swell, four species of turtle nest along the coast, alongside plenty of wading birds, making it a real draw for anyone who’d rather birdwatch than surf. Most visitors, though, are happy simply to slow down, eat good seafood and watch the ocean.
Why choose Journey Latin America for your holiday to Pacific Coast
We’ve been planning trips to Central and South America for over 45 years, longer than any other UK specialist. Every holiday is built around you by a Travel Expert who has been to the places they recommend, with support from your first enquiry to the day you fly home.
El Salvador’s Pacific Coast provides the perfect balance to the country’s colonial heritage and mountain landscapes.
When to visit Pacific Coast
November to April is the dry season, generally the easier stretch for beach time, with the coast holding a tropical climate and temperatures around 30°C year round. May to October brings more rain, though showers tend to fall in the evening and overnight, so days on the beach are rarely disrupted. Turtle nesting adds another layer to timing a visit. Hawksbill turtles nest in May and October, and leatherbacks are often spotted between October and January.
This is the dry season and it is warm and humid with mostly sunny days. Between October and January Leatherback turtles can also be seen along the coast.
Increasingly hot, wet and humid with risk of tropical storms between September and November. El Salvador is an important area for the endangered Eastern Pacific hawksbill and nesting months are May and October.
Top Things to do in Pacific Coast
Things to do on the Pacific Coast are best paced slowly. Surfing draws the biggest crowds, with rugged bays and big breaks that have hosted international competitions, while turtle watching and birdwatching suit those after something quieter. Learning to make a traditional pupusa is an easy, hands-on way to spend an afternoon, and working through the local seafood, washed down with a cold beer, is a popular way to end most days here.
Learn how to make pupusa, El Salvador’s signature dish, in a pretty colonial town, Conchagua.
Accommodation in Pacific Coast
Accommodation ranges from beachfront resorts to boutique hotels and comfortable bases for exploring further along the coast. Casa del Mar and Puerto Barillas both sit right on the water, while La Cocotera offers a quieter, more low-key stay a little further along the shore.
Casa de mar is a friendly lodge and surfing centre overlooking popular Sunzal Beach on El Salvador’s Pacific coast.
Puerto Barillas is a small marina and lodge hidden amongst mangroves, plantations and a natural forest reserve on the banks of a clear water channel within Jiquilisco Bay, on El Salvador’s Pacific coast.
A former Journey Latin America tour leader, Sally spent 7 years working, travelling and living throughout Latin America before returning to the UK to help people arrange their own adventures to this wonderful destination.
Tailor-Made Pacific Coast Tours
Prefer to travel on your own terms? We’ll build a trip around your dates, your pace and the things you most want to see – whether that’s a first run at Machu Picchu, a family adventure mixing history and wildlife, or a food-focused journey through Lima and the Sacred Valley. Our Travel Experts can help shape it with you.
Signature El Salvador: Revolutionary road trip
Places visited: San Salvador · Ruta de las Flores · Gulf of Fonseca and Eastern El Salvador · Suchitoto · Pacific Coast
11 days from £2,775
Signature Guatemala, Honduras & El Salvador: Mayan ruins, colonial cities and Pacific beaches
Places visited: Lake Atitlan and villages · Antigua and the highlands · Copan · Suchitoto · Ruta de las Flores · Pacific Coast
15 days from £3,950
FAQs about visiting Pacific Coast
Pacific Coast is one of the most popular destinations, and there’s plenty to think about before you go. Here, our specialists share their best advice.
- When To Go
The Pacific coast has a tropical climate all year round with temperatures hovering around 30°C. The dry season is Nov-Apr. The rainy season, May-Oct, is characterised by mostly evening and nocturnal showers. El Salvador is an important area for the the endangered Eastern Pacific hawksbill. Nesting months are May and October. Leatherback turtles can also be seen between October and January.
For more detailed information visit our When To Go section.
- Language
Spanish
- Getting Local Currency
El Salvador uses the US dollar. The former local currency (colon) was phased out in 2003. You can obtain US dollar cash locally in banks and exchange houses and may be able to obtain cash advances from a couple of ATMs in Suchitoto among other large towns and cities. You should authorise your bank first, and withdrawals may be limited.
- Time Difference
GMT -6 hrs.
- Combines With
A visit to the lovely colonial town of Suchitoto, or Antigua in Guatemala; similarly a centre for the arts (6-7hrs by road crossing the land border at La Hechadura); the Ruta del las Flores (112km by road to Juayúa, 1hr 45mins).
- Getting There
The area of Costa del Sol is only a 1.5hr drive from San Salvador
- Key Events
Gastronomic festival of seafood in La Libertad in May.
Ready to start planning?
Tell us where you want to go, and we’ll take it from there. No obligation, no sales pitch – just a conversation with someone who knows the region inside out.