Central America
El Salvador
La Libertad Department
El Tunco
El Tunco Attractions
Playa El Tunco
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Playa El Tunco

See all things to do
See all things to do
Playa El Tunco
4
Top ways to experience Playa El Tunco
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The area
Best nearby
Restaurants
41 within 5 kms
Coyote Restaurant
103
0.4 km$$ - $$$ • Pizza • Vegetarian Friendly • Vegan Options
Rock & Roe Fish Shop
41
0.3 km$$ - $$$ • American • Seafood • Vegetarian Friendly
Tunco Veloz Pizzeria
96
0.3 km$$ - $$$ • Italian • Pizza • Mediterranean
Day Cafe & Salad Bar
38
0.3 km$ • American • Cafe • Healthy
Point Break Cafe
26
0.3 km$$ - $$$ • Dessert • Cafe • Vegetarian Friendly
Dale Dale Cafe!
22
0.4 km$
Jungle SV
12
0.4 km$ • Bar • Grill • Pub
Loroco Bistro
18
0.3 km$$ - $$$ • American • Pizza • European
Blu
16
0.2 km$$ - $$$ • American • Latin • Bar
Rocas Sunzal
22
0.4 km$$ - $$$ • Latin • Seafood • Spanish
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Attractions
4 within 10 kms
El Sunzal
43
1.1 kmBeaches
Puro Surf Performance Academy
56
Sports Camps & Clinics
Malecon Puerto de la Libertad
160
Points of Interest & Landmarks • Piers & Boardwalks
Atami Escape Resort
72
4.2 kmBeach & Pool Clubs
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
4.0
286 reviews
Excellent
144
Very good
84
Average
40
Poor
11
Terrible
7
Eveer S
1 contribution
El Tunco: Rocky sunsents of fun!
Sep 2022
Playa El Tunco is a stunning and futuristic beach located on the Pacific coast of El Salvador. This tropical destination is known for its black sand beaches and powerful waves that make it a perfect spot for surfers all over the world. But it's not just surfers who love this place. Playa El Tunco is one of the most popular destinations in El Salvador for families, friends, and solo travelers looking for never-ending vacations or adventures filled with waving sunsets.

The black sand originating from the ostentatious volcanos in the country is able to allocate Playa El Tunco apart from other beaches and creates a unique and breathtaking landscape, considering that there are just twenty black sand beaches in the entire world. Surfing is one of the most impactful and cultural traditions on this beach, whether you are a beginner or an experienced surfer, you’ll be able to immerse yourself in surf lessons to have fun at the hilarious swells and waves that form in El Tunco. Moreover, the beach is surrounded by an abundance of lush vegetation and palm trees, finessing a peaceful, tranquil, and ecological alternative to the urban lifestyle.

One of the most highlighted features of Playa El Tunco is its flourishing food scene. There are numerous seafood restaurants and cafes that offer a variety of cuisine options, from traditional Salvadorian dishes to international options. The beach is also home to many street food vendors selling fresh seafood, fruits, and other delicious treats. Which, unlike other beaches, are not relying on repetitive and exponential annoyances to sell their multifaceted forms of merchandise to tourists or visitors. Furthermore, there are hotels and hostels near the beach that are quite inexpensive and offer great access to a lot of tourist places around the city.

Whether you want to dine with a view of the ocean or enjoy a romantic dinner under the stars, there are plenty of options to choose from.  In addition to the exotic black sand beach environment and delicious food, Playa El Tunco has a variety of entertainment options. There are beach bars and clubs where visitors can dance the night away. There are also local shops selling handmade crafts, souvenirs, and other items. Though the beach contains a variety of rocks on the sand, and it might be a little difficult to explore the sea, it is worth it to plunge into this experience to live the Salvadoran life at its maximum. It is worth noting that there is never a moment without waves of fun in El Salvador; especially since its waves last for the entire year!

In conclusion, Playa El Tunco is a must-visit destination for anyone looking for a relaxing beach escape or a vacation filled with rocky swells of fun. Its unique black sand beaches, powerful waves, and delicious food make it a great travel destination for families, friends, and solo travelers. With its variety of entertainment options, peaceful and tranquil atmosphere, and friendly locals, Playa El Tunco is a destination that will leave you desiring more wavy adventures in El Salvador.
Written 11 February 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
jefferson l
Las Vegas, NV296 contributions
Me gusta El Tunco mucho!
Sep 2022
The El Tunco beach itself is very rocky with dead wood, and extremely hard to even walk on, let alone try to go into the water. However, this is an Intenational surfing location because of the large waves and swells. The sunsets here are incredible, and it is a great rest and relax area. The people a all very nice, both the locals and the tourist. There is an incredible nightlife and social scene, plenty of good restaurants to eat and everything is very inexpensive. It is an extremely safe area and you do not have street people bothering you for money or trying to get you to buy something from them. The hotels and hostels are very good and inexpensive, as well. This is a Spanish speaking tourist area, that attacks Spanish speaking tourist, so if you do not speak any Spanish, it may be difficult for long stays.
Written 23 September 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kim M
8 contributions
A famous tourist spot in El Salvador
Dec 2021 • Family
My family and I stayed in El Tunco over Christmas 2021 and had a fabulous time. Lots of restaurants and many friendly people. Safe place for a family to visit.
Written 4 May 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Esto3333
Key West, FL9 contributions
Rocky and Noisy
Feb 2022 • Solo
The beaches at El Tunco are very rocky and the nightlife is extremely noisy Thursday-Sunday with multiple DJ’s blasting each other out every 25 yards along the boardwalk. They all had similar playlists and one is forced to listen to YMCA and the Pee Wee Herman songs blasting away multiple times during the night. Monday thru Wednesday is very peaceful & quiet here with lots to do. The town should consider managing the noise factor here as it appears out-of-control.
Written 30 March 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lisa A
Miami, FL14 contributions
Worth visiting at least once!
Feb 2022
The beach is very rocky, waves are strong! really nice for eating at the nearby restaurants or partying on a Friday or Saturday night! But more importantly, visit for the local jewelry vendors who sell beautiful bracelets and other jewelry! :)
Written 2 March 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
GeneralShamu
New York City, NY1,016 contributions
Great waves
Jun 2021
The water was so warm that you barely noticed a difference between the heat/humidity and entry in the water. The waves can be significant offshore while tame by the shoreline - i.e. great for everyone.
Written 4 June 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
backpack is life
Toronto, Canada306 contributions
Chill laid back surfers hang out
Mar 2020
Watched a sunset here and it was so chill and relaxing being by the ocean. Lots of surfers around makes it a people place to watch and make friends. Good place to hang out.
Written 17 June 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
AfricaAtNewYears
Island of Malta, Malta400 contributions
If you do not bring mask 😷
Apr 2020 • Solo
Great hospitality, friendly people, courteousness and politeness is the norm even among the street dogs.
Written 13 April 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mike X
Santa Cruz, CA12 contributions
Surfing Trip
Mar 2020 • Family
Spent a week here (from California). Great place for surfing and hanging at the beach. Very good food, beach and very nice people. More Americans should come down here!!! We felt safe the whole time and had a great time.
Written 10 March 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Travelholic
Vancouver, Canada41 contributions
Nice beach area
Feb 2020
Playa El Tunco has nice beach, if you are a beach lover or like to swimming / surfing, this is a place to visit if you are in El Salvador.
Written 5 March 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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PLAYA EL TUNCO - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go

Frequently Asked Questions about Playa El Tunco
We recommend booking Playa El Tunco tours ahead of time to secure your spot. If you book with Tripadvisor, you can cancel up to 24 hours before your tour starts for a full refund. See all 11 Playa El Tunco tours on Tripadvisor
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