El Zonte Travel Guide

  Little oyster girl
by mongo2
 
  • Little oyster girl
      Little oyster girl
    by mongo2
  • El Zonte beach
      El Zonte beach
    by mongo2
  •   El Zonte
    by mongo2
  •   El Zonte
    by mocca
  • El Zonte Sunset
      El Zonte Sunset
    by mongo2
 

Explore El Zonte

Things to Do  

Watch the waves

Watch the waves, El Zonte

 mocca Says:  The waves wrap around the point creating a long steep, unfortuanatly not hollow, wall.But the most fun to watch will be the kids who surf the left over waves that roll into the river, there devenetly are future surfstars there, and it really is fun to watch, cause the kids... 

Hotels  

San Blas Beach House

San Blas Beach House, El Zonte

 enjoysanblas Says:  Nice beach house, located at just 5 minutes from world famous surfing spots like Sunzal, Punta Roca, El Tunco.45 minutes from San Salvador and 15 minutes from the airport. Nice beach house, inside a residential complex. 6 beds, 3 bedrooms, Air Conditioned, pool, equipped... 

Rancho Escondido: Great little accomidation

Rancho Escondido: Great little accomidation, El Zonte

 mongo2 Says:  At 5$ per person per night,includes refrigerator,cooking facilities and pool,on a tranquill sidestreet off the entrance to El Zonte. 

a name???? didn't know it had one: just a wooden hut

a name???? didn't know it had one: just a wooden hut, El Zonte

 mocca Says:  You can stay at the SurfCamp (expensive but comfy), the locally owned surfcamp, (cheap and ok rooms but full when we got there), or just ask at the beach if there is something where you can sleep, We ended up in a hut in someones backyard, and That is really what it was,... 

Restaurants  

It actually has no name: Cheap, lot's and it is good, very good

It actually has no name: Cheap, lot's and it is good, very good, El Zonte

 mocca Says:  We ate here the whole time we were in El Zonte, breakfast, lunch and dinner.And it was yummy all the time, and most off the times we were the only ones there so we always had good contact with the owners, and they really took good care off us.ps, they don't have a menu, they... 

Nightlife  

SurfCamp: Have a local beer

SurfCamp: Have a local beer, El Zonte

 mocca Says:  There is not much to do at El Zonte, except have a drink at one of the SurfCamps, and even they won't stay open way past 10 (yes everything closes early here, very early) Most nites it will be very relaxing, except when in the weekend when the locals come to drink, then you... 

Warnings Or Dangers  

Extreme poverty

Extreme poverty, El Zonte

 mongo2 Says:  Due to extreme levels of poverty,all travel into and out of El Zonte should only be conducted in daylight hours.Police are nonexistant,shanties constructed from driftwood and stones are the primary residences,and many youths are spending there nights huddling on the beach. 

Gangs

Gangs, El Zonte

 mocca Says:  The nearest town with a bank and real stores is La Libertad, while during day not much will happen (just watch your pockets in busy streets), after sunset it is a different story, gangs rule the streets.We've heard off stories that gangs were outside bars and restaurants... 

loco locals

loco locals, El Zonte

 mocca Says:  El Salvador is known as a violent and dangerous country, but in El Zonte you will find little problem. Only in the weekend when locals come to the beach to drink and party, it can get crazy.Especially young workers will cary there machettes to the beach, cause they are a... 

big waves and riptides

big waves and riptides, El Zonte

 mocca Says:  The biggest danger will be the waves and riptides in the ocean, and there are no lifeguards here, so use common sence and make sure you watch eachother while in the water 

Tourist Traps  

What is the closing time???

What is the closing time???, El Zonte

 mocca Says:  Just know that everything clkoses very shortly after sunset (note,, it is dark at 7pm !!!!!!!!) so either will be an early nite in bed, or buy your own drinks from one of the two stores there. Only one alternative, go to La Libertad, but this is NOT advisable after dark... 

Sports & Outdoors  

Ride the wild surf

Ride the wild surf, El Zonte

 mocca Says:  The waves are awsome, and that is also basilcy the only thing you can do there.So if you bodyboard or surf, you will have a great time for sure as the waves are really good. If you only will surf El Zonte (which I doubt) you will need just a board for long steap... 

The Place

Plan a El Zonte vacation with reviews, tips and photos posted by real travelers and El Zonte locals

Experience El Zonte
  •   12 Tips and Reviews
  •  22 Photos
  Share your Travels  
Map of El Zonte
 

The People

1 Member Lives Here
 
Our Members Say
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 The biggest danger will be the waves and riptides in the ocean, and there are no lifeguards here, so use common sence and make sure you watch eachother while in... 

1 member lives in El Zonte

 

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Top 3 El Zonte Writers

1

El zonte, surf's up

mocca profile photo

 We went to El Salvador to surf, and ended up on the little beach of El Zonte. And we found there what we came for, waves. Big ones, and long ones. And when we didn't like the waves there, we just went... 

2

Antigua daytrips to remote destinations

mongo2 profile photo

 I've got some interesting experiences in El Zonte. I'd love to share with you the 2 tips I've written, the 12 photos uploaded, and 1 travelogue I've created. 

3

Muchas Olas!!

shere profile photo

 I felt very white as we arrived in El Salvador, but was totally welcomed once in El Zonte. Having said that, there is a stronglocal spirit and that can be quite intimidating. The place was very basic... 

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