El Cuco Voyage Tips and guide

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El Cuco, also known as Oriente Salvaje among surfers, is a quintessential beach with dark sands, lined with vendor huts, seafood restaurants and shaggy palms. It is a world-famous surfing destination that is regarded as one of the best in the world, although it is not well known outside the surfing community. Non-surfers will find long stretches of sandy beaches that are lightly visited but with a local beach vibe unspoiled by crowds and development.

The beaches of El Cuco are known for their black sand. The sandy beaches are formed by ground volcanic rock, which gives it the dark color. The beaches aren't actually black, though they can appear that way when wet. The colors actually range from light gray to dark black and are often mixed with light flecks made up of ground seashells. The sand is fairly soft to walk on but can be quite hot due to the absorption of energy from the bright afternoon sun.

The Pan-American highway crosses through El Salvador and is a safe route for entering the country and traveling between San Miguel in the East and San Salvador in the West.

From the San Miguel bus terminal on east 6th Street (6a Called Ote.) there are regular 90-minute bus rides to El Cuco. The buses leave every 30 minutes (or when the bus is full) and cost US$2. You can also get a $30 taxi or some hotels offer a shuttle service from San Miguel to Playa El Esteron via El Cuco.

In Playa El Esteron you can find hotels that offer a shuttle service between Intipuca Beach, Playa Las Flores and El Cuco or alternatively you can take a cheap taxi between the neighboring beaches.

• Playa El Cuco is the waterfront area in the town of El Cuco
• Playa El Esteron is next to El Cuco and is regarded as one of the most beautiful beaches in all of El Salvador
• Playa Las Flores is next to El Cuco and is regarded as one of the best surf spots in all of El Salvador
• Playa La Ventana is just west of El Cuco and is a good beach lovers beach with calm seas and warm water
• Playa El Icacal is an undeveloped beach area just east of El Cuco with beautiful beaches, mangrove swamps, and tasty waves for the surfers
• Intipuca Beach is next to Playa El Esteron and is famous for El Salvador's first microbrewery and where the river joins the ocean is hugely popular for stand up paddle-boarding.

If you want to do some hiking and nature observing, the nearby Conchagua Volcano is a good choice. The 1,225 meter high stratovolcano is considered active, with smoking fumaroles, but it hasn't had a real eruption in recorded history. On your visit, you'll likely spot lots of wildlife as you hike up the well-marked trail or ride up in a park vehicle. The lush foliage is home to deer, several types of monkey (including the spider monkey) and a type of agouti that locals call a cotuza). At the summit there is a platform with outstanding views of the ocean, bays, and nearby hills, not to mention outrageous sunset views. You can set up tents on the summit platform to spend the night.

• Water skiing, Tubing, Wake boarding, Para sailing, Jet skiing
• Surfing, especially in Playa Las Flores, offers some of the best and most consistently good conditions in El Salvador
• Stand Up Paddleboarding at the famous Intipuca Beach
• Boat trips around the islands
• Kayaking through the mangroves
• Volcano hiking up Chaparrastique - One of the most active volcanoes in El Salvador
• Waterfalls and hot springs
• Nature hikes and lake tours to Isla de Olomega on Lake Olomega

You can find the best sea food in Central America fresh from the coast of El Salvador at Playa El Cuco. Local palapa bars and restaurants can be found on beaches in both directions. At least half are usually closed since local owners agree among themselves which days they will open or close. No extra charge for the spectacular sunsets over the Pacific Ocean.

• 13.174256-88.1101261 Taqueria Nuevo Sason, Calle a las Flores y Carr. El Cuco. Th-M 15:00 - 20:00. Mexican-style taqueria serving a variety of tacos and tortas (sandwiches). Food is as good as what you'd find in Mexico (well seasoned and marinated with a dose of chile). $1. (updated Mar 2025)

• 13.174628-88.1097822 Churrascos el Bombon, Carr. El Cuco, ☏ +503 7083 1888. Most days 09:00 - 17:00, long, late-night hours S,M,W. El Bombon is the gregarious, English speaking chef who is happy to provide recommendations about the food or general knowledge about the beach community. Locals say the steak sandwiches are the best in El Salvador. US$5. (updated Mar 2025)

• 13.173479-88.1099023 Pupuseria Noa Noa, Carr. el Cuco, ☏ +503 6197 6749. 24 hours. It wouldn't be a Salvadorian town without at least one place with good pupusas and you can your fix here when in El Cuco. Made freshly before your eyes with your choice of fillings and served with a hefty dollop of curtido, spicy pickled shredded cabbage. US$1. (updated Mar 2025)

• 13.172842-88.1107074 Restaurante Tanchito, Playa El Cuco. Daily 07:00 - 18:00. Beach restaurant and bar with chill atmosphere including hammocks under the palapa. Seafood entrees and snacks including shrimp cocktails, ceviche and fried fish filets. Ice cold beer (of course). M$2. (updated Mar 2025)

Intipuca Beach is home to the first microbrewery in El Salvador and offers an array of hand-craft beers by the beach. You can also find several bars and liquor stores in El Cuco or for party-nightlife you can head to Ave. Roosevelt in San Miguel which has numerous bars and clubs open until the early hours of the morning and is also hosts to the biggest carnival in Central America in November.

• 13.170649-88.0752921 La Tortuga Verde (La Tortuga Verde will cover the $5 taxi ride from El Cuco), ☏ +503 73389646, [email protected]. Beach resort, turtle sanctuary, swimming pool, jacuzzi, yoga and meditation temples, health and beauty spa, restaurant and bar, shuttle service to El Cuco, Intipuca Beach and Las Flores surf spot. Other tours include, stand up paddle boarding, island boat trips, water-skiing, wake-boarding, para-sailing, volcano and nature hiking, hot springs, lake tours, and kayaking through mangroves. Dorm $6, Private $20-30, Bungalow $50-100, House $100-150. (updated Mar 2025)

• 13.172898-88.1174182 Las Flores Surf Club, Wild East, El Cuco, ☏ +503 2684-4444. Check-in: 15:00, check-out: 12:00. Surfing resort with facilities and equipment that include a private beach access road, beachfront palapas with hammocks, beach shower, boat house with enclosed surfboard storage, restaurant, infinity pool, swim-up bar, massage table and canopy. (updated Mar 2025)
• 13.173703-88.1149763 Hotel Miraflores, Playa Las Flores, Calle al Conchaguita, ☏ +503 7737 1940. Check-in: 14:00, check-out: 12:00. Cliff-top hotel with dramatic sunset and ocean views. Rooms are modest and a bit worn. Outdoor swimming pool available. On-site restaurant available. Beach access is down 150 stairs. US$100. (updated Mar 2025)
• 13.168542-88.1188174 Paradise Surf Hotel, Calle Las Flores, Punta Las Flores, ☏ +503 7208 7112. Check-in: 15:00, check-out: 12:00. Beautiful locally run hotel down a rocky dirt road off the main highway with a secluded location between rocky cliffs and the black sand beach of Playa Flores. Rooms are spacious and decorated in traditional Salvadoran style with air conditioner, coffee maker and boutique toiletries, outdoor swimming pool set on a bluff overlooking the sea. On-site restaurant serves traditional Salvadoran cuisine (including pupusas). US$120. (updated Mar 2025)

• There are regular buses that leave El Cuco for San Miguel bus station where you can catch a connecting bus to many other destinations inside or outside the country.
• Some hotels offer a shuttle service to San Miguel or other destinations inside the country.
• La Tortuga Verde offers transport between El Salvador and Nicaragua (skipping Honduras) by private boat $200 for up to 20 people.