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Showing posts with label El Tunco. Show all posts
Showing posts with label El Tunco. Show all posts

Tuesday, February 14, 2017

El Tunco (El Salvador) - Bullet the blue sky

EL TUNCO (EL SALVADOR)
14 February - 16 February 2017

El Tunco was close to being the ultimate surprise packet of the trip. We arrived with no expectations, with not much knowledge other than the understanding that the waves here were good and that the sunsets were something to write home about. Absolutely true, on both counts.


El Tunco beach - El Tunco - El Salvador


El Tunco beach - El Tunco - El Salvador


 El Tunco - El Salvador


El Salvador itself hasn’t been dealt a great hand. It’s recent history also incorporates a Civil War that lasted a period of 13 years from 1979-1992. Admittedly I don’t know a lot about the country and about half of what I do relate to comes from a U2 song, Bullet the Blue Sky;

                Well the God I believe in ain’t short of cash, mister
                I feel a long way from the hills of San Salvador
                Where the sky is ripped open and the rain pours
                Pelting the woman and children
                Run, run into the arms of America

What a pleasure therefore it was for our transit van from Leon (Nicaragua) to turn up into this two street town just of Ruta 2 on the Pacific coastline and encounter the relaxed, beach side town of El Tunco. A place that moved to the beat of its own drum, that was as smooth as a great Irish whiskey and as relaxed as British tourist on their first visit to Amsterdam. This place was a draw card, and as we discovered, is the El Salvadorian draw card. A place with ultimate surf, majestic sunsets, an easy going vibe and as yet, has not been overrun by tourists – this is ‘just the ticket’.


El Tunco beach - El Tunco - El Salvador


El Tunco - El Salvador


 El Tunco - El Salvador


 Restaurante La Bocana - El Tunco - El Salvador


 El Tunco - El Salvador


 El Tunco - El Salvador


We stayed at an incredibly fabulous two star hostal – Hostal Los Almendros El Sunzal located around the Western point of Playa El Tunco.  In fact the walk to the accommodation was along the beach from the end of main walkway in town. This we discovered was the only ‘real’ detriment to El Tunco, with a  stone based beach akin to those in Europe, it was untypically Pacific like. The hostal, around the point, had the perfect location, open to the Pacific ocean, a beautiful sun deck with pool and some cheap, basic accommodation. It was really the ideal scenario.


Hostal Los Almendros El Sunzal  - El Tunco - El Salvador


Most of the time in El Tunco we either spent at the Hostal or in El Tunco itself. Without being surfers there’s not really a hell of a lot to be doing other than unwinding and dialling back whatever level of anxiety you have. The place is just the tonic for all your ‘inactive’ requirements, what’s more, for right now as an extremely cheap destination to go to, value for money is incredible.


La Libertad - El Salvador


La Libertad - El Salvador


Sunset - El Tunco - El Salvador


Sunset - El Tunco - El Salvador


El Tunco - El Salvador


Leaving the fantastic El Tunco - El Salvador


Inga and I had one of our most memorable nights on the sun deck at the Hostal. With a few drinks, some snacks in hand, some fine cigars, the starry night sky, crashing waves and light breeze of the Pacific Ocean, we just sat there chatting for hours. It was just bliss. To steal a quote;

                Memories are made in El Tunco

Certainly they are. To you El Tunco I say thank you. A wonderful hidden surprise in a part of the world that needs to find more elements of you in its country.