After our 12 hour Ironman shuttle from Nicaragua, through southern Honduras and into El Salvador we settled into “Reef On The Water” next to the shores of the Pacific Ocean. This hotel seemed slightly isolated from any major amenities but the relaxed vibe, in-house restaurant and cliff side infinity pool over the ocean and setting sun more than made up for any inconveniences that could arise. We were actually located slightly east of the popular budget backpacker hub of El Tunco but still within walking distance to enjoy the shops, stalls and restaurants. Our goals for here were limited to two things; relax and enjoy.

Our first couple days was spent laying near the pool, descending the flight of stairs to walk on the black sand beach and eating fresh fish pulled from the water earlier that day. All in all life was simple.

Heading to the street one morning we chose to walk the 15 minutes into El Tunco. The town is sandwiched between two, at the moment, non-flowing rivers and has grid shaped streets lining the shore. Street stalls and vendors selling similar items jockey for a sale while the scent of freshly cooked chicken or chorizo pupusas tempt you to sit in the restaurants. Barefoot backpackers mix with the locals as they carry their surf board to the water in hopes of the perfect wave. We enjoyed fruit smoothies from one of the many restaurants and watched surfers from beginners to experienced work their magic.

Being low tide we took a chance and attempted to walk the beach back to our hotel. Being unsure on the water levels we had our fingers crossed that we could make it all the way and not have to return back the way we arrived. This little improvised adventure ended up being one of the highlights of our time here. As the girls searched for shells we noticed the undercut cliff edge had multiple tunnels that allowed us to explore further. Having daylight on the other side we knew we could exit the system and not have to wade through some of the waves. This pleasant surprise of a shortcut returned us back to our hotel and will always leave a memorable moment etched in our minds.

Another side trip had us walking the beach to the east this time with endless black sand both long and wide. Playa Majahual was 100% dominated by locals enjoying the highlights that their beautiful little country has to offer. Families packed lunches, games of soccer in the sand and smiles and laughter was visible with every step. After so many years of turmoil in El Salvador it is rewarding to see so many happy and friendly residents finally getting the chance to enjoy their home country. As we watched the waves crash in and our two little girls running free I could not even begin to imagine what it would have been like for kids growing up here just a couple years back.

With only a small handful of nights reserved here we soon found ourselves loading our packs up once again and boarded the chicken bus on the side of the road. A 15-minute ride dropped us off in La Libertad, then a connecting bus towards the nations capital of San Salvador (which bonus, was airconditioned). The girls were not super impressed when they had to sit next to a lovely lady who was very fond of them but they were way too shy to speak to her. We then did a second transfer in San Salvador and headed inland toward the second most populated city in the country, Santa Ana.

Interested in how we got here? Check out Nicaragua.