journal

Things we share
from Cerromar.

A slow logbook: how to read the coast, where to eat, what to do in El Salvador, and how to make the most of a stay on the Pacific.

recent posts
Small Boutique Hotels in El Salvador That Feel Upscale but Not Stuffy
the stay

Small Boutique Hotels in El Salvador That Feel Upscale but Not Stuffy

A shortlist of small boutique hotels in El Salvador that feel genuinely upscale — from Cerromar to Lake Coatepeque — plus the six-step filter for evaluating any property you have not seen yet.

September 2, 2026 · casa marea
Is El Salvador Safe for Tourists Now? An Honest FAQ from the Surf City Coast
guide

Is El Salvador Safe for Tourists Now? An Honest FAQ from the Surf City Coast

A practical FAQ on El Salvador safety in 2026 — night walks, taxis, beach theft, solo travel and the ocean risks that actually send people to hospital, answered from the Surf City coast.

August 26, 2026 · casa marea
Is El Salvador Still Cheap in 2026? Honest Surf City Prices From El Sunzal
guide

Is El Salvador Still Cheap in 2026? Honest Surf City Prices From El Sunzal

El Salvador is still cheap to eat, move around, and surf. Sleeping well is where prices have moved. Honest 2026 numbers from El Sunzal: what costs more, what has barely budged, and what a real week on the Surf City coast actually runs.

August 24, 2026 · casa marea
Is May to October a Bad Time to Visit El Salvador's Beaches? Why We Now Recommend Green Season
destinations

Is May to October a Bad Time to Visit El Salvador's Beaches? Why We Now Recommend Green Season

For most travelers, May to October is the better half of the year on El Salvador's Pacific coast — here is why the green season beats dry season for waves, beach solitude, and value, and what to expect from the rain.

August 19, 2026 · casa marea
Long Weekend From San Salvador: Where to Go on the Coast for a Pool and Good Food
guide

Long Weekend From San Salvador: Where to Go on the Coast for a Pool and Good Food

55 minutes from San Salvador, a pool to yourselves, and dinner within fifteen minutes of the front door. How a recent two-night weekend between El Sunzal, El Tunco, and El Zonte actually ran — hour by hour — and what it cost.

August 17, 2026 · casa marea
How to Spend a Week on El Salvador's Surf City Coast: A Day-by-Day Guide for First-Time Visitors
guide

How to Spend a Week on El Salvador's Surf City Coast: A Day-by-Day Guide for First-Time Visitors

A day-by-day plan for spending a week on El Salvador's Surf City coast without wasting it — covering El Sunzal, El Tunco, El Zonte, one inland day, and practical notes on cash, safety, and where to base yourself.

August 12, 2026 · casa marea
El Salvador's Pacific Coast for First-Timers: What the Surf Coast Is Actually Like
guide

El Salvador's Pacific Coast for First-Timers: What the Surf Coast Is Actually Like

A first-timer orientation to El Salvador's Pacific surf coast — the geography, pace, beaches, safety, food, and practicalities before you book.

August 10, 2026 · casa marea
El Sunzal vs Tulum: Which Coast Actually Feels Chill in 2026?
guide

El Sunzal vs Tulum: Which Coast Actually Feels Chill in 2026?

If you loved the idea of Tulum in 2015 and are dreading what it has become, El Sunzal is the closest thing on the Pacific side of the Americas to what you actually wanted — quiet mornings, real fishing boats, and dinner by candlelight.

August 5, 2026 · casa marea
How to Find a Place With a Private Pool and Ocean View Near El Sunzal
guide

How to Find a Place With a Private Pool and Ocean View Near El Sunzal

A practical guide to finding a private-pool compound with a genuine Pacific view near El Sunzal — without renting a whole villa you do not need.

August 3, 2026 · casa marea
El Tunco vs El Sunzal for Couples: Which Village Actually Delivers Peace and Quiet?
the stay

El Tunco vs El Sunzal for Couples: Which Village Actually Delivers Peace and Quiet?

If you want quiet nights, ocean air, and dinners that end with the tide instead of a DJ set, stay in El Sunzal (specifically the Cerromar side) and visit El Tunco for lunch.

July 29, 2026 · casa marea
Upscale Stays Near El Tunco for Travelers Who Have Outgrown the Hostel Scene
the stay

Upscale Stays Near El Tunco for Travelers Who Have Outgrown the Hostel Scene

A curated comparison of the genuinely upscale accommodation options in the El Tunco–El Sunzal corridor — Casa Marea, Casa de Mar, Boca Olas, and Puro Surf — and who should book which.

July 27, 2026 · casa marea
Best Adult-Only Accommodations Near El Tunco: FAQ
the stay

Best Adult-Only Accommodations Near El Tunco: FAQ

The best adult-only stays near El Tunco are boutique compounds in El Sunzal and Cerromar — close enough to walk to dinner, quiet enough to sleep. Answers to the questions travelers actually ask before booking.

July 22, 2026 · casa marea
Is El Salvador Replacing Costa Rica and Nicaragua as Central America's Top Surf Destination?
surf

Is El Salvador Replacing Costa Rica and Nicaragua as Central America's Top Surf Destination?

El Salvador is not replacing Costa Rica or Nicaragua so much as pulling a specific kind of surf traveler away from them. Here is what is actually shifting, without the hype.

July 20, 2026 · casa marea
A Quiet Anniversary on the Pacific: How One Couple Spent Four Days at Casa Marea
the stay

A Quiet Anniversary on the Pacific: How One Couple Spent Four Days at Casa Marea

How Mia and Daniel spent five days on El Salvador's Pacific coast for their anniversary — the Cresta unit, no rental car, local food, and why a top-floor balcony beat every resort option on the Litoral highway.

July 13, 2026 · casa marea
Is El Salvador a Good Babymoon Destination? A Primer for Expectant Couples
the stay

Is El Salvador a Good Babymoon Destination? A Primer for Expectant Couples

El Salvador fits the babymoon brief — short transfer times, a dollar economy, calm Pacific evenings, and an adults-only base at El Sunzal. Here is what expectant couples need to know before booking.

July 8, 2026 · casa marea
Staying in a Boutique Airbnb in La Libertad: What First-Time Guests Should Know
the stay

Staying in a Boutique Airbnb in La Libertad: What First-Time Guests Should Know

A boutique Airbnb in La Libertad is not a resort and not a standard rental. Here is what to expect, how to book smart, and what catches first-timers off guard.

July 7, 2026 · casa marea
How Long Should I Stay in El Salvador for a Surf Trip?
surf

How Long Should I Stay in El Salvador for a Surf Trip?

For most international surfers, 10 to 14 nights is the right length for an El Salvador surf trip. Here is how to size your stay based on flight distance, the swell cycle, and how much of the country you want to see.

June 25, 2026 · casa marea
The Best Time of Year to Visit El Salvador for Surfing (and Why)
surf

The Best Time of Year to Visit El Salvador for Surfing (and Why)

The best time to surf in El Salvador is March through October, with the cleanest, most consistent swell landing between April and September — here is what each season feels like on the water at Surf City.

June 23, 2026 · casa marea
Where to stay in Surf City, El Salvador: El Sunzal, El Tunco & El Zonte
the stay

Where to stay in Surf City, El Salvador: El Sunzal, El Tunco & El Zonte

Where to stay in Surf City, El Salvador — how El Sunzal, El Tunco, and El Zonte compare, and how to choose a base for surf, quiet, or nightlife.

May 28, 2026 · casa marea
El Salvador travel tips: money, weather, airport, and getting around
guide

El Salvador travel tips: money, weather, airport, and getting around

Practical El Salvador travel tips — the currency, the best time to visit, arriving at SAL airport, transport, SIM cards, and what to pack for the coast.

May 26, 2026 · casa marea
Best beaches in El Salvador: a local guide to the Pacific coast
destinations

Best beaches in El Salvador: a local guide to the Pacific coast

The best beaches in El Salvador, from the El Sunzal point break to quiet black-sand bays — what each one is good for and how to string them together.

May 24, 2026 · casa marea
Is El Salvador safe for tourists? An honest 2026 guide
guide

Is El Salvador safe for tourists? An honest 2026 guide

A practical, honest look at safety in El Salvador for travelers — what changed, what the coast is really like, and sensible precautions for a first trip.

May 22, 2026 · casa marea
El Salvador travel guide: how to plan your first trip
guide

El Salvador travel guide: how to plan your first trip

A practical El Salvador travel guide from locals on the coast — when to go, where to stay, how to get around, costs, and how to plan a simple first trip.

May 20, 2026 · casa marea
Surf City wave guide: El Sunzal, El Tunco, and El Zonte
surf

Surf City wave guide: El Sunzal, El Tunco, and El Zonte

An honest guide to reading the coast between Cerromar and El Zonte, with level tips, timing, and where to sleep for each session.

April 24, 2026 · casa marea
Six places in La Libertad to eat well by the sea
food & drink

Six places in La Libertad to eat well by the sea

Seafood, Surf City cooking, craft beer, and Pacific views: a short route through the places we recommend to guests between surf sessions.

April 17, 2026 · casa marea
A perfect day in Cerromar: a slow rhythm between waves and coffee
the stay

A perfect day in Cerromar: a slow rhythm between waves and coffee

How we spend a full day in Cerromar — from sunrise at El Sunzal to the last beer by the sea — with no rush and no fixed schedule.

April 10, 2026 · casa marea
What to do in El Salvador in 5 days: from the Pacific to the volcano
guide

What to do in El Salvador in 5 days: from the Pacific to the volcano

An honest itinerary for your first visit to El Salvador — a base in Surf City, day trips to the volcano and coffee country, and a short coastal route.

April 3, 2026 · casa marea