El Zonte
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El Zonte is a beach town on the Pacific Ocean in Western El Salvador. It is a popular destination for surfers who regard it as one of the best beaches in Central America. The town is known for accepting Bitcoin and being the impetus for El Salvador to accept the cryptocurrency as an official currency.
Understand
[edit]The town's economy is largely based on surfing. Surfers come from North America, Europe, and Brazil to ride the waves and to take surfing lessons, which are available for as little as US$10. The town is smaller than neighboring beach towns like La Libertad or El Tunco, but it has everything a surfer needs along with lower prices and no crowds. El Zonte is known for its black sand beaches and spectacular evening sunsets (the town's idea of nightlife).
Get in
[edit]
By plane
[edit]The nearest airport with international connections is the San Salvador International Airport (SAL IATA). San Salvador is 40 km north of El Zonte. An airport taxi is the most convenient way to get to the beach.
By bus
[edit]From San Salvador take the route 102 chicken bus. The trip will take about 1 hour and cost about US$2. The bus passes through La Libertad before turning west along the coast to El Zonte.
Get around
[edit]The town is very small and everything is within walking distance. Bikes are a good way to get around though a lot of young people prefer skateboards as their preferred transportation method. If you get tired of El Zonte and want to explore, La Libertad is 30 minutes by bus or taxi and El Tunco is 15 minutes.
See
[edit]Do
[edit]- Surf
- Swim
- Lay around in a hammock
- Drink cheap ice-cold beer
Buy
[edit]Eat
[edit]- 1 Covana, Puro Surf, km 52.5 Carretera del Litoral. Playa El Zonte, ☏ +503 6055 6081. Spectacular scenery from an open-air palapa-style dining area with modern furnishings and contemporary Salvadoran cuisine. Large breakafasts with fresh squeezed juices. Big drinks. Friendly service.
- 2 Canegua Cafe. Th-Su 08:30-13:00, closed M-W. Small cafe with a beautiful dining area and creative breakfasts made with locally sourced ingredients. Espresso and coffee drinks can be laced with a homemade plant-based milk substitute. Organic and vegan options available. US$15.
- 3 Nan Tal, ☏ +503 7260 0002. Daily 07:00-21:00. Popular fusion restaurant with hearty breakfasts and elegant dinners with spectacular ocean views from the open air dining room. Many of the dishes have indigenous (particularly Nahua) origins. Fresh squeezed juices and baked goods in the morning. The frutti del mar is recommended for dinner. US$20.
- 4 Olor de Mar Pacifico, ☏ +503 7532 7665. M-F 11:30-20:00, Sa Su 07:30-20:00. Popular seafood restaurant with open-air dining room. Large drinks made with fresh squeezed juices at very reasonable prices. Lobster is excellent as is the sopa de mariscos.
Drink
[edit]- 1 Zonte Cacao, Playa Norte, ☏ +503 6310 2682. 09:30-15:30. Artesanal cacao shop selling hot chocolate unlike any you've had before. All-natural cacao up to 100%. Also sells cacao nibs and chocolate bars of varying levels of cacao.
Sleep
[edit]- 1 Olas Permanentes, ☏ +503 2103 3145. Check-in: 15:00, check-out: 11:00. Popular surfer hotel about 100 meters to beach. On-site restaurant. Rooms have good air conditioning. US$45.
- 2 Garten Hotel, Km 53 Avenida del Mar, ☏ +503 6312 0143. Check-in: 13:00, check-out: 11:00. Expensive upscale hotel with rooms in a main hotel building and a series of standalone villas. On-site infinity swimming pool. Yoga sessions Monday, Wednesday and Friday. On-site restaurant. US$250.
- 3 Esencia Nativa, ☏ +503 2300 9094. Check-in: 15:00, check-out: 11:00. Excellent surfers hotel with clean, but somewhat basic rooms that are pleasant and have balconies with hammocks. On-site restaurant and bar in a beach palapa. Swimming pool on-site. 50-meter walk to the beach. US$60.
- 4 Hotel Michanti, Chiltiuapan, ☏ +503 7087 0342. Check-in: 15:00, check-out: 11:00. Comfortable hotel with friendly service. Rooms are spacious and clean. On-site swimming pool. Free yoga Monday and Wednesday mornings. On-site restaurant and bar. Garden area with hammocks under the shade trees. US$50.