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This once unknown, quiet town of El Tunco is currently the most visited town in El Salvador.
Travellers and surfers from all over come here to enjoy the amazing beaches and surf spots while locals are commonly seen on the weekends indulging in the nightlife.
This surf village is one of the most touristy places in El Salvador so you’re bound to meet several other travellers during your stay.
One thing that’s for sure is that there are many hotels and resorts available to accommodate the many guests in this region without nearly exhausting the options.
I’ve listed our top 10 picks of what we think are the best accommodation and hopefully from this review you’ll be able to find where to stay in El Tunco on your next visit.
I definitely recommend checking Booking.com for all your bookings, not just in El Tunco. Booking.com offers a wide range of hotels, villas, hostels and guest houses. We’ve used them to make our bookings everywhere we’ve travelled and that includes Central America. They are great.
On their website or mobile app, you can easily compare various hotel accommodations, prices and other features before making your final decision on where to stay. This makes the process easier for you and removes the guesswork. It also ensures you get value for your money.
Another great advantage of using Booking.com is that after you’ve completed two bookings within two years, you get a ‘Genius’ membership. This gives you access to awesome perks like early check-ins, late check-outs and great discounts.
Agoda would be my second top pick for making any bookings. They have an extensive range of properties all over Central America, and have rates often just as competitive as Booking.com. Also, when you take into AgodaCash, their rates can actually sometimes come in even cheaper.
All in all, to find the best deal, my top travel tip would be to find a property from the list below and then check their rates on both Agoda and Booking.com (don’t worry, I’ve included all relevant links below!)
Best luxury hotel in El Tunco
Best mid-range El Tunco hotel
Best budget accommodation in El Tunco
Best luxury hotel in El Tunco
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Casa de Mar Hotel is one of the best places to stay in El Sunzal. It’s just a 10 minutes beach walk to El Tunco town. This 4-star hotel has great beach access and is right in front of the best surf spots in El Salvador. You can also relax in the hotel’s amazing swimming pool.
The rooms at Casa de Mar offer the best accommodation in El Sunzal. There are options for all types of travellers. Solo-travellers, couples and families can get what suits them best. Some of the rooms have a pool view and some have a beautiful view of the sea. Each room includes its own private bathroom.
The restaurant on this property serves amazing food and breakfast is provided in the booking package. There’s a variety of options to pick from. You can also have your lunch, dinner and enjoy cocktail hour here.
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Travellers arriving in El Salvador at Monseñor Oscar Arnulfo Romero International can take hotel-provided paid airport shuttles to Boca Olas Resort Villas. This is one of the top 4-star hotels in El Tunco. Its beautiful surrounding includes a garden, terrace and two large outdoor pools.
You’ll be glad to know that from these villas, you are just 150m from two beautiful beaches, Playa El Majahual and El Tunco. You can talk a stroll there and even have a swim. Other activities available when staying at Boca Olas are canoeing, fishing and playing pool.
The modern-looking rooms here come with a private shower. The best part is that some of them have a kitchen and are equipped with a stovetop and fridge. So you can make yourself a ‘home-cooked’ meals.
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Acantilados is one of the top hotels in La Libertad with amazing views of a beachfront with its own private beach. The outdoor space on this property is breathtaking. It includes a sun terrace, a garden and an infinity pool. There’s also a bar on site where you can relax and have some drinks.
There’s free WiFi available and free private parking. The 24-hour front desk provides concierge services where you can organize tours during your stay. Surfing should probably be top on your list of things to do since one of El Salvador’s best surf spots is less than 1km from the property.
This hotel has family rooms, honeymoon suites and regular rooms. Each is quite spacious and includes a private bathroom, a seating area and air conditioning. The staff here ensure you have a wonderful stay. They are very friendly and helpful.
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Boutique hotels on a beautiful beachfront with great accommodation are a great find. That’s why we’re informing you about Hotel & bar La Guitarra. It’s located right on El Tunco beach and offers prices that won’t break your bank. For surfers, this is one of the best areas to stay in El Tunco.
You can head out on the beach for a swim or use the properties outdoor pool. Rooms here are comfortable and each has a seating area on a patio where you can relax and watch the ocean. Free WiFi is also available everywhere in the property.
You don’t need to worry about breakfast, there’s a complementary a la carte breakfast served at the restaurant. You can choose between continental, American or vegetarian. There’s also lunch served here. If you wish, you could also get your meals from the many little restaurants nearby.
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Hotel Tunco Lodge is located on a lush tropical garden. It creates a cool environment for this beautiful budget-friendly hotel. There’s also a nice-sized outdoor pool and free WiFi for all guests. The game room, ping-pong facilities and pool table provide fun activities while giving you a chance to mingle with other guests.
The accommodation in Hotel Tunco is great. You can choose between the private rooms or pick a bed in the shared dormitories. You’ll have access to air-conditioning or fans either way. The 24-hour front desk ensures you are well taken care of throughout your stay here. They can also help out in planning tours in surrounding locations.
There are two restaurants on-site. Restaurante La Bocana serves all meals of the day including high tea and cocktail hour. Coffee & Bar Tunco Lodge serves breakfast, brunch and lunch. If you’d like a taste of the local cuisines these restaurants have specialized in that.
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Best mid-range El Tunco hotel
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On a great beachfront location, Roca Sunzal Hotel features free WiFi and free private parking. For travellers looking for a location with a variety of nightlife options, then this is one of the best hotels in El Tunco to stay in. There are a good number of nightclubs right next to the property where you can find both locals and other travellers.
There are airport shuttle services available here. Rooms for all kinds of guests are also available. From family rooms, honeymoon suites to rooms for solo-travellers. Each of the rooms has air conditioning, a flat-screen TV and include a private bathroom. Some also have a seating area. You can also pick between having a room with a pool view or a sea view.
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Located away from the noise, Hotel Mopelia is one of the best hotels to stay in El Tunco if you are looking for tranquillity at pocket-friendly prices. This family-owned property is spacious and offers rooms with private bathrooms and air conditioning which is great in the hot weather. Some of the rooms also have a seating area.
You have access to free WiFi and free private parking here. Activities include ping-pong, swimming in the pool or at the beach or playing board games. There are also plenty of hammocks on the property where you can relax and take a nap. The restaurant on-site serves some delicious options for breakfast including continental, vegetarian, American and Irish cuisines. Other restaurants are just a walking distance from the property where you can get lunch and dinner.
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Hotel El Balsamo is a quiet and rustic guesthouse. It offers cheap accommodation in El Sunzal and so you’re going to get just the basics for a comfortable stay. You can choose between a double room with private bathroom, a double room with shared bathroom or get a bunk bed in the mixed dormitory. Air conditioning is available at an additional cost.
There’s free WiFi and free parking at this property. Paid airport shuttle services are also available. If your travel companion is a pet then you’re in luck. This property allows pets at no extra charges.
The shared spaces in Hostal El Balsamo include a garden, BBQ area and a shared kitchen. You can mingle with other guests here and make new friends during your stay. You can grab a few things to eat at the snack bar and then cook or go out to nearby restaurants for your main meals.
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Kali guest house offers a quiet homestay that’s just a few minutes walk from a private beach. This bargain-priced property has several options in terms of accommodation. There are dormitories, economy rooms, family rooms and double rooms. You can get air conditioning at an additional charge.
Pets are allowed here. You have to inform the owner in advance and note that some charges may be applied. Free WiFi and parking are provided. While breakfast is provided, there’s a shared kitchen area where guests can prepare their own meals. The shared lounge, garden and swimming pool areas are nice for relaxing and hanging out with other guests.
When staying at Kali guest house you can enrol in cooking classes and learn to prepare a number of meals. Another great activity includes taking a walking tour to explore the different areas around this property.
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Best budget accommodation in El Tunco
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Great services are found at this budget hotel. Los Almendros El Sunzal has spacious rooms each equipped with a closet and private bathroom. Daily housekeeping can be provided at an additional charge. You get access to free WiFi and parking.
Paid airport shuttle services are available. For all guests, the hotel provides a continental breakfast. Other meals can be cooked by guests themselves in the shared kitchen which also has a fridge.
If you would like to interact with other guests and make new friends you can hang out at the terrace or use the BBQ facilities. You can also relax at the pool or take a walk to the beach nearby. Los Almendros is indeed strategically located. It has an amazing ocean view from the upper veranda and some of the rooms. It’s also just a walking distance from a great surf spot.
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To get more information on places to visit in El Tunco, check out our in-depth guide on things to do in El Salvador.
There you have it. El Tunco in El Salvador is clearly a small location but with great excitement and fun activities to offer. From luxury villas to economy guest houses, you can get accommodation that suits your budget and preference. I hope this review has been helpful in providing ideas for various accommodations El Tunco has to offer.
