Playa El Tunco is a tiny two-street surf town on El Salvador’s west coast that packs a serious punch of good waves, good people, and good vibes. I came for a week and ended up staying a month, lured in by the promise of bikinis by day and laptops by night in this ultra-chill beach haven.
What I found was a budget-conscious digital nomad’s dream: a place where life is affordable, internet and coffee shops exist (if a bit inconsistent), and every sunset feels like a festival.
In this guide, I’ll share my experience of living and working remotely in El Tunco – from budget accommodations and street-food feasts to free adventures and the welcoming community that made this surf town feel like home.
A Laid-Back Surf Town with Big Vibes
Stepping off the bus onto the single dusty road of El Tunco, I immediately felt the laid-back charm. The town is small – really small – just a couple of crisscrossing streets guarded by gates at either end (a quirk that actually helps keep the area secure).
By day, sun-bronzed surfers carrying boards weave between backpackers and barefoot locals. By night, food stalls and tiki bars light up, music thumps softly in the distance, and the famous “Tunco Rock” silhouettes against the moonlit ocean. Tunco means “pig” in Spanish, and legend says the giant rock looks like a pig – I squinted but didn’t really see it.
The vibe here is a mix of mellow surf retreat and lively weekend hotspot. On weekdays, it’s mostly nomads and backpackers enjoying uncrowded waves and quiet evenings.
Come weekend, it seems like half of San Salvador rolls in to party – and the energy skyrockets. I quickly learned to love both sides of El Tunco. One Thursday afternoon, I was sipping a coconut at a beach shack, chatting with a local surfer about the morning’s swell.
Two days later, I found myself dancing barefoot at midnight in the sand, surrounded by a friendly crowd of city folk and travelers, all moving to a salsa beat under the palms. Despite El Salvador’s fraught reputation in years past, I felt extremely safe in El Tunco.
It’s a place where people know each other; I’d walk down the street at night and pass groups of locals and expats enjoying pupusas or live music. I wouldn’t wander the dark beach alone, but the well-lit main paths felt secure and populated – as one travel blogger put it, “a two-street town where people are always out at night”, much like a beach town in Thailand.
In fact, El Salvador’s recent crackdown on gang violence has dramatically improved safety nationwide, and many travelers (myself included) feel safer here than in other parts of Central America.
Within a week, El Tunco’s tight-knit community had worked its magic on me. Every face became familiar. The barista at my morning cafe would ask if I wanted “lo de siempre” (the usual).
The fruit vendor taught me Salvadoran slang. I even earned a nickname – “el surfista tecleando” (the surfing typist) – from locals who got used to seeing me either with a surfboard or a laptop in hand. By the time I left, I was fist-bumping the corner pupusa lady and exchanging waves with the beach caretakers on my way to the ocean, feeling like I truly belonged.
Hostels, Guesthouses, and Coliving on a Budget
Finding a place to stay in El Tunco is easy – it’s small enough that every accommodation is basically a few minutes from the beach. The key is snagging something affordable in this popular little town.
Here are some options I experienced or discovered, each with its own style:
Hostel Life at Papaya Lodge
I started out at the famed Papaya Lodge, the town’s most popular backpacker hostel. For around $15 USD a night in a dorm (including a simple breakfast of eggs, beans, and coffee), I got a bunk bed, a small pool to cool off in, and a built-in social circle.
The vibe is lively – there’s music by the pool in the afternoons and it’s a go-to spot for meeting fellow travelers. Papaya offers perks like cheap surfboard rentals and even air-conditioned rooms (a godsend in the 30°C humid heat).
I loved that I could extend my stay day-by-day with no fuss – I just didn’t check out until I was really ready to leave, and the staff was totally chill about it.
If you want a classic hostel experience (think impromptu jam sessions and group outings to the surf break), Papaya is “the spot” – though its popularity means it can fill up fast and prices have crept up due to demand.
Peaceful Guesthouses and “Hostals”
Not everyone in El Tunco is up for the party hostel scene, especially if you’re working online and need a good night’s sleep. I met a digital nomad couple staying at Canuck’s Guest House, a short walk from the main strip.
It’s a social but chilled-out hostel known for quieter nights (no thumping bar next door) and a friendly communal atmosphere. The place is a bit worn around the edges (the tropical climate ages buildings quickly), but it offers dorms and a few privates at lower rates than the beachfront spots.
Another friend of mine splurged on privacy at Casa Makoi, a budget-friendly guesthouse with private rooms set in a lush garden. I visited for breakfast one day (they include a hearty breakfast in the room rate) and was impressed – each little bungalow had its own bathroom and air-conditioning, and there was a tiny plunge pool under the mango trees.
It was hard to believe it was in the budget category! El Tunco also has a handful of family-run “hostals” (in the Latin American sense – small guesthouse-hotels) where you can get a private room with shared kitchen access for roughly $30-50 USD per night, ideal if you’re a couple or just want personal space.
These guesthouses often aren’t well-advertised online; I found that just walking around and inquiring or asking locals led to discovering hidden gems.
Airbnbs and Long-Term Stays
Since I planned to stay a month, I eventually decided to rent an Airbnb apartment with two other remote workers I met in town. Splitting the cost, we each paid about $150/week for a simple two-bedroom apartment right above a surf shop.
For a solo traveler, I’ve seen monthly rentals in El Tunco as low as $350 USD for a basic studio on Airbnb – an incredible deal for a month of living by the beach. Keep in mind, the cheapest Airbnbs will be no-frills (think lukewarm showers and maybe a weak fan instead of A/C), but if you’re focusing on work, surf, and saving money, it’s hard to beat that value.
Our apartment had a kitchenette, which helped cut food costs, and a strong ceiling fan that became our best friend on muggy nights. Internet was the one big question mark – we made sure to read reviews and ask hosts about WiFi. (Ours turned out okay, averaging about 10 Mbps, but more on internet later.)
Coliving and Coworking Spaces
Unlike Bali or Mexico, El Tunco doesn’t yet have a full-fledged swanky coworking space or dedicated coliving compound (at least not when I visited). But honestly, the hostels here feel like unofficial colivings.
At Papaya Lodge, for example, there were half a dozen of us with laptops, working by the pool or in common areas every day. The line between traveler and remote worker is blurred in El Tunco – plenty of folks came initially for a vacation and then decided to stay longer and work remotely.
If you’re determined to find a more formal setup, nearby El Zonte (15 minutes away) has a couple of boutique hotels and retreats that cater to surfers and nomads with package deals (and sometimes faster internet).
Yet, I found the whole town is basically a coworking space: one friend took all her client calls from a hammock at her guesthouse, another set up a “office” on a picnic table under a palm tree at a cafe. For me, the casual arrangement worked well – it’s hard to beat hearing ocean waves during a conference call.
A tip on accommodation: Because El Tunco is so small and popular, places can book out, especially on weekends or holidays when city folks flood in. It’s worth reserving at least your first couple of nights ahead.
I booked my first two nights at Papaya Lodge via an online site to ensure I had a spot, then extended directly with the hostel to avoid booking fees. Also, don’t be afraid to negotiate if you’re staying longer – many hostels and guesthouses will give weekly or monthly rates.
I scored a small discount on my dorm bed once I passed the one-week mark (they threw in a few free surfboard rentals instead of lowering the nightly rate, which was fine by me!).
Pupusa Paradise and Cafe Comforts
One of the absolute joys of El Tunco was the food – both for my taste buds and my wallet. I quickly fell into a routine that revolved around the local staple: pupusas. Every evening around sunset, street grills would fire up along the main road, and I’d follow my nose to find hot pupusas fresh off the comal (griddle).
If you haven’t had one, a pupusa is like a thick, fluffy tortilla stuffed with delicious fillings – think cheese, refried beans, shredded pork (chicharrón), or garlic herb squash – then grilled to a golden crisp.
They are served with curtido (a tangy fermented cabbage slaw) and a mild tomato salsa. At $0.50 to $1 USD per pupusa, they are easily the best budget meal in town. Two or three pupusas (if you’re ravenous) make a complete, filling dinner for just a few bucks.
I found a favorite spot – a little blue-painted pupusería called Esquina Los Amigos on the way to the beach – and the ladies there soon knew my usual order: “dos de queso con ajo, y uno revuelto” (two cheese-garlic and one mixed). That garlic and cheese pupusa? It tasted like a savory Salvadoran take on garlic naan – absolutely addictive.
Of course, man cannot live on pupusas alone (though I probably tried). Luckily, despite its size, El Tunco has a surprisingly diverse food scene, especially catering to international tastes on the cheap.
After a week of pupusas for dinner every night, I ventured out to try some of the town’s cafes and eateries. Here were some of my go-to (and nomad-friendly) spots:
- Breakfast & Coffee at Day Cafe: Most mornings, I’d beat the heat by working from Day Cafe & Salad Bar, a bright little cafe known for healthy breakfasts. They do excellent smoothie bowls and avocado toast and have a good selection of salads and wraps for lunch. It’s the kind of place where you’ll find a cluster of laptops on the tables – in fact, Day Cafe became a mini-coworking hub for me and a few friends. The staff didn’t mind us lingering as long as we kept the cold brew refills coming. Prices are higher than local spots but still reasonable: about $5-7 for a loaded smoothie bowl, and $3.50 for a barista-made coffee (yes, El Salvador grows great coffee!). After days of instant coffee and fruit from the hostel, treating myself to a flat white and a bowl of fresh tropical fruit granola here felt luxurious. (Pro tip: they have strong Wi-Fi and plenty of outlets – a lifesaver on days when my hostel internet was shaky.)
- Lunch at Point Break Café: When I needed a change of scenery (or faster Wi-Fi), I’d wander over to Point Break Café, another favorite among travelers. They serve hearty brunches, sandwiches, and have the best smoothies. Point Break has more of a surfer-dude-with-a-laptop vibe – I often ran into the same group of remote workers there around lunchtime, all of us taking advantage of the reliable Wi-Fi and strong iced lattes. A typical lunch (say, a big chicken burrito or a couple of bao buns) ran around $6-8 USD, which felt worth it for the portion and flavor. Also, their cold hibiscus tea became my afternoon obsession on sweltering days. With ceiling fans spinning lazily and a soundtrack of 80s rock, Point Break was a chill spot to refuel and maybe chat with fellow nomads about the day’s surf conditions.
- Cheap Eats & Street Food: Beyond pupusas, El Tunco has a handful of small comedor-style eateries (basic local diners). For $3-5 you can get a “plato típico” – a plate with rice, beans, salad, and a meat (grilled fish and fried plantains was my go-to combo). One such spot, Esquina La Comadre, served up delicious casados (set meals) and smoothies; I ended up there often for a quick lunch with locals, once even catching a World Cup match on their TV with the owners cheering next to me. For self-catering, there’s a tiny market at the end of the main street (Caserío Hacienda San Alfonso) where I picked up basics – eggs, pasta, veggies – to cook at the hostel. Every other morning, a fruit truck would roll through town, loudspeaker blaring about mangoes and bananas; I’d flag it down to grab ripe avocados, pineapples, and tomatoes for pocket change. These local touches not only saved money but also made me feel more a part of the community (and it was a great way to practice my Spanish, shouting orders over the rumble of the truck engine!).
- Sweet Treats & Night Bites: Dessert lovers, rejoice – I discovered La Nevería, an unassuming little ice cream stand near Aloha Café (look for the red ice cream sign). For $2 or less, they’d scoop rich ice cream and even dip it in chocolate and nuts. Let’s just say it became a nightly habit to stroll over for a post-dinner cone. And if you have late-night munchies after dancing, there’s always a food stall still open selling $1 slices of pizza or bacon-wrapped hot dogs to soak up the booze. I have a vivid memory of sitting on the curb at 2 AM, devouring a slice of pizza under the glow of a street lamp, chatting with a group of off-duty surf instructors about the day’s waves. In El Tunco, even the random midnight snacks turn into social gatherings.
Oh, and we can’t talk about food without mentioning drinks and nightlife, right? El Tunco’s unofficial drink is the “Michelada” – basically a beer with lime, salt, and occasionally hot sauce (an acquired taste, but incredibly refreshing in the heat).
The local beer, Pilsener, is light and crisp, and cost about $1.50 a bottle at beach bars (even cheaper – $1 – at the little tiendas). I was pleasantly surprised by the cocktail prices too: a decent rum and Coke or mojito at a bar was around $3-4, and a fancier cocktail like a margarita at a more upscale beach club might be $6-7.
There’s also a growing craft beer scene; one bar had a locally brewed IPA that, while $5 a pint (splurge alert!), made for a nice change from lager. For the caffeine-inclined, besides the aforementioned cafes, even the tiny street kiosks sold iced horchata coffee for $2-3 – a sweet, cinnamon-y cold drink that kept me powered through many afternoon work sessions.
In summary, eating in El Tunco can be as cheap or as splurge-y as you want. As a budget nomad, I leaned heavily towards the cheap and authentic: lots of pupusas, market fruits, and local beers.
But having a few modern cafes and international eateries in town was perfect for those days when I craved a taste of home or needed a comfortable work spot.
And whether I was spending $1 on dinner or $10, I always savored the meals – food just tastes better when you can hear the surf and feel the ocean breeze as you eat.
Internet, Power, and the Nomad Community
Before diving into all the fun stuff like surf and adventure, let me address the practical side of being a digital nomad in El Tunco: working remotely from a small beach town.
I won’t lie – this isn’t a Silicon Valley-grade infrastructure scenario. But with a bit of flexibility, I managed to get my work done and even enjoy the process (who wouldn’t, when your “office” is a hammock?).
Internet Quality
This was my biggest concern coming in. El Tunco’s WiFi turned out to be a mixed bag. In my first accommodation (the hostel), the WiFi was spotty and slow, often dropping below 1 Mbps in the afternoons when everyone was streaming or Zooming.
Loading a big file or having a glitch-free video call was hit-or-miss on the shared connection. But I anticipated this and came prepared with a backup: I bought a local SIM card from Tigo at the airport (for about $10) and loaded a monthly data plan on it.
Using my phone as a hotspot saved me more than once. Over mobile 4G, I was getting around 15-20 Mbps down on average, which was actually better than the hostel WiFi most days. When I moved to the apartment, the dedicated WiFi there was more stable, though not particularly fast – roughly 5-10 Mbps most of the time.
It was fine for emailing, Slack, and standard browsing. For heavy tasks like video calls, I’d often plan around the town’s rhythm: late nights or early mornings (when others aren’t online) meant better speeds. Also, notably many cafes and restaurants offer free WiFi – Day Cafe and Point Break had solid connections, and I’d rotate between them when I needed a change of scene.
Still, the general advice is: don’t rely on a single internet source. Many nomads I met either bought a SIM like I did or even two (from different providers Claro and Tigo) to hedge their bets. It’s workable, but if you have a mission-critical 4K video conference every day, you might find it stressful here.
For typical remote work (emails, coding, writing, etc.), El Tunco’s internet is adequate – just keep expectations in check. Remember, this is a tiny beach village; the infrastructure is improving but not perfect.
Electricity and Work Spaces
Power outages were rare during my stay – I think it flickered off once or twice during a heavy rainstorm, but came back within an hour. Voltage is the same as the U.S., so no need for converters if you’re from North America.
Working outdoors was delightful but required some adaptation: I had to chase shade as the sun moved, and those midday 85°F (29°C) temperatures with 80% humidity meant my laptop occasionally overheated or my brain demanded an ice break.
Thankfully, a lot of spots are open-air but covered, so you get the breeze without direct sun. No formal coworking space exists yet, but I suspect it’s only a matter of time as more digital nomads discover El Tunco. In the meantime, I was perfectly content with my “mobile office” setup.
On any given day, I might start at the hostel’s communal table (morning shade, decent WiFi when others are surfing), move to Day Cafe after lunch for their stronger internet (and cold AC inside if I really needed it), and maybe end the day back on my apartment balcony, cranking out work as the sun dipped and the sound of waves replaced any need for Spotify.
The Nomad Community
Here’s something that might surprise folks: although El Tunco is known as a surf/backpacker town, there is a small but solid community of remote workers here, and it’s growing.
I met freelance designers, software developers, English teachers doing online classes, even a crypto-trader – all taking advantage of the low costs and high quality of life. What’s great is how easy it is to connect with others.
In bigger cities, digital nomads sometimes struggle to meet outside of coworking spaces, but in El Tunco, community finds you. I bumped into the same faces at breakfast, on the surf break, then again at the taco stand for dinner.
It’s the kind of place where after you’ve been around a week, people start inviting you to things – “Hey, we’re hiking the waterfalls tomorrow, you in?” or “Join us for yoga at sunset on the beach.”
I even found myself organizing a casual “co-work” afternoon where three of us set up shop on a hostel patio, shared the WiFi and a big bowl of guacamole, and tapped away at our projects with occasional breaks to chat or jump in the pool.
There’s a refreshing lack of pretension in the El Tunco remote work scene – no one’s bragging about hustle or comparing Instagram followings. Mostly, folks are just happy to be here and have a balance of work and play. I noticed a lot of people were like me: came to surf or relax, then realized they could stick around longer if they worked remotely, so they did.
Local Friends & Language
The local Salvadorans in El Tunco are some of the friendliest people I’ve encountered. Many speak at least basic English (especially those in the tourism business), but I found it rewarding to practice my Spanish.
If you make the effort to chat, you’ll hear them beam with pride about their town and country. A local surf instructor told me how much El Tunco has changed for the better in recent years – “Más turistas, pero tranquilos,” he said (more tourists, but chill ones).
Safety was also a common topic; locals would eagerly tell me how El Tunco and El Salvador in general are “seguro ahora” (safe now) thanks to reforms, and how happy they are to see foreigners visiting without fear.
I got into the habit of stopping by a particular coconut vendor’s stand each day for a $1 fresh coconut water, and soon we were on fist-bump terms and joking around daily. These small interactions, repeated often, made me feel woven into the fabric of the town.
One phrase I kept hearing around town was “¡¿Qué onda?!”, local slang for “What’s up?” or “How’s it going?” I’d hear it shouted playfully between friends on the street, or directed at me with a big smile as I walked by.
Apparently, Salvadorans use “¿Qué onda?” even more than people in Mexico or Costa Rica. It became our little morning greeting ritual at the cafe – nodding at my fellow remote workers with a “¿Qué onda?” as we sipped our coffees and opened our laptops. Little things like that give El Tunco a convivial, village-like feel that I haven’t found in many other nomad hotspots.
Staying Safe & Sound
I’ve touched on safety, but to reiterate – I felt at ease here. The town’s entrances are monitored, petty theft is rare (I still locked up my laptop in a locker when at the beach, of course), and there’s a kind of collective watchfulness since everyone knows everyone.
One night, walking back to my room at 11 PM, I realized I was utterly alone on the street – save for one local guy closing up his surf shop. Instead of feeling nervous, I got a “Buenas noches, amigo” from him and a smile. Still, normal precautions apply: use the safes/lockers available, don’t flash large amounts of cash, and avoid the dark beachfront late at night.
Also, El Tunco’s party scene, while fun, can get rowdy; on weekends the bars are open late and people do get drunk. I never saw any fights (security presence helps), but I kept an eye on my drink and stayed with friends – the same common-sense practices you’d use anywhere.
Overall, I agree with the many travelers who say El Tunco feels remarkably safe for a place with such a “wild” reputation in the past. The crime that plagued El Salvador in decades prior has virtually no visible footprint in this tourist haven now.
As a woman I met who was traveling solo told me, “I actually feel safer walking here at night than back home in London.” I’d echo that sentiment for my own experience.
In short, working remotely from El Tunco requires a bit of adaptability (maybe a SIM card, a willingness to move around for WiFi, and tolerance for background salsa music during your work hours). B
ut the upside is huge: an inspiring environment, a friendly network of fellow nomads, and the constant reminder that there’s more to life than work – usually via a peek at the waves or a chat with a local that pulls you away from the screen.
And now that you know you can work from here, let’s get back to why you want to: all the awesome things to do in El Tunco without breaking the bank.
Surf, Sunsets, Yoga, and More
Playa El Tunco may be tiny, but I was never bored. In fact, the beauty of El Tunco is how much you can enjoy without spending much at all. The natural setting provides a free playground: from the waves to the waterfalls.
Here are some of my favorite budget-friendly activities and adventures, woven into my personal routine:
Surfing the Pacific Waves
Surfing is the heartbeat of El Tunco. It’s the reason a lot of travelers come in the first place – and some never leave. I’m a mediocre surfer at best, but improving on these waves was pure joy.
Dawn patrol (sunrise surf) became my daily meditation. I’d wake up at 5:30 AM to the sound of roosters and distant crashing waves, shove my board under my arm, and stroll through the quiet village to the beach.
The sand here is volcanic black and coarse, mixed with smooth pebbles that roll under your feet as the tide pulls – a peculiar sensation I grew to love. Paddling out in the warm water while mist from the jungle still hung over the shore was magical.
El Tunco’s main surf break is at El Sunzal, just west of the main beach. Sunzal is a long right-hand point break that’s famously forgiving – perfect for beginners and intermediate surfers.
I’d often join a gaggle of learners and instructors there; the vibe in the lineup was friendly (as long as you don’t accidentally snake someone’s wave!). For the more advanced, there’s La Bocana – an east-side break with faster, hollow waves. I only dared watch the pros there, sipping a smoothie from the safety of shore.
Surfing here is quite affordable: I rented a decent shortboard for $10 a day from my hostel (they had a whole rack of boards to choose from). If you rent for a week or more, you can negotiate a better rate – one friend got a board for $40 for the entire week. Surf lessons are also available everywhere; typically around $20-30 for a 1-hour lesson including the board.
I took one my first week (cost me $25 and my instructor Byron gave me tips that immediately improved my stance – money well spent). After that, it was just me and the waves. Note: The surf is consistent year-round here. Even on “flat” days there were rideable sets.
This reliability means you can schedule work around surf sessions pretty easily. I often targeted mid-morning and late afternoon sessions when the tides were right, essentially using a surf break as my lunch break. Talk about work-life balance!
Chasing Waterfalls and Hikes
When I craved a change of scenery from the beach, I didn’t have to go far (or spend much) to find adventure. One of my most memorable outings was a trip to the Tamanique Waterfalls, known locally as Cascadas de Tamanique.
Early one Saturday, a group of us from the hostel arranged a pickup truck (called a camioneta) with a local guide to take us up into the mountains behind El Tunco. The cost was about $10 each for transport and guide, and the experience was worth triple.
We bumped up a winding dirt road for about 30 minutes to the village of Tamanique, then hiked down a steep, lush trail through cornfields and jungle for another 30 minutes. The heat and humidity were intense – we were drenched in sweat – but suddenly the trail opened onto a series of cascading falls and cool natural pools.
We spent hours swimming in the waterfall pools, jumping off rocks (our guide showed us the safe spots), and picnicking on ripe mangoes we’d brought. It was the perfect nature escape.
Entry to the trail was just a couple of dollars (a community fee), and we tipped our guide too, but altogether it was a cheap day for such a rich experience. If you prefer DIY, you can bus to Tamanique and hire a guide on arrival for even less, but having a pre-arranged local guide made it seamless.
For hikers, El Salvador is full of volcano treks and nature reserves. From El Tunco, it’s easy to join a day trip to Santa Ana Volcano (the country’s highest, with a stunning turquoise crater lake) for around $30-40 (including transport and guide).
I didn’t do this during my El Tunco stint (having done it earlier on my route), but a few friends went and raved about the views and affordability (the volcano park fee itself is only $6 and a guide about $3; most of the cost was the private shuttle to get there and back).
Closer to home, I took a couple of leisurely evening walks to the edge of town where the sea caves are (at low tide you can explore some shallow caves and rock formations – free and pretty neat for photos). And almost every day, I’d join the ritual of sunset watching.
It might sound simple, but gathering on the beach or at a waterfront bar like Monkey La La with a crowd of new friends to watch the sun sink in a blaze of oranges and purples over the Pacific was genuinely the highlight of each day.
It costs nothing to clap and cheer when the last sliver of sun disappears – which people oddly do here, every single sunset. It’s a moment of collective appreciation that still gives me goosebumps thinking about it.
Yoga, Fitness, and Chill-Out Time
Not every activity in El Tunco involves saltwater and adrenaline. The town has a mellow side that’s perfect for a budget wellness routine. Yoga classes are offered daily at Balance Yoga Center, an oceanfront studio at one end of town.
As a surfer with tight shoulders, I found their evening yoga sessions to be the perfect counterbalance. Drop-in classes were around $5-10 (yoga mats provided), and practicing as the ocean breeze flowed through the open-air studio was blissful.
Sometimes we’d even hear the waves or the distant laugh of children playing outside during savasana – a reminder we were in a real place, not a hermetic yoga bubble.
For the super health-conscious, some hostels offered free use of their yoga decks or small gyms. Papaya Lodge had a little space where a few of us would do morning stretches or bodyweight workouts together – no charge, just sharing good practice.
If you’re into running, you can jog along the beach at low tide (the sand is firm near the waterline). Just be ready for humidity – I managed a few short sunrise runs and was thoroughly drenched but rewarded with solitude and beauty along the coastline.
Another practically free activity I loved: rockpool exploring. On the far east end of El Tunco’s beach, the low tide reveals shallow pools among the rocks that are full of little fish and crabs.
I’d take a short walk there, sometimes with a local kid who offered to show me the “best pools” for a dollar – basically a mini guided tour by an 8-year-old entrepreneur. It was surprisingly fun and a cute way to support the local community.
Nightlife and Social Fun
While nightlife often means spending money on drinks, in El Tunco it didn’t have to break the bank – and it doubled as one of the main “activities” people love here. The rhythm of the week typically went like this: weeknights are chill with maybe a bonfire or casual beers, and weekends are for dancing and parties.
But even the big nights out were affordable by international standards. For example, one legendary weekly event is “Ladies’ Night” which rotates between a few bars (like Friday at La Bonita, Saturday at D’Rail, etc.). On Ladies’ Night, women drink free from 8-10 PM – yes, free (usually just the well drinks like rum & Coke or vodka soda, but still!).
This isn’t just a great deal for the ladies; it’s a social catalyst because everyone ends up at the same bar, creating a packed house by mid-evening. As a guy, I certainly paid for my drinks those nights, but I hardly noticed because we were all just caught up in dancing and conversation.
The camaraderie is infectious – I’d run into the surf instructor who gave me lessons, the barista from the cafe, backpackers I met in Guatemala – it felt like a reunion every weekend.
If clubbing isn’t your thing, fear not: nightlife in El Tunco can also be as simple as gathering on the beach under the stars. Many evenings, especially on Thursdays, locals and nomads would grab a few $1 beers from the convenience store and head to the beach after dark. Someone might bring a guitar, or a Bluetooth speaker, and a spontaneous acoustic jam or salsa session would start on the sand.
One night I found myself lying back on a smooth log, listening to waves and reggae music, having a deep life chat with a traveler from Australia – all lit by moonlight and a couple of phone flashlights. It cost us nothing, but I’ll never forget that night.
For a more organized low-cost night, live music is common at spots like La Guitarra or Dale Dale Cafe. A local reggae band played one Wednesday – no cover charge – and the vibe was superb.
There’s also the famous drum and fire show on the beach some weekends: local performers do fire dancing and drumming after sunset, and passing a hat for tips is the only “ticket”. A $2 tip was well-earned for the spectacle they put on, twirling flaming poi as dozens of us watched with our toes in the sand.
Finally, I have to mention: if nightlife or busy weekends get too intense, you can always escape to quieter nearby beaches or towns for a day or two. El Tunco’s energy is contagious, but I met a few nomads who took “breaks” to ensure they still got work done (too many party nights can derail your productivity!).
Nearby, El Zonte is a even smaller surf village with a more low-key vibe and some cool Bitcoin Beach history; El Sunzal area has a couple resorts where you can get a day pass to just sit by a different pool and use high-speed WiFi. I did a day pass at a place in Sunzal for $10 which included a meal – it was a nice mini-retreat to recharge before diving back into Tunco’s buzz.
Getting There and Getting Around
One of the great things about El Salvador is how compact the country is, which makes travel fairly quick and cheap. For a budget traveler and nomad, El Tunco is relatively easy to reach and, once you’re there, even easier to navigate (since, well, it’s tiny!).
Getting to El Tunco on a Budget
Most international travelers arrive via the San Salvador International Airport (SAL), which is about 45 minutes to 1 hour drive from El Tunco. The moment I landed, I faced my first choice: splurge on a taxi/shuttle or brave the local bus.
Taxis from the airport have fixed rates to tourist areas – I was quoted $30 USD for a direct ride to El Tunco. If you have friends to split or you’re coming in late at night, a taxi or Uber (yes, Uber works in El Salvador) is a convenient option and not too pricey.
However, I arrived early afternoon and feeling adventurous, so I tried the chicken bus. Here’s how that went: I took a short taxi from the airport to a major bus stop by the highway (cost $5).
Then I hopped on a big old #102 bus heading west along the coast. It was an experience – crowded, lively (think loud Spanish music and vendors hopping on to sell snacks), and cost only about $1.20 to get all the way to El Tunco’s entrance road. The bus dropped me on the side of the highway at El Tunco’s turnoff, where tuk-tuk drivers were waiting.
For $0.50 I could have a tuk-tuk drive me the final half-mile down into the village, but I opted to just walk the 10 minutes with my backpack (downhill and straightforward). Total cost: under $3. Hard to beat! That said, if you have a lot of luggage or it’s sweltering, paying a buck for the tuk-tuk is probably worth it.
Another budget-friendly way to arrive is if you’re coming overland from neighboring countries: shuttle services. Many backpackers do a route through Guatemala, Nicaragua, etc., and I met people who took direct shuttles from Antigua, Guatemala (about 6-7 hours, $45 USD) and from León, Nicaragua (a full day or overnight, around $50).
Those shuttles are comfy vans that pick you up at your hostel and drop you in El Tunco – very convenient if you’re not up for multiple local buses and border logistics. I actually first arrived in El Salvador via a shuttle from Nicaragua (a bumpy overnight ride with too many potholes to sleep, as one blogger warned, but we made it!).
Shuttles are pricier than doing local buses, but they save a ton of time and hassle, so many budget travelers budget for one or two long shuttles on big jumps between countries.
Getting Around El Tunco
Here’s the beauty – you won’t need a car, or really any transportation, within El Tunco. The town truly consists of just a few streets in a grid, all walkable in a matter of minutes. I walked everywhere, barefoot half the time because why not?
From my hostel to the furthest end of the beachfront was a 5-minute walk. From one end of “downtown” to the other was maybe 10 minutes. You’ll likely only put on sandals if the midday pavement gets too hot or if you’re venturing onto the highway.
That said, if you want to explore the surrounding coastline (and you should, there are other great beaches and towns nearby), you have cheap transport options:
Local Buses
The main coastal road (Highway CA-2) is just at the top of El Tunco’s entrance. There’s a bus stop there (well, not a marked stop – you just flag buses down).
Buses pass every 15-30 minutes or so going east toward La Libertad (the nearest city, 15 minutes away) and west toward beaches like El Zonte, Sunzal, and beyond.
These are the famously colorful chicken buses. Any bus number that comes along will work as long as you know the direction – I usually just asked the driver or conductor, “¿Pasa por Sunzal/El Zonte/Libertad?” and hopped on.
The fare is dirt cheap: I never paid more than $0.50 to $1 for a bus ride along the coast. For example, a bus to La Libertad (where you can visit the large fish market or get supplies at a bigger supermarket) was about $0.50, and going a bit further to El Zonte was $0.50-$0.75.
Payment is in cash on board, in US dollars or the equivalent in Salvadoran coins. The rides are usually sweaty and rattling, but they get you there! One cool thing: locals are very helpful if you’re unsure where to get off.
I used Google Maps offline to track my location and would just signal the driver when I wanted to hop off near a certain beach. Easy peasy, and a bit of an adventure every time.
Scooter or Bike Rentals
For more freedom, you can rent scooters in El Tunco for about $25 per 24 hours. I did this once with two buddies – we rented from a local shop called Wayo’s. They gave us basic semi-automatic scooters (more like small motorcycles) and helmets, and we tore off down the coast for a day.
Splitting fuel, it was maybe $10 each total, and we got to beach-hop on our own schedule. We found a hidden beach, ate at a roadside ceviche stand, and raced the sunset back home.
Totally worth it for a fun day. If you’re not comfortable on two wheels, you might consider renting a bicycle, though I’ll admit the roads aren’t very bike-friendly and the heat can make it tough. Most people stick to motorized transport for distance and just walk within town.
Taxis and Ride-shares
Inside El Tunco, you won’t find normal city taxis trolling for fares. Instead, if you need a ride (say, a pre-dawn trip to the airport, or you stayed out in La Libertad and it’s late coming back), you can ask your hotel/hostel to call a private driver.
There are plenty who service the area, and they’re generally trustworthy if recommended. Prices will vary; I paid $45 for a private taxi to the airport when I departed, arranged by a local driver (which is standard, and actually a fixed rate you’ll see at the airport too for pickups).
Uber does function in El Salvador, and I did manage to catch an Uber to El Tunco once from San Salvador city for about $20 (the driver happened to be heading back that way).
But in El Tunco itself, calling an Uber often showed no cars available – it’s simply too small a place with few drivers nearby. If you do try Uber, be prepared to wait; drivers from La Libertad or San Salvador might pick it up after some time. In general, though, the need for Uber is low here given the other cheap options.
Hitchhiking
Not something I typically do, but worth mentioning – hitchhiking is relatively common and considered safe in El Salvador for short distances. On a couple of occasions, when a friend and I missed the last bus back from a neighboring beach at dusk, locals with pickup trucks offered us a ride in the back bed.
They refused payment; it was just the culture of helping out. We reciprocated by buying them a soda or a beer once we got chatting. Use your own judgment here, of course, but I found people to be generally kind and not looking to take advantage of foreigners.
To sum up transport: Within El Tunco, your feet are your best friend, and beyond it, the humble chicken bus will get you almost anywhere for pocket change. For a nomad on a budget, it’s perfect.
There’s something liberating about not needing to worry about cars, gas, or traffic (though heads-up, if you do take a car into San Salvador city, traffic can be gnarly). I relished the simplicity of my transport life in El Tunco – after all, the town’s motto could well be “why drive when you can stroll with a surfboard under your arm?”.
Now that we’ve covered getting here and around, let’s crunch the numbers and talk about what it all means for your wallet in a broader sense.
How Cheaply Can You Live in El Tunco?
One of my favorite things about Playa El Tunco as a digital nomad destination is that you don’t need to spend a lot to live well here.
To give you a clearer picture, let’s break down the typical costs I encountered, and what a sample budget might look like for a day, a week, or a month.
Keep in mind, everyone’s travel style is different, but I’ll base this on a budget-conscious yet comfortable nomad lifestyle (not the absolute rock-bottom backpacker, but certainly far from luxury).
Accommodation: If you opt for hostel dorms, you’re looking at roughly $10–15 USD per night for the most popular spots (e.g. Papaya Lodge). That usually includes WiFi and sometimes breakfast.
So about $300–$450 per month. If you want a private room, the cheapest in-town guesthouses start around $25–$30 per night (shared bathroom) and go up to $50 for nicer digs with private bath and AC. I split a two-bedroom Airbnb and my share was $150/week, which would be $600 a month – but solo rentals can be found as low as $350/month for a basic studio.
Mid-range hotels (for short stays or a treat) cost $60–100/night, but I’ll assume as a nomad you stick to the cheaper end. Monthly budget for accommodation: approximately $300 (dorm) to $600 (simple private).
Food: This can be delightfully low. By eating local – pupusas, market food, street snacks – I often spent under $10 per day on food. For example, a filling breakfast of eggs, plantains, and tortillas at a local eatery was $3.
Lunch might be $1 on the go (two pupusas), and dinner maybe $5 for a plate of fish tacos or a cheap pizza split with friends. I did treat myself to cafe meals or Western food a few times a week, which might bump a day’s total to $15-$20. Let’s break it down in a list of common items (with prices):
- Pupusa (street food staple): $1 each (I’d eat 2–3 for a meal)
- Typical local breakfast (eggs, beans, etc.): $2–$3 (some hostels include this free!)
- Lunch at local “comedor” (meat, rice, salad): $4–$6
- Smoothie or fresh juice: $2–$3
- Coffee from cafe: $2 (local place) up to $3.50 (fancy espresso)
- Dinner at casual restaurant: $5–$8 (e.g. burger, burrito, or even Thai/Mexican food in town)
- Beer (Pilsener) at bar: $1.50 (or $1 from store)
- Cocktail at bar/club: $3–$7 (depending on fanciness)
- 1.5L Bottle of water: $0.50 at a tienda (although I refilled a lot from the hostel filter for free)
If you cook for yourself, groceries are also reasonable. I spent maybe $15 at the market for a few days’ worth of basics (pasta, veggies, bread, fruit). Keep in mind, imported goods (cheese, cereal, etc.) can be pricey, since El Salvador uses the US dollar and imports are not subsidized.
Shop local and you’ll save. Monthly food budget: I’d say $250 is ample if you mostly eat local, or up to $400 if you’re frequently dining in cafes or restaurants.
My personal spend was about $120 per week on groceries, dining, and drinks combined, but that included quite a few “treat” meals and beers – a stricter budgeter could do <$100/week easily.
Surfing & Activities: If you’re a surfer, budget for board rental or bring your own. Board rental is ~$10/day or ~$50-60/week. Surf lessons are ~$30-40 for an hour and a half, but you likely won’t do those frequently unless you’re learning.
Other paid activities: The waterfall hike guide was $10, volcano hike was under $15 including entry fees, yoga classes $5 each. Many days I did free activities: swimming, beach volleyball (some locals set up a net most evenings), hiking to nearby viewpoints, etc.
Nightlife can add up if you party hard – but even then, a big night out might cost $15 total (few beers and maybe a late-night food). Let’s estimate $50–$100 per week for activities/entertainment if you surf almost daily and go out a couple times.
It can be much less if you’re just enjoying nature and the occasional beer. The Reddit trip report I read from another nomad in El Tunco noted they spent about $100 on tours and scooter rentals in a month, which sounds about right for a moderate amount of exploring.
Local Transportation: As mentioned, within town it’s negligible ($0). If you take buses frequently to explore, maybe a few bucks a week. Scooter rental if you do it occasionally is $25 a pop.
Airport transfer maybe $30-45 one-time. In a month, I spent about $20 total on local transport (buses and one taxi). Essentially, transport is a non-issue budget-wise in El Tunco.
Miscellaneous: Don’t forget things like the entry visa – El Salvador charges $12 for a tourist card on arrival by air (overland it was free for me, as it’s part of CA-4 region).
Also possibly a SIM card ($10-15 with data), laundry (I paid $5 per big load at a local laundromat for wash & fold service), and any shopping. I bought a handmade bracelet from a vendor for $3 and some coffee beans to take home for $8.
Nothing major. If you’re into souvenirs, local textiles or woodcraft might tempt you but they’re quite affordable.
To put it all together, here’s a snapshot of my approximate budget during my month in El Tunco, per person in USD:
- Accommodation: $400 (mixed: half month dorm, half month shared Airbnb)
- Food & Drink: $450 (I ate out a lot, someone cooking more could spend much less)
- Surfing (board rental): $120 (I often negotiated weekly rates)
- Activities/Tours: $80 (one waterfall trip, one day scooter, yoga classes, etc.)
- Local Transport: $20 (buses and one Uber)
- Misc (SIM, laundry, visa): $50
Total for 4 weeks: ~$1,120 USD (roughly $40/day).
And mind you, this was me being somewhat budget-conscious but not ultra frugal. I met backpackers who were definitely doing it for less than $30/day by staying in dorms the whole time, eating only pupusas and market food, and skipping paid tours.
It’s absolutely feasible to live on $25-30/day here (about $750-$900/month) if you’re disciplined. In fact, one traveler pointed out that I had stayed in possibly the most expensive setup (the touristy center of El Tunco), and yet I could have easily spent far less if I needed to.
On the flip side, if you want to splash out on a nicer meal or a weekend trip occasionally, and maybe prefer a private room, budgeting around $1500/month would afford a very comfortable life here by Western standards. Even that is far below what many spend in established nomad hubs.
One more thing to love: El Salvador uses USD currency, so there’s no mental math or exchange loss if you come with dollars. And because things are cheap, I often found myself spending less than my budget. It was a nice feeling to know that a $5 bill could cover dinner and a beer and still get me change.
In summary, Playa El Tunco offers serious bang for your buck. For a budget-conscious digital nomad, it’s the kind of place where your money stretches pleasantly far, letting you work less (hours-wise) and live more.
Final Thoughts
As I packed my bags on my last day in El Tunco, I felt a pang of sadness and a whole lot of gratitude. This little surf town had given me something special: an affordable slice of paradise where I could balance work with play.
I arrived a stranger with a laptop; I left feeling like a local, with sand in my keyboard and a dozen new friends from around the world.
Leaving El Tunco, my backpack was heavier with souvenirs (and maybe a damp wetsuit), but my budget was still in good shape and my heart was fuller.
If you’re a digital nomad looking for a place that’s kind to your bank account, I can’t recommend Playa El Tunco enough. It’s not just a destination but it’s a little community and a lifestyle.
So, ¿qué onda? Are you coming to El Tunco?
Safe travels and maybe see you in El Tunco – I’ll be the one with a surfboard in one hand and a laptop in the other, living that good life.