Costa del Sol

Costa del Sol is a sand spit running for some fifteen kilometres with the open Pacific on one side and the Jaltepeque estuary and its mangroves on the other, and it has been the standard beach destination for San Salvador since the mid-twentieth century, lined with private beach houses, clubs and hotels along the road down the middle. The ocean beach is broad and grey-sand with strong surf; the estuary side is calm and used for boats out to the mangroves and to Isla Tasajera. Public access points exist between the private properties. Weekends and Holy Week fill the whole spit, and the rest of the time it is quiet.

What you actually see

• The ocean beach - the long grey sand strand with Pacific surf.
• The estuary side - the calm water and mangroves behind the spit.
• Beach clubs and houses - the development along the spit road.
• Boat trips - the runs into the estuary and to the islands.

When to go

November to April in the dry season. Holy Week is the peak and the spit is packed; ordinary weekends are busy and weekdays quiet. Mornings are calmest on the estuary side.

Honest expectations

Much of the beachfront is private and public access points are limited. The ocean has strong rip currents and no lifeguards. Development along the spit is dense and not attractive. Holy Week is extremely crowded.

Nearby

Isla Tasajera lies in the estuary; Zacatecoluca is inland.