El Salvador Beach with Kids
During our most recent family travel adventures, we took a 2 week trip to El Salvador and Guatemala. We chose these places for two reasons. First, we are close to checking off all the countries in Central America! Second, we had two specific bucket list items: surfing in El Salvador and overnighting on top of Acatenango to watch Volcan Fuego erupt in Guatemala.
For the surfing portion of our trip, we knew we had to plan well. Jon has done a day of surfing here and there quite a few times. However, he’s dreamed of a week devoted to it since we got married. This was his big plan for Portugal during our year-long trip around the world. We arrive all giddy, he rents a surf board for the whole week… and the ocean looked like a pane of glass!
He then got smart and started researching destinations that were more predictable… enter El Salvador!! We knew we had to make it count, so chose to book accommodations, surf lessons, and activities all through Puro Surf in El Zonte.
If you have any hesitancy on bringing your kids to El Salvador, book a week here. You will want to make this your new go-to family destination (especially with very reasonable flights from the U.S.)! Puro Surf can really have that all-inclusive feel if that’s what you want for your family (delicious food, poolside service, multiple daily activities, transportation from the airport, etc.)- or you have the freedom to pick and choose what’s your cup of tea. You can venture out to explore the rest of the country or never leave the resort. We chose a little of both for our family and felt completely safe traveling around the country on our own (the Ruta de Las Flores region is amazing).
Whether you’re a seasoned surfer, brand new to the sport, or just along for the hammocks and frozen horchata, Puro Surf checks all the boxes—and then some.
Our complete guide after a wonderful visit:
1. The Rooms: Functional Comfort With Ocean Views
We all know you need to sleep well to enjoy travel, and when it comes to accommodations Puro Surf was perfect. Each room is a clean, modern mix of comfort and utility. We had hot water, THREE comfy beds with plush pillows, and a dedicated desk area that made catching up on work (or trip journaling) a breeze. The rooms also have air conditioning. We didn’t use it during the day, but our family has trouble sleeping at night when it’s hot, so the AC is a huge bonus! Our kids also thought it was super special that our TV had Netflix to watch an episode of Garfield at the end of an super active surfing day😂 it’s the little things!
But let’s be honest—the best part? Every room has a balcony with an ocean view. Waking up to the sight and sound of waves rolling in: Yes, please.
2. Food at Covana: Safe, Delicious, and Local
We tend to be cautious with ice, drinks, and produce during international travel. We’ve learned from multiple bad experiences. So, food safety is always top of mind. Thankfully, Covana, the on-site restaurant at Puro Surf, was a dream come true. We were able to eat everything on the menu—fresh salads, fruit-packed smoothies, iced drinks, even the horchata with chocolate (yes, it’s as good as it sounds)—without a single issue.
They clearly go the extra mile with hygiene and prep, which let us relax and enjoy every bite. Plus, there’s a filtered water station in the gym so you can refill your reusable bottles worry-free. (We use these bottles from Amazon, and they’re perfect for travel.) Use this filtered water for brushing your teeth as well, but it’s awesome to not have to buy bottled water!
3. Infinity Pool + Beach Access: You may decide to cancel all plans and just stay here.
The infinity pool at Puro Surf might just be our favorite spot on the property. It overlooks the legendary point break out front, making it the ideal place to relax post-surf or sip a smoothie while watching the sunset. We could have made a hobby solely from sitting in the pool and watching the professional surfers go out from the resort!
There’s a mix of loungers, hammocks, and shaded chairs. From the pool, it’s just a short walk down to the volcanic black sand beach, where we explored the tide pools, played Paddleball, and tried (unsuccessfully) to break open a coconut.
4. Exploring El Zonte: Pupusas & Local Life
We ate at Covana for every meal during our stay at Puro Surf. The menu has a variety of options, and you’ll want to try them all. We enjoyed the area so much we stayed in El Zonte a few extra days and ventured out a few times to sample pupusas from local stands, as well as some of the local pizza. No trip to El Salvador is complete with trying pupusas – most are around $1 with plentiful flavor options.
The area is very walkable and safe, making it easy to explore. Just a heads-up: there’s no grocery store in town, so if you need snacks or specific items, bring them with you. That said, we did buy fresh produce from a farmer’s truck, which was both charming and delicious.
5. Getting Around: Easy Walks + Chicken Bus Adventures
El Zonte is small, so everything you need is walkable from Puro Surf. But if you’re itching to explore neighboring surf towns or markets, hop on a chicken bus. It’s a true local experience, only 25 cents, and one we highly recommend. For surf missions, Puro Surf arranges daily transportation to nearby breaks, boards and all, so you’re always covered.
(We wrote more about our chicken bus adventure and getting around El Salvador on another post coming soon.)
6. Surfing at Puro Surf: World-Class Waves + Coaching
Let’s get to the good stuff: the surfing.
This is what really sets Puro Surf apart. Whether you’re brand new to surfing or have years under your belt (they have professional surfers practicing here almost daily), the coaching staff is phenomenal. They even worked with Abigail (11 yrs) and Brandon (12 yrs) for a skate surf lesson at the Academy before surfing. The kids found it so helpful (and fun!) to learn how the balance, position, and turns of the skate board relates to surfing technique. They also found it hilarious that their sweet instructor kept encouraging “Now you’re rippin!!!!”
The on-site Performance Academy is the real deal—complete with video analysis, strength and mobility training, and surf technique coaching that takes your skills to the next level. And since the team knows every local break, they’ll match you with the best wave based on conditions and ability, every single day.
There’s a fantastic point break directly in front of the hotel (left and right off the river mouth), but options abound. Just let the coaches guide you.
We’d highly encourage lessons vs just rentals, especially for kids. When you are out there with your instructor, you feel like you are doing 95% of the work and you won’t believe how naturally good you are… until you try all on your own… then you realize them setting you up and giving instructions on timing did a LOT more than you realized!
7. More Than Surfing: Gym, Classes, and Community
Even if you’re not a surfer (yet!), Puro Surf has so much to offer. The gym is top-notch, and the daily group classes—from yoga and mobility to self-defense—are all awesome options. The community here is welcoming, active, and encouraging, no matter your skill level or goals. Jon and Ashley joined the yoga class, which is not something we’ve done in the past (or honestly really ever been interested in). However, we are now all in! The welcoming and inclusive atmosphere plus the excellent coaching spurred us on to begin including this into our daily (ish) routines!
Final Thoughts
Puro Surf ended up being the perfect place for our family to get some surfing experience in… FINALLY! In addition to traveling with kids, this would also be an awesome place to go by yourself (probably what was most common during our stay) or with another adult. Jon and Abigail have already declared this as their new home. Abigail has even already figured out how many months it will take to save her allowance for a plane ticket back, apparently the rest of our family going does not factor into this!
Even if you’re on the fence about surfing, Puro Surf is the perfect place to give it a try—or simply soak in the sun by the pool, sip horchata, and watch the waves roll in.
To see all our travel adventures during a year-long trip around the world, head over to our Instagram page.
Have questions about Puro Surf or traveling in El Salvador? Drop us a comment—we love sharing the real-life details that make trips smoother.
0 Comments