On 30 January 2025, El Salvador's Legislative Assembly repealed bitcoin's status as legal tender. Almost every travel guide published still says otherwise. Bring dollars.
What actually changed
The reform passed 55 votes to 60
, as a condition of an IMF loan of $1.4 billion.
What it means now
Use is optional
, at private-sector discretion.
Businesses are no longer required to convert prices from dollars to bitcoin.
And taxes are paid only in dollars.
In practice: many Surf City establishments still accept it voluntarily via the Lightning network, but the dollar is the operating currency. Bring cash.
Which beach fits you
El Tunco is the country's flagship break, with its iconic rock formation and legendary weekend nightlife. Level: intermediate to advanced, over a rocky bottom. Forty minutes from San Salvador.
Midweek it is a different place entirely
— a quiet town where you eat three-dollar pupusas at sunset.
El Zonte — "Bitcoin Beach" — runs more relaxed, bohemian and wellness-oriented. 42 km (26 mi) from the capital, 50 km (31 mi) from the international airport.
Playa San Diego
, between them, has consistent surf with fewer people.
And Costa del Sol and San Blas: offer resorts and beach clubs suited to family travel.
El Tunco is not for learning
Intermediate to advanced, over rock.
Beginners should head to El Zonte or Playa San Diego, with a school.
Two things that catch visitors out
Buses stop running around sunset. Have dinner at another beach and you may find yourself without a way back.
And the circuit has constant POLITUR presence — the Tourism Police — with the beaches described as highly secure and monitored zones.
The season
March through October brings the best swell, though the coast is surfable year-round. The eastern Pacific receives southern swells during the austral winter, which is the region's biggest period.
Getting to Surf City El Salvador
Ilopango (ILS) handles general aviation in San Salvador
, 30 km (19 mi) from the international airport.
El Salvador is too small for domestic flying
— destinations are reached by road from the capital.
El Tunco: 40 minutes
El Zonte: 42 km.
Which makes the charter's role here different: it is about getting into the country and out again on your schedule, not about internal hops.
What else the country offers
Santa Ana volcano (Ilamatepec), at 2,381 m (7,812 ft) — but note park entry closes at 11:00 a.m. sharp, with a guide mandatory and two hours' drive from the capital.
Lake Coatepeque, in its caldera.
The Ruta de las Flores, through the coffee highlands.
And Suchitoto, the colonial town on Lake Suchitlán.
Before you book
Bring dollars. Bitcoin is optional now, not required.
Buses stop at sunset.
Footwear — the volcanic sand gets seriously hot.
Long-sleeve rash guard for the water.
And check swell forecasts if surfing is the purpose.
The tide, and why it decides more than the forecast
On this coast a rising tide generally improves the breaks, while a falling or low tide drops performance — and where the bottom is rock, it raises risk.
Which matters at El Tunco specifically, since its bottom is rocky and at low water the break sits closer to it.
Ask locally which break suits your level for the day's tide. A swell forecast alone will not tell you.
Getting back after dark
Buses stop running around sunset, which catches out anyone who has dinner at a different beach.
Arrange the return before you go out, whether that is a driver or a ride from your accommodation.
The circuit itself is described as highly secure and monitored, with constant POLITUR presence — the practical risk here is transport, not safety.
Fly with AeroRide
Ilopango handles general aviation, 30 km from the international airport. Tell us your dates and passenger count.
Quoted on request for the whole aircraft, round trip, up to five passengers. Final pricing depends on route, date and aircraft assigned.
If your trip depends on a swell forecast or a volcano permit window, tell us. Flexibility on the date is what a charter actually buys.
Related
- Suchitoto and Lake Coatepeque
- El Salvador from the air
- Pacific or Caribbean? The two coasts are not interchangeable
- Wildlife in Central America
- Flying Central America
Frequently asked questions
Can you pay with bitcoin in El Salvador?
Its legal tender status was repealed on 30 January 2025. Use is now optional, businesses are not required to convert prices, and taxes are paid only in dollars. Many Surf City establishments still accept it voluntarily via Lightning.
Which beach is best for beginners in El Salvador?
El Zonte or Playa San Diego, with a school. El Tunco is intermediate to advanced over a rocky bottom.
How far is El Tunco from San Salvador?
Forty minutes by road. El Zonte is 42 km from the capital and 50 km from the international airport.
When is surf season in El Salvador?
March through October brings the best swell, though the coast is surfable year-round. The eastern Pacific receives southern swells during the austral winter.
Is Surf City safe?
The circuit has constant POLITUR presence — the Tourism Police — and the beaches are described as highly secure and monitored. The practical risk is transport: buses stop running around sunset.
What is El Tunco like midweek?
Completely different from the weekend. A quiet town where you eat three-dollar pupusas at sunset, rather than the nightlife destination it becomes Friday through Sunday.