A beach holiday El Salvador’s La Libertad

Are you looking for a holiday on a sandy beach with blue waters in the vicinity? Then, I suggest you visit the La Libertad town of El Salvador. This port town is also known as Puerto de la Libertad and is part of the country’s La Libertad state. The town of La Libertad is considered by many as Central America’s secret surfing Mecca. Well, some of you may not agree with that statement, nevertheless, with a little bit of development, the place can definitely become an instant big hit.

The town is steadily emerging as Central America’s premier surfing destinations among world travelers. The tropical climate of the region makes the area ideal for surfing activities. La Libertad is also blessed with some of the finest beaches in the entire nation and region. A main reason for the rise in popularity of the place is attributed to the fact that the area is just around a half hour drive from the capital city of San Salvador.

The beach is mostly frequented by locals and some international backpackers. Owing to the not so impressive facilities in El Salvador, the number of tourists visiting the place is not huge as seen in other parts of Central America like Costa Rica’s Jaso Beach. Hence, there are a lot of expectations from the authorities to get their act together and derive maximum benefit from the regions natural resources.

The beaches are all about dancing, reggae music, sun-warmed hammocks and beers. The area has become sort of a paradise for surfers and major credit needs to be given to a company named Punta Mango which is turning around the region silently. This company specializes in customized packages and surf trips, besides extended trips to the country’s internal treasures. The company also specializes in coaching classes for novice surfers besides also conducting guided tours.

Some of the popular surf breaks of the area include El Zunzal, El Tunco, El Zonte, Punta Roca, La Paz and La Bocana.

Besides, you may also try out different stuff like horseback riding and sea kayaking and if you are still not satisfied, you can also visit the nearby Santa Tecla, which is spectacular in every aspect. Santa Tecla is situated on the foot of the historic San Salvador volcano, which dates back to the 19th century.

However, besides all the fun, there are some areas of concern in the town as well. A visitor needs to take care of himself and his or her belongings. It has been noticed that even though the area is developing rapidly, the number of robberies is on the rise especially during the night. Hence, visitors are requested to be alert at all times and avoid traveling alone during the night.

On the other hand, it is recommended that one avoid walking barefoot on the sands in the afternoon. The sand tends to get very hot during the noon time and hence, it is advised to stay on the shore area as your feet may get adversely affected. Lastly, you should not swim deep into the seas as there are chances and as seen in recent cases, you may be pulled by the waves and get drowned.

It is also advised that a visitor protect himself from mosquitoes. Besides, you should try and avoid the local tap water.

The La Libertad port area is home to a number of popular restaurants as well. These restaurants mainly serve local stuff like the shrimp cocktails, snails, oysters and everyone’s favorite, fish. The hotels of the region specialize in international cuisine.

Listed below are some of the questions you may have on your minds.

How do I reach La Libertad?

La Libertad is very near to the capital city of San Salvador. In order to get in the country, you need to align at the nation’s only international airport, which is the Comalapa International Airport. This airport is around 50 kilometers from the capital. Hence, the total travel time from the airport to La Libertad should be around 1 and a half hour. It is recommended you hire a cab and travel throughout the country. On the other hand, public bus travel is very cheap in the entire country; hence if you can also consider the public services as an alternate option, however, it is recommended you clarify all facts with the driver before entering the bus.

Where do I stay during my La Libertad trip?

The area has some good accommodation facilities for visitors. Some of the important and popular landmarks include Sunzal Luxury Hotel and Villas, La Bocana Premium Surf Hotel and East Coast Surf Hotel.

When is the best time to visit La Libertad?

La Libertad is all about sandy beaches and blue waters. Hence, you should visit the place when there is no question of the rain pouring. You should also avoid the rainy season as venturing into the waters during the rains may actually land you in some unknown territory all together.

The region enjoys a dry period during the months from November to March. You should travel to the region during this period as the region doesn’t see a better period rather than this for a visit. This period may also see ticket fare go through the roof.

On the other hand, the rainy season runs from late May to October. The unique part about the rain is it usually rains only during the evenings and the sun actually shines for some 350 days in a year, amazing isn’t it. Therefore, if you wish to have a low cost holiday, you can visit the town during the rains as the rates are at their lowest during this period.

In conclusion, the town of La Libertad is a wonderful place and amongst the happening places to be in. The beaches are hot and so are the surroundings. The facilities may not be up to the mark vis-à-vis when compared to other prominent beach destinations of the region, yet the place makes a perfect holiday. Nevertheless, we can always expect a bright future for the place as it is only a matter of time when the place develops to cater to the growing needs of the region. So, what are you waiting for, just go ahead and book your tour of the region.