Looking for a safe camp site or hostel around La Libertad for Friday (May 21st)
Web
My plane gets in late in the evening ~ 8ish and I have a rental car reserved. I'd like to surf Saturday morning and am looking for some where close to La Punta to camp or stay (hostel or cabina) that is inexpensive and has parking. I'm in the country for 3 weeks. Thanks, Rich
Service Request
| Service or Activity: |
Camping |
|---|---|
| Start Date: | May 21, 2010 |
| Start Time: | 09:00 PM |
| Duration: | 1 Days |
| Number of people: | 1 |
Public Question Asked by Flynner about La Libertad, La Libertad, El Salvador
Answers (17)
Best Answer - Chosen by Localytes
Answered by Quiver Surf El Salvador from El Sunzal, El Salvador
First of all make sure you can drive to the bridge in Melara at night it might be a little sketchy, will be a good idea to stay at the hotel and or hostel near the airport and drive in the morning to La Libertad, somebody was saying to stay at roots that doesn't exist anymore but La Sombra, Mopelia are good hostels where you can stay and they're located in Tunco.
Best Answer - Chosen by
Answered by Luis Alfredo Melendez Bautista from Santo Tomas, El Salvador
HEY RICH YOU CAN CAMP IN ROOTS SURF CAMP THAT IS IN ZUNSAL 4 KM TO PUNTA ROCA IT IS CHEAP AN SAFE AND ALSO LA POSADA FAMILIAR IS LIKE 2 DOLLAR FOR HAMACA AN PARKING IS REALLY CLOSE TO LA PUNTA ROCA BUT IF YOU ARE TRAVELING ALONG I RECOMEND STAY ROOTS IN SUNZAL AND GO LA PUNTA WITH SOMEONE ALSE THAT NOW THE PLACE AND LOCAL PEOPLE
Comment by Flynner from Fernie, Canada
Sounds good Luis. I will probably surf Sat at Sunzal and then maybe hit la Punta once the swell drops a bit on Mon or Tues...
Is it a bad idea to drive to Sunzal by myself from the airport after dark on Friday? Are there car jackings or any of that stuff on route 2?
Any advice would be appreciated.
R
Comment by Salvador Olivares from San Salvador, El Salvador
Its a bad idea to travel at night from airport to sunzal because is dangerous (drunk drivers, car jackings, the street is so dark, theres no street attendence from police or other institution or if exist the service is bad) i recomended to stay at "confort hotel" near airport and then at sasturday go to sunzal.
Comment by Cristina Kai from San Salvador, El Salvador
Hi, I agree with Salvador, it's not safe to drive late at night if your first time here. But hotel's rates nearby the airport are round 100 USD. So include that in your budget.
If you are planning to spend the three weeks at the beach I would suggest to check the hostels in Playa El Tunco, which is the most popular and safe for outsiders. The camp site Roots is located there and offers two tree cabins or camping room for 3-4 dollars a day per person, 2 dollars a day per parking (but you can negotiate that with the host) and has shared bathrooms and kitchen. For a little bit of unexpensive comfort also check Hostel La Guitarra and Hostel Mopelia, they usually charge 15-40 dollar per night single room (depends on the availabilty tho), but I think you can negotiate wiht the owners (in both cases) a better fare if you are staying for a long period there. From El Tunco you can move easily to Punta Roca, El Sunzal and Playa El Zonte, all recommended for surfing.
Comment by Jaime from San Salvador, El Salvador
I would go with Cristina´s advise, although for your first night give some thought to the idea of driving directly to the beach. It might be nicer to get to San Salvador at your arrival and then head out early in the morning to La Libertad, which is only 30 minutes away. There´s a Courtyard Marriot at La Gran Vía, around $100 a night, where you can also have some of the taste of San Salvador´s night life and make your visit a little more interesting.
Comment by Donald Lee from San Salvador, El Salvador
What you should do the next time, if arriving at night, is hire a local "driver-owner" from around La Libertad, no doubt there are several on localyte, and hire them to drive you around, if you have an accident, or the rental car gets damaged or worse, stolen, you have a liability, a deductible on your Credit Card up to $1,000 I think. Also never pick up and drive around overly friendly strangers, when you drive you need carry your passport, drivers licence, on the bus only a copy of passport and tourist card, just enough cash that you will spend. Next time contact Localytes well in advance of your arrival, you can always have your driver take you to airport (25 minutes from La Libertad by auto) next morning to pick up your rental car. I live here in ES and Guatemala 23 years, I only used to drive at night within San Salvador, on the road only in emergencies, the best thing about ES, going to Beach from Airport is that you do not have to go through or into San Salvador, also next time join the non profit Hospex portal, Couch Surfing, over 150 friendly CS members in ES, many go to Beach on weekends, will meetup with you and show you around, some are Surfers www.couchsurfing.org/ and be sure to stop by and say hello to Robert Rotherham at Punta Roca Restaurant in La Libertad, Playa La Paz, front of famous Punta Roca (Rocky Point) Sufring swells, Robert's son, Jimmy, is a champion surfer who grew up in La Libertad and runs hotel for surfers. NEVER camp alone where there is no security nor on land where you have no permission to camp.. Next time plan ahead....
Best Answer - Chosen by
Answered by lgfr22 from San Salvador, El Salvador
Hey Rich,
first of all, i've driven at 2 am from the airport to the city, with nothing happening to me. i know the country might not be the safest place on earth, but at night, the road is empty so you can get to the beach fast. The road is kinda dark so just make sure you're wide awake, be alert and dont stop unless the police asks you to! LOL staying in a hotel for the night will just add more $ to your budget, if you leave the comalapa airport at 830, you can be in SUNZAL around 930ish. Just make sure you contact the hostel before hand and that your are getting there late. The roads will be empty so you can speed a bit and have no traffic i DOUBT that you'll get muggd, stopped, or get your car jacked- just drive safe and you'll be fine.
hostal wise, theyre are PLENTY (also, if you get there the night before, you might meet some people for them to tell you the best places). here are the links for some
http://www.elsalvadorsurfcamps.com/ingles/camping.html - camping
http://www.myspace.com/elbrewhouse
http://www.sunzalpoint.com/
http://www.tekuanikal.com/
http://rocasunzal.com/
http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Tamanique-El-Salvador/Vista-Sunzal/88564192483?ref=ts
http://www.elsalvadorsurfcamps.com/
P.S. also, since you would be getting on a friday night, you might be lucky and find some awesome live music, party by the beach. Sunzal is becoming more and more an option to "go out" on a friday-saturday night
if you have any other questions, feel free to msg me!
Comment by lgfr22 from San Salvador, El Salvador
ah! also another thing i forgot! before you start driving make sure you know your way (Will your rental have GPS or are you relying on a map? cause if you dont know the road, it might be dangerous to drive at night- however, do ask the cops (before getting to sunzal, in sunzal most locals are friendly
Best Answer - Chosen by
Answered by Kevin Gil from San Salvador, El Salvador
http://www.puntaroca.com.sv/ you can go to punta roca is nearly there and is very pretty I know many people that loved that hotel :d so I recommend to you
Comment by Donald Lee from San Salvador, El Salvador
Version in English: http://www.puntaroca.com.sv/index.php?en=2 This is Punta Roca Restaraunt and Surf Hotel owned and operted by Robert Rotherham, US Citizen resident who moved to ES in 1974. Often, with a rental car, better to be be safe than sorry!!!!! I drove my own vehicles in Central America for 15 years, always keep your vehicle securely parked and never leave valuables inside, you cannot trust strangers who tell you it is "ok" to park and camp outside.
Best Answer - Chosen by
Answered by Vladimir from Santa Ana, El Salvador
http://www.papayalodge.com/reservaciones.html
here is the direction of a good place with ship prices. hope You like,
this is my cell (503) 72733261, I'm located in Santa Ana, if You need something from here...
have a nice trip.
Best Answer - Chosen by
Answered by esmeralda manzur from Antiguo Cuscatlan, El Salvador
there is a very nice small hotel named TEKUANI KAL im gonna let u the web page http://www.tekuanikal.com/home.htm is not soooooo cheap like roots but is really comfortable, clean and u have all in there... enjoy it i hope u like it
Best Answer - Chosen by
Best Answer - Chosen by
Answered by Fernando Delgado from Colonia San Benito, El Salvador
First be sure you have a GPS with you, then you can either go to Punta Roca or El Sunzal, but wen it comes to surfing i would prefer El Sunzal, not only because of the waves and swells but for the real SURFING ENVIRONMENT you live there, every body there goes only for surfing and in Punta Roca is true that there are some lodges and hostals but also there are a lot of restaurants that makes the beaches not only for surfing but for people to go to have a beach day and sometimes it is full, i know of course that nobody surf at the small waves near the sand but i would prefer being in a place where the beach is almost only for surfing purposes.
A good place to stay at is http://www.papayalodge.com/ visit this site, and ask for the prices ana if they have vacancies for the time you plan to come, there are a lot of locals there who make they way of living by taking you to local tours, surfing lessons, etc. etc. enjoy your trip.
Best Answer - Chosen by
Answered by Rodrigo from San Salvador, El Salvador
As you can see many advice you not to travel at night directly to the beach; also from personal experience I really advice you to visit "El Zonte" there is a place called Esencia Nativa that is "The place" to surf!!!.... their people are really worm and they will treat you like a king!...
http://www.esencianativa.com/
here is the web page tell them that I send you there and that I strongly recommend
you to try their pizza (home made salsa)
Enjoy your time in El Salvador and have a safe trip.
Best Answer - Chosen by
Answered by Carlos from San Salvador, El Salvador
You can camp for a very cheap Hammock, also I recomend 3 hotels near El Tunco, great place next to Sunzal. Hotel Roca Sunzal, Tel. 23896126, Hotel Mopelia Tel. 23896265 and Hotel Tecuanical, Tel. 23896388. Prices range from $20 to $50, but its a very nice area with things to do and people to meet at night too. You can walk to Sunzal or drive to other sites for surfing jus a few minutes from this places. Catch a good wave!
Best Answer - Chosen by
Answered by Elisa from San Salvador, El Salvador
I recomend you El Sunzal beach in the Hostel or Surfers there you can camp or stay for $3 to $6 and you're near of the beach to surf in the morning. It's better drive in the day if you don't know the way. I will be there this weekend maybe we can meet us.Take care.
Best Answer - Chosen by
Answered by Donald Lee from San Salvador, El Salvador
To everyone contacting Localytes traveling to any country for the first time..always contact Localytes well in advance of your arrival..especially during high travel season, holidays.
When I worked in hospitality years ago in Guatemala, we had to charge travelers 50% more that were 'last minute arrivals', also it is rude to 'put people out' and expect everyone to be 'ready' to serve you at last minute!!!!
Poor planning can ruin your journey.
PS it is also rainy seson in Central America now, often downpours at night. Be safe. get a local driver first night.
I was brought up to plan ahead and of couse be flexible
Best Answer - Chosen by
Answered by Hotel Via Luz from San Salvador, El Salvador
Hey hope u doing fine man !! yeah i agree, it is not safe to hit the road late night! but if ur budget is tight i own a very cozy, safe and nice hotel in the city, 40 mins from the airport which costs $25 the night and from here we can make u any reservation to any place in la libertad, i know those places very well and i can get u a nice one. Contact me to my email.. pablo.vilches4@gmail.com or look up for the website http://www.hotelvialuz.com/
Best Answer - Chosen by
Answered by Diego Llort from San Salvador, El Salvador
You can also stay in El Tunco, where most people likes to surf and rooms are cheap and safe. A lot of international surfists are staying there.
Best Answer - Chosen by
Answered by Francis Hasbun from El Sunzal, El Salvador
The only advice that will help you is the one by Quiver Surf, Ernesto travels that road and knows what hes talking about, I do that route at night every two days for the Panama flight at 9 oclock and till friday the bridge at Melara is ok to go thru,even if the rains are on already, the swell will not back down sat or sunday but until Tuesday and it will stay in the 10ft rangue so if your level is not very high, I would just recommend surfing Sunzal, Pupas Hotel, La Sombra and La guitarra are booked for the weekend, try McKoys and Mopelia for affordable hostals and El Tubo by Papayas, if you have an emergency well be glad to assist you at night call our cell ph 7886.2367 we´re in the area aleady.
Best Answer - Chosen by
Answered by Manuel from San Salvador, El Salvador
Hi! Well i am not always in contact with the beach but if you need some help with translation you can contact me by this media.
Best Answer - Chosen by
Answered by Roberto Alas from Escalon, El Salvador
hi, i hope u will enjoy our country!!! Please don´t drive in the night in the dark, specially you alone if u don´t know the streets in our beaches, is dangerous, car jackings. If u arrive to el Salvador in the night, you can stay in Hotel Merliot, 30 min far away to the beach, u can enjoy the city in the night and drive to El Tunaco early in the morning.....good luck
or Cancel