Although less frequently visited by tourists than the western and central regions of El Salvador, the country's eastern side has a lot to offer, including beautiful beaches, estuaries teeming with wildlife and cool, mountain towns. A fine road runs east along the coast, crossing the Lempa River and passing through the town of Usulután, with a bustling, roadside seafood market worth taking a few minutes to explore. Beyond Usulután, several short roads run from the main highway down to the beaches and estuaries of El Salvador's eastern Pacific coast.

Beaches & Estuaries
Just south of Usulután lies the Jiquilisco Bay, fringed with estuaries full of herons, egrets, pelicans and many other species of water birds. At the town of Puerto el Triunfo on the bay visitors can rent boats for a watery excursion through estuary canals or out to some tiny islands with white, sandy beaches and all the privacy you could desire.
Further down the coastal highway lie the gorgeous beaches of El Espino, El Cuco, Icacal and Tamarindo. Although a little hard to get to, Espino Beach is highly rated by beach lovers, who like its miles of white sand and privacy. El Cuco Beach has some economical hotels and a seaside village where many inhabitants work at salting and drying fish along the shore. Icacal Beach lies but a short distance off the main highway and is one of El Salvador's safest beaches, with shallow water that's perfect for kids. The white, sandy beach extends for miles as far as the eye can see. Tamarindo Beach, further on, is a popular surfing destination.
Another stop visitors may want to make as they drive east is the Laguna El Jocotal. This shallow, protected lake is home to a number of local bird species, and also attracts migratory waterfowl during the winter months.