Surf City

They have made us feel safe, supported, and have recommended the best dining and activity options throughout the country. Easy to manage everything and with total confidence. Thanks to them, we are taking away an experience of El Salvador that we will never forget. Thank you Erick, Doris, and Gerardo, a very warm hug from the García family from the Madrid Barajas airport.

If you are looking for an unforgettable experience, look no further than Papagayo! He is an incredible guide-extremely friendly, a true people person, and incredibly knowledgeable about all the best secret spots. He is perfectly bilingual, which was amazing for our family. He kept a great conversation going with me in Spanish, while easily chatting with my daughters in English so everyone felt completely included. The absolute highlight of our trip was when he invited us to his home. His wife was kind enough to show my wife and daughters how to make authentic pupusas! It was a beautiful, personal touch that we will never forget. There is simply no better guide out there than Papagayo. Highly, highly recommended!

+9

This was one of the best tour experiences I have ever had. The tour was a little pricey at $200, but it was absolutely worth it. It was a private tour, and my guide picked me up directly from my hotel, which made the whole day easy from the start. The tour covered three different historical sites, but honestly, the drive itself was just as valuable as the destinations. The entire ride was filled with knowledge. I asked a ton of questions, and he had thoughtful, detailed answers for everything. We talked about the Mayan ruins, human evolution, how people migrated into the region, architecture, building techniques, cultural influence between regions, and Salvadoran history. His anthropological and historical knowledge was spectacular, and I ate it all up. He was also very open to talking about modern El Salvador, including the impact of gangs on the country and on his own life. He shared personal stories that helped me understand the reality of what people lived through, including things as simple as clothing or hats that could not be worn because they might be associated with gang colors. Those conversations gave the tour a depth I did not expect. As a chef, I also really appreciated that he was willing to stop at a couple of food places that were not part of the official tour. He made sure I tried things he thought were important, including yuca and Salvadoran horchata, which completely surprised me and tasted nothing like what I was used to. That flexibility made the day feel personal instead of scripted. He also made sure I got good photos at every major stop. I am not great about taking selfies, but he always offered to take pictures and made sure I had at least one good shot in front of each important site. On top of all that, he was a very good driver, which matters because traffic and driving in the city can be chaotic. He handled everything calmly and confidently. He also paid for the site entrances, which made the whole experience smooth and convenient. And a huge bonus: he kept the air conditioning on the entire ride, both ways. After taking Ubers where that was not always the case, this made the day so much more comfortable. I was so impressed that I immediately asked about doing another tour the next day, this time focused on downtown San Salvador and food. They were willing to work with me and create something custom, which says a lot about how flexible and guest-focused they are. If you are visiting San Salvador and want more than a basic tour, I highly recommend this guide. You get history, anthropology, local culture, personal stories, food, convenience, and a guide who genuinely knows his country.

I did Santa Ana volcano hike with Gerry from Papagayo and it was fantastic. Gerry picked us up first thing in the morning (go early to avoid traffic & crowd). He is a licensed tour guide, very knowledgeable and fantastic guide to tour with. On the way back stopped by a restaurant by lake Coatepeue and the views and food both were amazing. Overall 5/5 experience.

Doris was an excellent guide. Impeccable transportation. He explained us about the history and took us to know the market with fishery products. We loved the natural pools.

Been in Surf City twice, and each visit gets better. We hang out mostly around El Tunco Beach & Majahual Beach. Got some Surf Lessons & drink SUPREMAS during sunset. Have to say, really nice area to enjoy the waves, music, arts & crafts, food and the whole beach vibes at El Salvador!

My wife and I had an absolutely incredible experience in El Salvador, thanks to our amazing guides - Eric, Gerry, and Julio. From start to finish, they made our trip smooth, fun, and filled with unforgettable moments. They took us to hidden gems that we would have never found on our own, and delicious food spots. What stood out the most was how genuine and thoughtful they were. You can truly tell they love what they do and take pride in showing the best of El Salvador. They felt more like friends by the end of the day. If you are considering a trip to El Salvador, make sure you book with Eric, Gerry, and Julio.

+5

Many thanks to Julio who took us to know the Tunco and Freedom. Very professional, always answered our questions, we felt confident and safe with him. And the recommendation of excellent lunch and with a beautiful view.

We went on a Surf City and Volcano tour with Erick and Doris!!! Eric took us to the volcano and gave us a lot of local information on the way and while touring the site. He then took us through the country side to another viewpoint to see the Pacific Ocean in the distance. Then we walked all around Surf City with him providing commentary. We met up with his wife Doris who finished the tour and went to lunch with us. She took us to a coffee farm, but it was the wrong time of the year really but we still enjoyed the one-on-one talk. We also really enjoyed hearing about their family and how the history of El Salvador has affected them. Great tour and we will be calling Erick when we go back to El Salvador!!!

Small village very Americanized, but still charming. Nice tourist attraction, nice little restaurants and cafes, shops.