La Tortuga Verde, El Cuco

March 28-29, 2016

Crossing into El Salvador was a process.

It included two international borders in one day, the first of which included 3 solid hours waiting in a dusty line in the sun.  I will never try to cross a border on the Sunday after a holiday week again. After that wait, and 3 minutes to actually get stamped through, it was a 2 hour minivan ride across Honduras to get to the border crossing into El Salvador. That border was much easier to get through, and I got the greatest road map of El Salvador from the customs agent.

However, I then found myself sort of stranded on the El Salvador border at about 7pm, and was informed there were no buses to get anywhere.  I already knew I had missed the last bus all the way to the beach where I had planned to get to that day.

Lucky for me, I found a truck-taxi to take me to the nearest town on the other side of the border, Santa Rosa.  The very nice guy dropped me in front of a hotel after pointing me to where I'd catch the bus the next morning. I spent a very hot night snug on top of my sheets knowing I wasn't still in the middle of nowhere.

The next morning, I hopped the bus down to my intended destination from the day before, El Cuco, and from there I got a cab to La Tortuga Verde. One day late, but all in one piece.

It was the nicest beach getaway, set back in the palm trees looking at the ocean. I loved my little mini-room, which was pristine white and the size of a single bed with a walkway around it. I had a fan in the corner and a desk next to my bed. One whole wall was a screened window, so it was nice and cool at night, listening to the night bugs singing.

There were hammocks all over, tables under canopies, and a pool in the shade.

The path from my dorm bungalow to the beach was lit up with red lights at night.

Hammocks right on the beach

The sunset was wonderful each night, coming through the palm trees.

There were yoga classes twice a day in a little yoga temple looking out over the waves.  I enjoyed both classes the full day I was there. After so long without being very active, some stretching was nice. I walked on the beach and lounged in hammocks, and took a nap. Too soon, it was time to leave.

If I ever need a week long rest and relaxation getaway, I know right where I can go back to.