It’s my Birthday!!!! Wooo Whooooo 🎉🎉🎉
This year, Babe gifted me with a really cool trip to El Salvador! From Horseback riding to dancing, the authentic foods and exclusive attractions- I had the time of my life. I had no idea I was going to that much fun.
You’ve probably been warned about visiting here. Either by word of mouth or the banner across the State’s travel website declaring them a ‘Level 3’ advisory. But I’m here to tell you, don’t be afraid! My experience was 100% pleasant. The people were extremely friendly and welcoming and we didn’t run into to any trouble of any kind. Of course do your own research and use good common sense, but I’m sure you’d be just fine 😉.
Ok, so let’s get into it….
WHERE WE STAYED
Mizata Anti Resort
I was particularly attracted to Mizata because it has that earthy / jungle vibe you’d find in Tulum. And let’s not forget about the black sand; It’s absolutely BEAUTIFUL here! You’ll enjoy stunning pools, a beach front bar, light music, unique bungalows and amazing food and drinks.
As much as I loved about our stay, I’d have to give it 4 stars. It was things such as; lack of entertainment, low water pressure in rooms and numerous dogs running around that didn’t allow for a perfect score. But to be fair, there are dogs everywhere here! You’re going to see them all the time, no matter where you go. Restaurants, on the streets, at your activities and even on your resort. There also was no TV or iron in our room (we had the beachfront bungalow – I’m not too sure about other rooms). Now, I do understand that jungle type resorts may not usually have these amenities. And although they’re must haves for most tourists, we actually didn’t miss them at all (I bought my laptop which gave us the freedom to watch shows if we wanted to – and a small travel steamer for our clothes if they needed ironing). But honestly, I only cared that I had air conditioning, which we did. So we were pleased with that.
Things to know…
* There are no COVID restrictions to enter El Salvador, but you do need a negative test within 24hrs of returning to the U.S. The resort does offer testing for $100 per person. There are also some pharmacies in the city that cost anywhere between $30 – $50. You can ask the front desk for the names of those locations.
* A day pass is $25.
* 1 hour 45 minutes from airport.
* About 1hr 35 minutes from activities.
* Food & Drink: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ we loved everything! They have an extensive menu that you need to try. And if you stay here, there’s one breakfast entree that’s free to you.
OTHER RESORTS TO STAY OR VISIT
When vacationing, most tourists like to ‘resort hop’. It was my intention to stay at 3 different accommodations, but unfortunately for me, only one of my choices had availability for my dates of travel. In a situation like this, or if you don’t like the idea of constantly moving around, obtaining day passes to other properties are always a good idea.
Here are a few other cool places you can visit or stay…
• Garten El Zonte
* 35 minutes from the Mizata Resort
Cute boutique hotel that we brought day passes to. For $40 per person, you could enjoy amenities including, pools, spa and restaurants. $20p/p is paid up front. The other 20p/p has to be spent on food or drinks.
This resort has 2 pools, one of which is on the opposite side of the property (pictured below). It was technically closed during our visit, but the staff was nice enough to drive us here just for a photo with it ☺️.
• Mandala Eco Villas
45 minutes from airport.
With tiny hut – like rooms sitting upon water, this is another nature lover’s paradise. I mean seriously guys, how cute is this place?! Still not as aesthetically pleasing as Mizata, in my opinion, but worth visiting for a nice photo opp. Hopefully I have the time to see this one if I ever visit again.
• Hotel Los Farallones
Here’s another popular resort you’ll see across your Instagram feed. Beautiful, right?
• Hotel Finca Campo Bello
Igloo style rooms, beautiful resort and perfect Volcano views. This location is higher up in the mountains, so be sure that you drive a really good SUV.
WHAT WE DID
With only 3 days to spare, I had a pretty tight itinerary planned.
Day 1: We arrived pretty late, around 5pm, so our first day consisted of only hanging out on the beach, eating and some pool time.
Day 2: The next day is when all the fun began! And if you know anything about the activities in El Salvador, you know what I went to do! We spent our day at Cafe Albania and Picnic Steakhouse…
Cafe Albania
If you don’t do anything else during your visit, Cafe Albania and Picnic Steakhouse are non negotiable. Cafe Albania is where you’ll experience the bicycle zipline and tandem swing. These were the two things we did during our visit, and they were only $5 & $10. They also offer a surfboard zip-line as well as zip lining.
* The food is just ok. There are 2 small spots you can eat at. One right at the entrance and one about a 5 minute walk through the other side.
Picnic Steakhouse
Picnic Steakhouse is where you’ll enjoy the beloved rainbow slide! But I must warn you, I could NOT stop myself on this thing!! There’s a huge cushion at the end of the slide that I literally slammed into. I’m not sure if the fabric at the end lost it’s grip and ability to slow the tubes down, or if I just had bad luck. But, dress comfortably and be prepared to flip off 🤣. It’s a little scary, and you do have to sign a waiver ✍🏾.
Cost: $5
You’ll want to eat here because of the atmosphere, especially at night when the whole place is lit up. Make sure you add this one to your list.
Day 3: This was our final day & my actual birthday 🥳. We started with a surprise birthday breakfast and horseback riding on the beach. Y’all, Jamil really outdid himself For me this year☺️.
Next, we made our way to Garten el Zonte to fulfill our day passes, but not before going on a really serious hunt for some fresh pupusas! I couldn’t find them ANYWHERE in town near the resort. We stopped at about 5 or 6 different local spots they didn’t sell them. But then at the last minute, passed a place called OLOWITA’S , 6 minutes down the road from the Garten Hotel.
Another great place to score some Pupas is Restaurante Pupusas Las Vegas. I heard that their food is pretty good overall. And if all else fails, there are a few restaurants in the airport that sell them as well. So make sure you grab one on your way home!
OTHER THINGS TO DO
Explore The City: Taking some time to get lost in the cities surrounding the resorts, is an activity within itself. The street vendors, shops and off road restaurants are endless. Be sure to check out as much as you can. Stop and take pictures, talk to people and buy from the local shops. This is where the real memories are made ❤️. San Salvador and El Tunco are the most popular.
Take A Hike: We decided not to do a hike, but on my research I see that the Santa Ana Volcano Hike is a good one.
Visit a Hot Spring: Santa Teresa Hot Springs offers day passes, where you can enjoy 3 different restaurants, a bar, a spa and even enjoy a nice mud bath.
Getting Around: Again, get a car (this is non-negotiable). If you’re a solo traveler or just don’t want to be bothered with driving, I recommend booking a personal driver with Taxi Express Y Tours.
What You Should Know
• Have cash. You’ll want to support the street vendors, and they don’t accept cards. But besides this, it’s just easier to tip and having cash on hand helps to keep track of your spending for the day.
• Prominent language barrier. Obviously, there are English speaking residents. But I was shocked at how many people did not know English at the airport and on the resorts – being that those are considered heavy tourists areas. Make use of the translator on your phone if you have one, it’ll definitely come in handy.
• Car Rental. We went with Easy Rent a Car. I absolutely LOVED working with them. The ladies that assisted us were so helpful and friendly. They are affordable, don’t require a deposit and have large trucks available. I highly recommend renting an SUV. There are a lot of winding roads and hills.
Have you ever been to El Salvador? What did you do?
Be sure to follow me on Instagram! And don’t forget to watch our entire trip under the El Salvador highlight 🇸🇻🇸🇻
Happy Travels!
LEXI 💋
