An ideal spot to enjoy an amazing vacation out in the open, this small Central American country has over 186 miles of picture-perfect beaches to offer, and they've got what it takes to satisfy all those yearning for some kind of nautical activity.

When a friend who'd recently come back from El Salvador told me, «let's go to see the beaches,» I thought it was going to be just a waste of time, especially if you're aware of so many good beaches across Central America. So, when the nice guide explained to us that the country is welcoming scores of surfing buffs every year with full-fledged travel packages, and that the nation is reeling in an increasing number of foreign visitors, I said to myself, «I gotta see this.» I had some spare time, so I made up my mind to give it a try. The Thumbelina of the Americas -as El Salvador is nicknamed- is actually so small that hotel guests can swing by the hinterlands through short daytrips.

This is an ideal spot to enjoy an amazing vacation out in the open, this small Central American country has over 186 miles of picture-perfect beaches to offer, and they've got what it takes to satisfy all those yearning for some kind of nautical activity.

A good deal of the local beaches are blessed with the virtue of holding on to their quasi-natural unexplored status, providing paradisiacal scenery -a genuine reflection of the treasures this small nation has to offer.

SURFING ALL AROUND Surfing is a sport that has managed to draw in plenty of foreigners willing to sign up for a multitude of world-class tournaments and see Salvadoran beaches.

Far to the south, some 20 miles away, stands La Libertad seaport with its famous makeshift pier, home to a daily catch of abundant shellfish.

Along a 3-mile-long stretch, there are restaurants lined up on both sides, all of them playing live music performed by bands, trios and mariachis, serving dishes of fresh seafood as young surfers move up and down on their way to Punta Roca Beach.

«El Zunzal» is one of the most sought-after beaches, sort of a sanctuary for surfing enthusiasts who consider it one of the world's wildest foreshores for the practice of this particular sport.

It's easy to see youngsters hailing from everywhere under the sun who come here with a hope to catch a big wave. Bolder trekkers barrel down the sandy pathways aboard their boogies or just practice some windsurfing.

At the same time, this is a perfect location for snorkeling and scuba diving in shallow waters since the rocky seabed harbors colonies of oysters, lobsters and corals that can be made out clearly in the summertime.

COSTA DEL SOL La Costa del Sol, at a 30-minute drive from the International Airport, consists of three coastal beaches: San Marcelino, los Blancos, and last but not least, Costa del Sol.

Grey sands -clearer than volcanic sift- dominate most Salvadoran beaches. And another allure for lovers of water sports is the possibility of practicing their sports in the high seas, with waves that sometimes make the most daring surfers catch their breaths.

Here you'll get a chance to enjoy the sun and the air blowing from the sea, scour unhurriedly huge sandy extensions under the shadows of coconut trees and maybe find a solitary and untapped nook to sit down in and listen to the sound of waves.

Costa del Sol is equipped with abundant, varied and excellent tourist infrastructure, as good as those you certainly see in top-notch resorts around the world. The place is dotted with bistros and hotspots.

GULF OF FONSECA Another must-see for visitors is the islands in the Gulf of Fonseca, a location of perfect beauty for boat sailing and a chance to catch a glimpse of the local marine life.

«Isla Meanguera» or «La Union» is one of the most beautiful subtropical landscapes for those willing to scout unexplored and exotic places. Not far from there lies Jiquilisco Bay in Usulutan, just a one-hour drive from San Salvador. This enclave of unfathomable preciousness is the right spot for boat riders and anglers.

Thus, after thinking that I would find in El Salvador only a bustling city, I found out there are amazing locations in this country, a paradise of untapped, exotic and close-at-hand beaches.