Acajutla

Acajutla's port is industrial, so you'll need the shuttle or a taxi to reach anything worth seeing. Los Cóbanos beach, about 20 minutes away, has decent snorkelling on the reef just offshore and a few casual restaurants serving grilled fish right on the sand. The town centre is 5km from the port and fairly low-key. The bigger draws are further out. Tazumal, a pre-Columbian Mayan site dating to around 100 AD, takes about an hour to reach but is well-preserved and uncrowded. Izalco Volcano, once called the "Lighthouse of the Pacific" because it erupted so frequently, can be hiked with a guide. The Ruta de las Flores route passes through several small colonial towns with painted murals and weekend food markets. US dollars work everywhere (El Salvador's official currency), but bring small bills. Spanish helps a lot here; English is limited outside tourist spots.