Bahia del Sol
We anchored at 13 18.21 N 88 53.62 W
16ft of water - Tidal current to 3.5kts
Bahia del Sol
In preparation for arrival we contacted "Bill and Jean" the organizers of the El Salvador Rally
In response we received the following
The purpose of this email to to let you know what to expect when you arrive in El Salvador and what recreational opportunities are available here.
Arrival: Please send an email to ELSALVADORRALLY@AOL.COM from your last port. We need to know your arrival date, how many people on board, boat length, and keel depth. We will send you the tide time and predicted bar forecast for the date of your arrival.
Formalities: Visas cost $10 per person for 90-days but are free if you are an EU citizen. The 90-day visa can be extended for an additional 90-days locally. After that you have to leave the four country region for 72 hours and return.
Port fees are $1/day payable in 30-day increments up to 90-days at a time. There are unlimited renewals. There are no other government requirements. All formalities are performed at Hotel Bahia del Sol so there is no need to travel. You must initially tie to the marina docks but only for the time of check-in. Everything is low-key and reasonable. You can even bring your welcome drink to the immigration offices.
In response we received the following
The purpose of this email to to let you know what to expect when you arrive in El Salvador and what recreational opportunities are available here.
Arrival: Please send an email to ELSALVADORRALLY@AOL.COM from your last port. We need to know your arrival date, how many people on board, boat length, and keel depth. We will send you the tide time and predicted bar forecast for the date of your arrival.
Formalities: Visas cost $10 per person for 90-days but are free if you are an EU citizen. The 90-day visa can be extended for an additional 90-days locally. After that you have to leave the four country region for 72 hours and return.
Port fees are $1/day payable in 30-day increments up to 90-days at a time. There are unlimited renewals. There are no other government requirements. All formalities are performed at Hotel Bahia del Sol so there is no need to travel. You must initially tie to the marina docks but only for the time of check-in. Everything is low-key and reasonable. You can even bring your welcome drink to the immigration offices.
Bar entrance
Crossing the bar
Bar entrance fairly anti climactic if timed properly. Can be bouncy and rough if not.
Bar entrance fairly anti climactic if timed properly. Can be bouncy and rough if not.
Checking in
The check into the country was the easiest we have done. The Port Captain and Immigration officers are on-site and can get you checked in while you drink a rum drink in front of them. Checking out was just as easy and relaxed.
The check into the country was the easiest we have done. The Port Captain and Immigration officers are on-site and can get you checked in while you drink a rum drink in front of them. Checking out was just as easy and relaxed.
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Anchorage good holding but can easily have 2-3 knots of current with the tides.
Can be a little windy in Papagallo season
Lots of great sunrises and sunsets.
Can be a little windy in Papagallo season
Lots of great sunrises and sunsets.
Bahia del Sol Resort
We joined the “Cruisers Club” for $20 week. This gave us access to the facilities including the pool and the showers. It also gave us access to wifi and 30% off our tab for purchases at the restaurant/bar and $1 local beer.
The pool was great. The showers were terrible. The beer and Wifi were fine. I would probably do it again if we were coming through here.
Fuel Dock
We used the fuel dock at Bahia del Sol. We did several runs with jerry cans in the dingy to avoid having to bring the Liquid up to the docks. The girl at the pump hand you the nozzle to pump yourself.
The fuel nozzle is pretty large and you may need to use a funnel to get diesel into your jerry cans. They have one you can use but it has a flat bottom that has a tiny bit fuel left over at the end. You need to dump this in as well. This can add to the fun when it’s windy and the dock is bouncing around.
Remember to account for current and wind if you need to pull up to the fuel dock. The first time we used it there was 3 knots of current going by and 15-20kts of wind blowing across it. We figured with the dingy it would be fine. It was messy and wet. We learned to wait for better weather.
We used the fuel dock at Bahia del Sol. We did several runs with jerry cans in the dingy to avoid having to bring the Liquid up to the docks. The girl at the pump hand you the nozzle to pump yourself.
The fuel nozzle is pretty large and you may need to use a funnel to get diesel into your jerry cans. They have one you can use but it has a flat bottom that has a tiny bit fuel left over at the end. You need to dump this in as well. This can add to the fun when it’s windy and the dock is bouncing around.
Remember to account for current and wind if you need to pull up to the fuel dock. The first time we used it there was 3 knots of current going by and 15-20kts of wind blowing across it. We figured with the dingy it would be fine. It was messy and wet. We learned to wait for better weather.
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One last note is that we siphon our fuel into our tanks through a small inline filter. From the fuel we loaded here we filtered out a bunch of algae. Hope that nothing else made it through… |
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Water
$12.50 for 50 gallons – Water in an open 50 gallon barrel loaded via bilge pump. Tests out at 178 TSS Contact Deny at +503 7551 2713 via voice or WhatsApp or track him down through Bill and Jean |
San Salvador Trip
Ernesto 503 7737 1848
$150 for minivan
$80 for car
2 hours to “Joya de Ceren”
30min to next Ruin
Super Selectos by Embassy like Whole Foods in the USA
Vidri Hardware / Marine parts store is impressive
Almost any hardware, plumbing and electrical item you want
Small boat/marine section
Central Market
Huge - 8 or 10 square blocks of market madness
Lunch at Misc Restaurant
Armed guards in parking for buffet style restaurant…
Ernesto 503 7737 1848
$150 for minivan
$80 for car
2 hours to “Joya de Ceren”
30min to next Ruin
Super Selectos by Embassy like Whole Foods in the USA
Vidri Hardware / Marine parts store is impressive
Almost any hardware, plumbing and electrical item you want
Small boat/marine section
Central Market
Huge - 8 or 10 square blocks of market madness
Lunch at Misc Restaurant
Armed guards in parking for buffet style restaurant…
HERRADURA
Herradura
Going to Herradura is a quick dingy trip up the estuary. It’s about four miles and there can be a lot of current but if your dingy is up to it, it’s an easy trip.
To get there just head west a few miles down the estuary until there are no more homes lining the shore. After a slight bend you will start to see more homes and some docks far ahead. There should be an opening on the right at this point. It can be very shallow at low tide so proceed with caution. Your best bet is to get Bill and Jean to sketch out a rough map and where the shallow areas are this year.
Once you see the restaurants you can turn in towards them. The last passage was deeper on the left when we went in Feb 2018. Pull up beside the pangas and someone will probably help you with your lines and tie you to shore. They will watch your dingy while you are gone. You don’t usually lock it as they may need to move it to accommodate other pangas etc. Pay $1 to the person who watched your dingy when you leave.
Going to Herradura is a quick dingy trip up the estuary. It’s about four miles and there can be a lot of current but if your dingy is up to it, it’s an easy trip.
To get there just head west a few miles down the estuary until there are no more homes lining the shore. After a slight bend you will start to see more homes and some docks far ahead. There should be an opening on the right at this point. It can be very shallow at low tide so proceed with caution. Your best bet is to get Bill and Jean to sketch out a rough map and where the shallow areas are this year.
Once you see the restaurants you can turn in towards them. The last passage was deeper on the left when we went in Feb 2018. Pull up beside the pangas and someone will probably help you with your lines and tie you to shore. They will watch your dingy while you are gone. You don’t usually lock it as they may need to move it to accommodate other pangas etc. Pay $1 to the person who watched your dingy when you leave.
On shore there everything is on the road leading away from the water. We went to the small grocery store about 5 min up the road on the right. Dispensia Familiar.
The local market is just a short walk farther. Look for a two story building with a Tan frontage.
You can also use the Tuk Tuk taxi’s to get around. They are $0.25 a person and function like a tiny colectivo taxi.
The local market is just a short walk farther. Look for a two story building with a Tan frontage.
You can also use the Tuk Tuk taxi’s to get around. They are $0.25 a person and function like a tiny colectivo taxi.
Services
Fuel - Yes 3 different options
Cell Service - Yes
Wifi - Yes at resort
Dingy Landing - At Bahia del Sol Resort
Garbage - Yes - At Bahia del Sol Resort
Potable Water - Yes - Via Deny (see text)
Showers - Yes - At Bahia del Sol Resort
Laundry - Forgot to check
General Store - yes -Herradura
Water Taxi - No
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A quick 360 of our view at the anchorage. |
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Download our Google Earth KAP files for use in OpenCPN. | ||
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Download our gpx track to approach this area
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