Azul Surf Club
El Esterito, El Cuco, El Cuco 3308 El Salvador
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About
#2 of 7 small hotels in El Cuco
Location
4.8
Rooms
4.2
Value
4.5
Cleanliness
4.5
Service
4.4
Sleep Quality
4.6
This boutique hotel offers all-inclusive packages, providing guests with unrivaled service and a completely unique experience. A two hour ride away from Comalapa Airport, the journey to the "Wild East" means uncrowded waters and friendly locals in a quaint fishing village. Located just minutes away from the perfect 300 yard point break of Las Flores, transportation to and from the airport is included, along with fresh food with local flavor, expert guide services, boat trips to the epic waves of Punta Mango and accommodations that offer the very best of Salvadoran living.
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Property amenities
Free parking
Free High Speed Internet (WiFi)
Pool
Free breakfast
Beach
Pets Allowed ( Dog / Pet Friendly )
Airport transportation
Meeting rooms
Wifi
Outdoor pool
Bar / lounge
Restaurant
Breakfast available
Poolside bar
Shuttle bus service
Baggage storage
Concierge
Non-smoking hotel
Laundry service
Room features
Air conditioning
Room service
Wake-up service / alarm clock
Room types
Non-smoking rooms
Family rooms
Good to know
HOTEL CLASS
Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is classified according to Giata.
HOTEL STYLE
Quaint
Romantic
Languages Spoken
English, Spanish, Portuguese
Location
El Esterito, El Cuco, El Cuco 3308 El Salvador
Getting there
Comalapa Intl Airport
67.1 mi•
See all flights
Rental Cars
1 Restaurant
within 5 miles
2 Attractions
within 5 miles
Reviews
Traveler rating
- 54
- 9
- 9
- 5
- 4
Time of year
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Detailed Reviews
love out stay there. great hotel. very nice staff, great designed space. food was good. massage was very good. great gym space. the view from pool is gorgeous. direct on the surf spot. ideal for intermediate to pro surfer.
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Date of stay: August 2023Trip type: Traveled with family
Value
Location
Service
Room Tip:Â great spot to come to El salvador.
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Excellent staff, great ambiance, great service. Highly recommended! Lissette and her staff make everything happend for their guest. The food is beyond delicious, the rooms were super clean, and the hotel is very comfortable!
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Date of stay: April 2012Trip type: Traveled with friends
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We just returned from our third wonderful visit to El Cuco -- 17 friends and we reserved the whole hotel. As always, Lissette, her dog Ruby, Raul, Carla and everyone else were eager to cater to our every need. Each of us enjoyed the experience in our own way -- long walks on the beach, massages on the 2nd story cabana overlooking the ocean, playing in the ocean, swimming in the pool and drinking lots of pina coladas (okay, that was me). The food is great quality though a little slow -- tranquilo! relax! Just like Hawaii and the Caribbean you have to adjust to island time. The little village is a 5 minute walk up the beach -- a few drunks sitting around which isn't the greatest but most of the people are friendly and industrious -- watching the kids play is a blast! But back to Azul Surf Club -- no matter the special request, Lissette and her staff do whatever they can to accommodate you -- and this is in a very small fishing village -- how she works her magic I do not know. Finally, she gives back so much to the community -- from releasing newly hatched baby turtles to building a high school, Lissette is fully involved in making dreams come true. You probably think I'm going overboard but we've visited 3 times in 6 months -- and want to go back for number 4!!!!
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Date of stay: October 2011Trip type: Traveled with friends
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
El Cuco is one of the best beaches in El Salvador, and Azul Surf Club is a beautifully-situated, small, family-run hotel. However, a recent, spontaneous stay there left me wishing it had been a better stay. My husband and I travel regularly both within El Salvador and internationally - we have stayed at basic to luxury resorts, and know what to expect in all categories. Unfortunately, Azul Surf Club seems to be oriented to planned groups with reservations, and not to casual travelers. Tip for the owner: treat all your paying guests equally.
As stated above, the location is beautiful, and El Cuco is a stunning beach. The hotel and grounds are well kept, and the rooms clean and simply furnished. We were greeted by a manager on our arrival, who seemed busy and sent the security guard to show us our potential room. The room was on the second floor of the main building, and had air conditioning, a double and a bunk bed, and a spacious bathroom with shower. We arrived late, so there was no food service (8 pm), however, the friendly security guard managed to dig us up a "plato tipico", which was served to us on the second floor of the beautiful beach front palapa. In fact, we received the best service from the security guard - go figure.
The hotel has nine rooms, and three small thatched roof cabins. The rooms are an exorbitant $85, and the cabins $50 (no air con, lots of mosquitoes). We were moved to a different room on the second night - not sure why - nobody stayed in the room we had the first night. There were two other people staying at the hotel, who seemed to be receiving very personal, attentive service. Such was not the case for us - not sure why.
Breakfast was very basic (for the price, I would suggest including a few extras). Not all menu or bar items were available, and the service was beyond laid-back and forgetful. I could understand if they were run off their feet, but at times, we were the only people in the place.
The beach is really the highlight here - long, flat, teaming with marine life - great for long walks, runs, bike riding. The hotel has a small sea turtle sanctuary - not sure if this is planned or personal ecology. The hotel's website speaks of a "give back" philosophy, but this is not evident on-site - would be interesting to have learned more.
All in all - nice place, but over-priced for what you receive, and they could really work on their customer service.
As stated above, the location is beautiful, and El Cuco is a stunning beach. The hotel and grounds are well kept, and the rooms clean and simply furnished. We were greeted by a manager on our arrival, who seemed busy and sent the security guard to show us our potential room. The room was on the second floor of the main building, and had air conditioning, a double and a bunk bed, and a spacious bathroom with shower. We arrived late, so there was no food service (8 pm), however, the friendly security guard managed to dig us up a "plato tipico", which was served to us on the second floor of the beautiful beach front palapa. In fact, we received the best service from the security guard - go figure.
The hotel has nine rooms, and three small thatched roof cabins. The rooms are an exorbitant $85, and the cabins $50 (no air con, lots of mosquitoes). We were moved to a different room on the second night - not sure why - nobody stayed in the room we had the first night. There were two other people staying at the hotel, who seemed to be receiving very personal, attentive service. Such was not the case for us - not sure why.
Breakfast was very basic (for the price, I would suggest including a few extras). Not all menu or bar items were available, and the service was beyond laid-back and forgetful. I could understand if they were run off their feet, but at times, we were the only people in the place.
The beach is really the highlight here - long, flat, teaming with marine life - great for long walks, runs, bike riding. The hotel has a small sea turtle sanctuary - not sure if this is planned or personal ecology. The hotel's website speaks of a "give back" philosophy, but this is not evident on-site - would be interesting to have learned more.
All in all - nice place, but over-priced for what you receive, and they could really work on their customer service.
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Date of stay: December 2011Trip type: Traveled as a couple
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I booked via Booking and the fee was 100 per night, and then ca. 5 days later after I made all my plans, I received a called from an american accent " Manager lady" saying that She would not received me or give me a room because I needed to pay the fee she was saying and not my already booking fee reservation, what it did bother me the most was the way she treated me, not that I had to pay more, she was really rude and did not even offer me an apology or something else or alternative for the price I was supose to pay according to Booking.com. I do not recommed this hotel, not with such employees specially coming from the " General Manager". At the end We were happy tha we did not stay at this hotel!
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Date of stay: March 2016Trip type: Traveled as a couple
Value
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from cubana1517, Owner at Azul Surf Club
Responded Mar 15, 2016
Hi Patricia, I apologize for the misunderstanding. We have been having a terrible time dealing with Booking.com. We have been speaking to them for over a month regarding the price changes for Semana Santa... they have told us on multiple occasions that they have closed out the week on their website, and yet we continue to receive bookings through their site. We have been contacting guests directly because the latin american reps for booking have not been responding. We have offered to keep the reservations if the guest is willing to pay the correct pricing, however we cannot accept pricing that is less than 50% of the rate, when on top of that booking takes a 20% commission and we pay 18% taxes. We are a small family run business and only have 12 rooms in our small boutique hotel. I beg you to understand that this is the only week in the year that we offer our accommodations with lunch included, and we work all year round to have what comes in during Semana Santa. I hope you will give us another chance. Thank you!
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
We came to this hotel for two times. They are still trying to make this a nice place. The whole thing still needs some work and refurbishing, but maybe one day it could be. Cuco Beach itself is a rather ugly and dirty village with nothing really do do. The hotel itself also still needs some improvement in all areas. The greatest thing is the beach with it´s shallow water, very unusual for the otherwise wild and dangerous Pacific.
The first time, we got a room in the main complex. These rooms are fine. The second time
we got one of the bungalows and did t get too much sleep because of mosquito-hunting, ants and cocroaches running over our faces all night long. Both times we happend to find the food horrible and the price at the end way too high for what we received. We are no snobs and really don´t mind staying in basic places, but the price should then be according to what you receive.
The first time, we got a room in the main complex. These rooms are fine. The second time
we got one of the bungalows and did t get too much sleep because of mosquito-hunting, ants and cocroaches running over our faces all night long. Both times we happend to find the food horrible and the price at the end way too high for what we received. We are no snobs and really don´t mind staying in basic places, but the price should then be according to what you receive.
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Date of stay: July 2010Trip type: Traveled with family
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Indeed ! - Before I even finished parking, the owner, Lissette, was already at the resort's entrance waiting to greet us ! - what a beautiful gesture coming from her ! - - As a former customer service training facilitator, her gesture blew me away...what a nice and intelligent way to make customers feel so welcomed ! - We proceeded to the swim up bar where I grabbed a cold-icy bottle of water and engaged in a kinda familiar conversation with Lissette...She and her staff makes you feel welcomed from arrival until your last minute at the resort...The well-kept surrounding gardens and pools invite you to walk along the wardens and to take a dip in the sparkling blue clean pools....A great place to relax people ....and the beach??? - to die for..shallow waters...calm waves..beautiful relaxing walks....uuuhhhh....too bad I am back in Canada.....but will come back soon...Lissette..you are doing a great job..although you were dealing with a wedding party at your resort, that day, you managed to pull a delicious lunch/dinner for my group......Keep up the excellent work and oohh yeah ! - the doggie is cute and well trained !!!!
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Date of stay: February 2011Trip type: Traveled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I am giving this stay 5-Stars as the Azul Surf Club and Staff met and exceeded my expectations for this vacation. I generally stay at medium-or better rated hotels and this is exactly what I looked for in a beach-stay for July 4th Holiday here in El Salvador. I enjoy taking the Holidays for the US at the beach when I have the hotel/beach to myself. I had heard good things about Playa Cuco and researched all hotels available on TripAdvisor for the area. Azul Surf Club has the best rating and seemed to be a nice price for what is offered. Well by far this exceeded all the comments. The room was super-clean, the beach was pristine, the food excellent, and the hotel grounds accommodating. Thanks to the hard-working staff: Marcos, Melvin, and Miguel - and the chef for making the stay almost perfect! Some of the things that I see travelers complain about were pretty much non-existent: no bugs in the room (besides Mosquitos which are everywhere this time of year), the TV was almost new, A/C almost new, under the bed was cleaner than my house, and the bathroom worked just fine. The food was delicious, a bit pricey for El Salvador but right in line compared to everyone else in Cuco - they actually catch the fish and bring them to shore a couple lots down, so you can not get fresher than that. The only thing is that there is not much to do outside of the resort, but I was happy staying on-site. I will definitely visit again, and plan to just stay at Azul the whole time, just bring a couple gallons of water and all is good. Oh yeah and bring cash, the credit card machines were down and no ATM in Cuco/Flores.
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Date of stay: July 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We stayed at this hotel for 1 night. The place looks nice but people were not friendly, only the owner was really nice. The breakfast was okay, but the rest of the food we ordered was not good. I ordered the mariscada and it was terrible. I didn't even eat it. I told the employee and he didn't say anything. When I was checking out I told him again, he replied with "what was wrong with the soup" I told him that the crabs were not clean, the shrimp still had feces. He didn't said anything, I told him just to let him know. The food is overpriced. We already paid for the second night but we decided to leave .The rooms were okay but the bathroom was dirty and smelled really bad when we got there. Along with the bathroom being dirty, there was rat feces on the tables by the room and the pool was also dirty/broken. Last year we stayed in different hotel and it was much better. This time we decided to stay here because Vista Las Olas Resort didn't have anything available. We will not be returning.
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Date of stay: June 2018Trip type: Traveled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We visited this beautiful little hotel almost a year ago last May, so this review is long overdue.
First of all, the design and layout of the place is terrific. We stayed in a room at the far end of the second floor and highly recommend it. You get a corner of the massive balcony all to yourself, along with a couple of hammocks to swing from. There were also a couple of side chairs and a table right outside our room entrance, and a small dining table with plastic chairs as well. In short, we had an awesome outdoor living room where we got to enjoy the breeze amidst views of the palm trees and hotel grounds with swimming pools. Our room inside was clean and comfortable but it was so much more fun spending time on the balcony.
There is also a two-storey open pavilion at the edge of the hotel, up by the beach, with more hammocks from where you can enjoy stronger winds from the ocean. Perfect for taking naps and chilling with a beer after a day of surfing.
The beach in front is massive with hardly anyone on it, but not really surfable. However the hotel provides transportation to a nearby beach where they hire local surf guides for you. Our instructors were Chuepe and another guy whose name I can't remember. Chuepe's English is limited but he was patient enough to teach me some surf terms in Spanish. The other guy spoke English really well. They were both great teachers - very patient and encouraging, with a great sense of humor. They were also very kind. At one point I had so much water in one ear and couldn't seem to get it out. Chuepe disappeared for a minute and then reappeared with a little bird feather for me, explaining that I should twirl it in my ear gently to draw out the water. It totally worked! Such an awesome local "insider" tip. The owner of Azul, Lissette, even loaned me her board and it rode like a dream. One of the fins broke off during this time and I offered to buy and mail her a replacement, but she graciously declined. Really amazing, especially given the trouble it would have taken her to repair her favorite board in such a remote place.
All meals were included in the hotel and they were very good. We had fresh fish almost every day. The only downside here was that they had listed lobster on the menu but it was only available on our last night (being a lobster fan, I diligently asked the wait staff every evening about availability!). If this was due to seasonality, then perhaps an added note of caution on the menu would have helped to temper expectations.
The town itself is about a short 15-minute walk from the hotel. Very quiet and mellow place. Don't forget to stop for some fantastic pupusas along the road, just before town, from the pupusa lady. 3 delicious pupusas for only $1.
Overall, I highly recommend this hotel. It's beautifully designed, very comfortable, and has terrific service. Kudos, Lissette!
First of all, the design and layout of the place is terrific. We stayed in a room at the far end of the second floor and highly recommend it. You get a corner of the massive balcony all to yourself, along with a couple of hammocks to swing from. There were also a couple of side chairs and a table right outside our room entrance, and a small dining table with plastic chairs as well. In short, we had an awesome outdoor living room where we got to enjoy the breeze amidst views of the palm trees and hotel grounds with swimming pools. Our room inside was clean and comfortable but it was so much more fun spending time on the balcony.
There is also a two-storey open pavilion at the edge of the hotel, up by the beach, with more hammocks from where you can enjoy stronger winds from the ocean. Perfect for taking naps and chilling with a beer after a day of surfing.
The beach in front is massive with hardly anyone on it, but not really surfable. However the hotel provides transportation to a nearby beach where they hire local surf guides for you. Our instructors were Chuepe and another guy whose name I can't remember. Chuepe's English is limited but he was patient enough to teach me some surf terms in Spanish. The other guy spoke English really well. They were both great teachers - very patient and encouraging, with a great sense of humor. They were also very kind. At one point I had so much water in one ear and couldn't seem to get it out. Chuepe disappeared for a minute and then reappeared with a little bird feather for me, explaining that I should twirl it in my ear gently to draw out the water. It totally worked! Such an awesome local "insider" tip. The owner of Azul, Lissette, even loaned me her board and it rode like a dream. One of the fins broke off during this time and I offered to buy and mail her a replacement, but she graciously declined. Really amazing, especially given the trouble it would have taken her to repair her favorite board in such a remote place.
All meals were included in the hotel and they were very good. We had fresh fish almost every day. The only downside here was that they had listed lobster on the menu but it was only available on our last night (being a lobster fan, I diligently asked the wait staff every evening about availability!). If this was due to seasonality, then perhaps an added note of caution on the menu would have helped to temper expectations.
The town itself is about a short 15-minute walk from the hotel. Very quiet and mellow place. Don't forget to stop for some fantastic pupusas along the road, just before town, from the pupusa lady. 3 delicious pupusas for only $1.
Overall, I highly recommend this hotel. It's beautifully designed, very comfortable, and has terrific service. Kudos, Lissette!
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Date of stay: May 2015Trip type: Traveled as a couple
Value
Rooms
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi!
Yes... all the bathrooms have private baths!
:)
Please let me know if you have any other questions!
All the best,
Lissette
"They play club music at 6am right outside the garden view bungaloo's. I would avoid unless you're an earlier riser."Read full review
"The rooms on the second floor open onto a long balcony with breathtaking views of the surf."Read full review
LOCATION
El SalvadorSan Miguel DepartmentEl Cuco
NUMBER OF ROOMS
12
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Frequently Asked Questions about Azul Surf Club
Which popular attractions are close to Azul Surf Club?
Nearby attractions include Playa Las Flores (1.4 miles) and El Esteron Rancho Osorio Arbaiza Playa El Cuco (1.3 miles).
What are some of the property amenities at Azul Surf Club?
Some of the more popular amenities offered include free wifi, free breakfast, and a pool.
What food & drink options are available at Azul Surf Club?
Guests can enjoy free breakfast, an on-site restaurant, and a lounge during their stay.
Are there opportunities to exercise at Azul Surf Club?
Yes, guests have access to a pool during their stay.
Does Azul Surf Club have airport transportation?
Yes, Azul Surf Club offers airport transportation for guests. We recommend calling ahead to confirm details.
Is Azul Surf Club located near the city center?
Yes, it is 0.9 miles away from the center of El Cuco.
Are pets allowed at Azul Surf Club?
Yes, pets are typically allowed, but it's always best to call ahead to confirm.
Which languages are spoken by the staff at Azul Surf Club?
The staff speaks multiple languages, including English, Spanish, and Portuguese.
Is Azul Surf Club accessible?
Yes, it offers wheelchair access. For specific inquiries, we recommend calling ahead to confirm.