Bahia del Sol - General Info
Where is Bahia del Sol?
Bahia del Sol is located in an estuary on the Costa de Sol peninsula, midway along the El Salvador coast. The Costa de Sol peninsula is about 15km long with a sandy beach on the outside and Estero de Jaltepeque on the inside. The estuary has numerous branches and boats anchor in the main section. The marinas, hotels and tourist services are located on the peninsula.
This port is a known hurricane hole.
Bahia del Sol is the only port in El Salvador that has sufficient infrastructure (marinas, boat services, fuel docks, etc.) to receive recreational boats.
Cruiser Highlights:
Immigration; Port Captain; marinas; moorings; long term in water storage; hurricane season storage; fuel; water; propane; restaurants; bars; sport fishing; tourism options; bus to larger cities for provisioning and hardware options.
Entrance Notes and Cautions:
Entry into the port is only safe at high tide during daylight hours, and a pilot is needed to transit the bar.
The sand bar at the entrance can be dangerous and can only be navigated at high tide. Entry should not be attempted without a pilot. If you arrive without previously notifying them of your arrival, hail the Bahia Del Sol Hotel on the VHF to organize a pilot. Entry is only permitted at high tide during daylight hours. Daylight hours include civil twilight (about 40 minutes before sunrise or 40 minutes after sunset). Morning tides are always better due to the absence of wind waves.
Note, however, that following the pilot boat does not always guarantee safe entry, so this port should be used with caution. In March 2024, a Panama Posse boat following the pilot boat into the estuary hit the bottom on entry and broke off its keel and sunk. A devastating loss for the owners. See this news item for more details: Yacht Wrecked While Attempting Bar Crossing.
Contacts:
Hotel Bahía del Sol
VHF Channel CH 16 “Hotel Bahía del Sol”
recepcion.hotel@bahiadelsolelsalvador.com
Tel: +503 2343 3333
For more information, contact the El Salvador Yacht Rally in advance of your arrival.
El Salvador Yacht Rally
VHF Channel CH 16 “Bill & Jean”
Email: Elsalvadorrally@aol.com
This cruiser rally ends in Bahia del Sol. Organizers Bill and Jean are based here and happy to assist with planning and can provide up to date port information and assistance with crossing the bar. See their handy Guide to El Salvador.
Position:
13°16.6’N, 88°53.7’W (pilot meeting area)
Last updated: March 2023
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Related to following destinations: Bahia del Sol, El Salvador
Port Navigation
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On March 7rh 2024, a Moody sailboat with 6’9″ draft went hard aground while crossing the bar. Boat was laid over on its side and subsequently lost its keel and rudder. The boat was quickly looted and was a total loss. The boat and owner had been into Bahia del Sol before and was under the guidance of the bar pilot. The pilot boat has no depth sounder or sonar equipment.
The previously derelict 30 ton travel lift on Isla Cordoncillo has been refurbished and relocated to Paradise Fishing Lodge where it is expected to begin regular operation this season. Services and storage are being reworked, contact Paradise Fishing Lodge for details.
Bill and Jean are the organizers of the annual El Salvador rally, and They also are the organizers of the pilot boat. You can contact them in advance via email at ELSALVADORRALLY@AOL.COM and they will offer advice on when to schedule your bar crossing and what conditions are likely to be like. You can hail them on Ch 16 when within range of the estuary.
They are also hosts extraordinare and have connections to find what you need in El Salvador, and also host a weekly cruisers get together at their home on Isla cordoncillo.