Why We Spent Only One Short Week in El Salvador Part 2 (and Our Next Crazy Challenge)

With the sun always comes new hope and perspective. The darkness of the previous night dissipated with the suns rays.

Greg was feeling better, we had a filling breakfast at the gas station ‘buffet’, and reconstructed our plan.

We'd give El Salvador another chance or two. There were a couple of beach towns still further south. We could check them out, and if we still didn’t find something, then we would head to Nicaragua, per the recommendation of Greg’s surfer friend in El Tunco.

Most importantly (for me), I just want to find a comfortable place where we can get clean, do laundry, and get some work done. Is that too much to ask?

So we drive, destination either El Cuco or Tamarindo. Several hours (and minor adventures) later we reach a fork... one toward El Cuco, one toward Tamarindo. Which should we take?

“Quick Parker, pick a direction!”

“Ummm.... El Cuco,” he says.

Okay, that’s where we’re going.

We drive up and up, and the air gets fresh and cool and the vista is green and lush. Then we drive down and down toward the coast. It gets warmer and muggier. Of course the A/C hasn’t worked since we left Guatemala (we didn’t need it there in the highlands), so the windows are down and I have my own personal plugin fan blowing directly on me.

Arriving in town, I can see right away it’s not much, and probably won’t be a place we’ll stay long term. The nearest big town was at least an hour back. But for now it’s just a matter of finding a place we can ‘recoup’ before we continue to Nicaragua, if that's what we decided to do.

Driving along the beach frontage road, we peer in through a gate. The driveway is lined with coconut trees and the shade is so appealing. Greg pulls over a few feet ahead.

"I'll go check it out, and see if they won't charge us an arm and a leg."

A few minutes later he returns. "Ten dollars a night to camp, use the pool, shower and bathroom."

We'll take it.

For the next three days we enjoy the 'good times' we'd been searching for since arriving in El Salvador. No, we weren't in a house. No, we still didn't know where we would live, or where we would have this baby. But we had a comfortable place to stay, with a few luxuries that sometimes make all the difference.

Camping is lots of fun when you’ve got the right environment and amenities 🙂

Can’t beat the sunsets

The beach was a short walk from our camp

This is where I worked, unless I walked into the internet cafe

Lots of swimming and fun!

Hanging at the boardwalk

Everyday I would walk into the centro of town and use the internet, or I'd work poolside while the kids swam.

In the evenings we'd walk along the boardwalk...

And then get pupusas for dinner (a traditional El Salvadoranian dish). Only 3 for $1.

Yum! Pupusas. We ate them for the first time in Belize

There was also lots of relaxing in the hammock.

And Greg and Kyah even taught a wandering mariachi band how to play the ukulele. (Watch the video below.)

All in all, we're refreshed and rejuvenated. We were thoroughly enjoying our time and wish we could explore El Salvador more. But to everything there is a time and season, and the season of having a baby was fast approaching.

So we decide that Nicaragua is where we'll head next to look for a house. Hopefully we'll have better luck than we did here.

After three days, we feel revitalized enough to take on a new challenge... we'll cross TWO borders in ONE day (El Salvador/Honduras and Honduras/Nicaragua) and head to León in Northern Nicaragua.

We must be crazy.

Good-bye El Salvador. Wish we could have got to know you better.

Have you been to El Salvador? How was your experience?

2024 UPDATE!

We’re excited to share that we’ve made a big move! We are now living in beautiful Portugal and have taken ownership of the Worldschool Family Beach Resort. We are now known as the Extraordinary Family Life, where we focus on coaching and mentoring moms, dads, and teens to create fulfilling, joyful, extraordinary family lives. With over 20 years of experience traveling the world with our seven children, we’re passionate about sharing the lessons we’ve learned along the way.

Check out the links below to learn more about what we do!

ABOUT GREG DENNING

Greg left home at the age of 16 and difficult circumstances forced him to find a way to find happiness and build his own happy family life.

Discovering the answers to some of life's biggest questions has continued in a lifelong pursuit of learning and personal growth.

He's married to his best friend and they have seven incredible kids. He's traveled, adventured, and taught in 60+ countries on five continents.

ABOUT RACHEL DENNING

Rachel is an ambitious mother of seven children. She homeschools, manages a multiple six-figure business, and organizes trips for her family and friends.

She loves to read, learn, travel, and create resources for her children to get the 'best education possible' which often includes incredible experiences around the globe.

Rachel provides the 'logistics' behind the program -- from tracking to curriculum to trip planning.

Learn to save money on travel here!

Visit us at the Worldschool Family Beach Resort in Portugal!

Looking for a place to stay in Guatemala? Check this out!

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Check out Rachel's YouTube Channel, Raising Well-Adjusted Kids.

Take Rachel's 28-Day Challenge for moms.

Join Greg's Formidable Familye Man Tribe.

Tune into Greg's Formidable FAmily Man podcast.

Visit Greg's Formidable Family Men YouTube Channel.