Fodor's Expert Review Playa Grande

Visualizing the island as a clock, its most popular beach sits at the nine-o'clock position, facing the Salvadoran mainland. Less shelter from the ocean makes for rougher swimming at Playa Grande. But this beach does not have the mud problem evident at Playa El Burro, which does make for a more pleasant stroll along the sand. A slew of makeshift food stands spring up on weekends, seriously cutting into the space here. Local legend holds that pirate treasure is buried somewhere here on the beach.