Just east of the Coyolito turn-off, dusty SAN LORENZO stretches for a couple of kilometres between the highway and the coastal mangrove swamps. This is a lively, friendly town, and a reasonable stopover en route to or from Choluteca and Nicaragua. For accommodation , you could try the basic but clean Perla de Pacífico (up to US$10), on the main street. Down by the waterfront, past the town's shrimp-packing plant, the Hotel Miramar (tel 881 2039, fax 881 2106; US$25-40) has somewhat overpriced rooms, although the view from the restaurant over the mangroves and beyond to Nicaragua is spectacular, particularly at sunset. The hotel also has a swimming pool which is open to non-residents. Beyond the Miramar there's a row of clean seafood restaurants open for lunch and dinner; in the centre of town, the unnamed restaurant just down from the Perla de Pacífico prepares excellent fish and chicken dishes.

San Lorenzo is served by hourly buses from Coyolito. These stop on the highway at the fuel station, where you can pick up intercity services heading either west or east to Choluteca, 55km away.