Incredible forests and volcanoes lie just outside San Salvador © Kikerodry / Shutterstock
What you should know before traveling to El Salvador
With 200 miles of coastline, more than 170 volcanoes, multiple archeological sites with Mayan ruins and a rich coffee and cacao farming tradition, El Salvador is a wonderland for surfing, adventuring and relaxing.
Unfortunately, the country’s reputation abroad usually has more to do with danger than hiking trails – and understandably so.
Ravaged by a civil war in the 1980s and plagued by gang violence in the decades since, Central America’s smallest country has been deemed a no-go destination for many travelers. However, significant strides in tourism, including cracking down on crime, improving roads, and investing in new hotels and flight routes, have earned this tropical destination another look.
You can absolutely have a fantastic time in El Salvador. Take precautions where necessary as you relish those pristine beaches, geological gems and cultural treasures.
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El Salvador is about 8,000 sq miles – about the same size as fellow Central American country Belize . The small but mighty country makes a visit to the capital city of San Salvador and the Pacific coast (about a 45-minute drive away) entirely feasible within a five-night stay.
Fill your time in San Salvador with architectural and cultural visits to the National Palace, Art Museum of El Salvador and National Museum of Anthropology. On the coast, La Libertad, a fishing port, has become popular for its surfing and beachfront hotels.
A national park with three volcanoes ( El Boquerón ), a forest reserve that’s a former battleground (Cinquera), a cobblestoned Pre-Columbian town (Suchitoto) and “the Pompeii of America” (Joya de Cerén) might get you to extend your trip to El Salvador to a whole week…or longer.
While El Boquerón is only a half hour from San Salvador and doable as a day trip, Suchitoto is a good 90-minute drive in the opposite direction of the coast.
Domestic travel spikes during the winter holidays, through the New Year, Holy Week (Easter) and the first week of August. If you visit during these times, you may pay a premium for hotels, plus experience bigger crowds at museums and parks.
Your best bet for clear skies and mud-free hiking is to visit during the dry season, from November through April. If you decide to throw caution to the wind (and drizzle) by visiting during the rainy season (May-Oct), pack a rain jacket, quick-drying layers and extra pairs of socks.
It’s also important to note that not all roads are paved in El Salvador. Heavy rains can cause flooding, leading to road closures and longer drive times.
Best places to visit in Central America
If your home currency is the US dollar, there’s no need to swap money. USD has been an official currency of El Salvador since 2001. But it is a good idea to get some small bills.
Most businesses will accept a $20 bill, but 50s and 100s can be harder to break. ATMs are widely available in commercial centers, and most will let you choose English for your transaction.
In a surprising move, El Salvador added a second national currency in 2021: Bitcoin. Though the government requires all businesses to accept the digital currency, only about 20% do, so you’ll most likely be dealing in dollars.
Most hotels can arrange an airport transfer or help you get a taxi to a nearby destination. But when traveling between cities, hiring a driver or tour operator is highly recommended.
Traffic in San Salvador can be intimidating. Its rural roads are often unpaved, rife with potholes and sometimes turn into single lanes that can be tricky to navigate for foreign drivers.
A tour operator can provide recommended tours or create a custom itinerary. Conveniently, the country’s ministry of tourism has a list of recommended tour operators on their site.
For US citizens, a current US passport is required for entry, along with a USD$12 tourist card (valid for 90 days) that can be purchased at the airport when you arrive. A visa is not necessary for stays under 90 days.
Citizens from countries like Australia , Canada and the UK only require a valid passport for entry – a visa is not necessary for stays under 90 days. However, these visa-exempt travelers are still required to buy the tourist card at the airport upon arrival. Check with your country's embassy for entry requirements.
In the US, park rangers might accessorize with a compass and drawstring hat. In El Salvador, dense forests call for a decidedly different accessory – a machete. Don’t be shocked if your guide carries a blade to clear branches from hiking trails. Definitely don’t bring your own.
Spanish is the official language here, and though staff will likely speak English at restaurants and hotels in major tourist areas, it’s good manners to at least know a few greetings in Español .
Knowing hola (hello), buenos días (good morning), buenas tardes (good afternoon) and buenas noches (goodnight) is a decent place to start.
As with visiting most religious centers around the world, cover your legs and shoulders when visiting the country’s Catholic cathedrals. A knee-length skirt will suffice if you don’t want to wear pants, and wrapping a scarf around your shoulders works to cover a tank top.
In restaurants and bars, leaving a 10 percent tip is common. However, always check your bill before tipping because sometimes it’s already included.
From 1980 to 1992, El Salvador experienced a bloody civil war, and the effects of that tumultuous period are still felt today. It’s very likely that your tour guide or the bartender serving up your Cadejo beer (a popular local brewing company) either lived through the war or has family members who were directly affected by it.
Be respectful and know that not everyone wants to talk about their experiences. But when you do meet someone who’s open to sharing – for example, you can take a tour of Cinquera that’s led by a former guerilla fighter – let them know how grateful you are to hear their story.
The papusa might be El Salvador’s most famous food, but soups and broths are also beloved here, even though temperatures are tropical most of the year. Don’t be surprised if your waiter recommends a steaming bowl of seafood broth or sopa de pata (soup made from cow’s feet… yep!) even though you’re ready to hit the beach.
Likewise, coffee, a top agricultural export since the 1800s, can’t be missed. Nor should atol de elote, a sweet drink made with corn and served hot. But grouchy gourmands should steer clear. Mayan folklore says the beverage turns bitter if someone in a bad mood touches it.
Best places to snorkel and scuba dive in Central America
The only vaccine required to enter El Salvador is yellow fever, and that’s only if you’re six months or older and from a high-risk country (countries in South America and Africa or Panama ). You no longer need a COVID-19 test or vaccine for entry.
Stick to bottled water and ice made from purified H2O only; water from the tap can be contaminated.
In case of an emergency, call 911. To contact the Politur – a branch of the National Civilian Police dedicated to the well-being of tourists – specifically, call 2511-8300 or 2511-8302. They can offer safety information and, with proper arrangements, can even provide escorts.
Sadly, gang violence is a problem in El Salvador, and just as it’s difficult to say definitively where gang violence will or won’t take place in the US, it’s the same here. Gangs don’t typically target tourists, but to avoid getting caught in the crosshairs, avoid these areas in and around San Salvador: Soyapango, Apopoa and Mejicanos.
On the flip side, the Centro Histórico in San Salvador – where many of the city’s museums are located – tends to be safer with a greater police presence.
Among Salvadorans, discrimination and violence against the LGBTQ+ community have been well documented as well as reported on by Human Rights Watch.
With this in mind, same-sex couples should be careful about public displays of affection. Additionally, it’s worth researching hotels ahead of time and seeking out gay-friendly stays.
In both big cities and rural areas, it’s always recommended to avoid walking alone at night. If you’re not with a group, ask your hotel or restaurant to arrange a taxi ride for you. Likewise, if you do rent a car, skip driving at night.
Not only will you minimize your chances of robbery, but you’ll also have greater visibility on roads with poor lighting or none at all.
Always look for an “A” at the beginning of your taxi’s registration to confirm it’s official. Also, most taxis don’t have meters, so agree on a price with your driver before you get in.
Cannabis and cannabis-derived products, like CBD, are illegal in El Salvador, so purge your toiletry bag of any oils, serums or lotions that could get you in hot water.
Speaking of which, El Salvador has some of the harshest punishments for drug possession, so this is definitely not the vacation to experiment with any other unlawful substances, either.
Top things to do in Central America
Typically, hurricane season lasts from June to November. Just as with the rainy season, unpaved roads may become flooded when a storm strikes, altering travel routes or, in severe cases, making you stay put for a day or two.
If you plan to visit during this time of year, check with your hotel and travel insurance about hurricane contingency plans. Plus, monitor weather and potential storms in the days leading up to your trip.
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