However, bold backpackers and other travelers keep visiting El Salvador. They’ve got good reason to. The locals are outstandingly welcoming. Generations of international surfers testify that the breaks of El Salvador’s Pacific coast rival the best of the world. And the nation’s natural beauty -— volcanoes, verdant coffee plantations, isolated beaches -— is stunning, though its destruction and deforestation nears catastrophic.
Compare rates on El Salvador flights.
Where Should I Go?
First, take a look at our El Salvador Photo Gallery!
As for cities, the capital of San Salvador isn’t the most savory—it’s tragically poverty-stricken and gridlocked, and its valley locks in stinking smog. Nearby Santa Ana is much more attractive, surrounded by coffee plantations and sugarcane fields—travel to the Mayan ruin of Tazumal, erstwhile setting of human sacrifice! Two hours north, La Palma offers cool weather and beautiful views.
Because El Salvador is so small, travelers are never far from the country’s Pacific beaches. And what beaches they are. The water is over eighty degrees on average, the wave breaks are perfect, and the sands are rarely crowded. No wonder surfers flock to El Salvador’s beaches all year long—the favorites are La Libertad, Las Flores, and Playa Herradura. The beaches of Costa del Sol and San Juan del Gozo are better for non-surfers, boasting soft white sands and calmer waters.
Four hours north of San Salvador, the Montecristo National Park is a mysterious and beautiful cloudforest, located in the exact spot where the borders of Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador come together. The El Imposible National Park is another lovely natural destination—follow the 9km trek to the high point, Cerro Leon, for some unforgettable vistas of still-smoking volcanoes.
What Can I See?
Disastrously, up to 98% of El Salvador’s forests have been stripped in the last 30 years. The remaining bits mostly belong to Montecristo and Imposible National Parks, as mentioned above. These forests are home too over 500 species of birds and several mammals, which the fantastic organization is striving to save.
Good news: El Salvador, once called the coffee republic, is still host to numerous plantations. These high-altitude plantations provide refuge more many of the country’s birds, mammals, and other animals. So drink up —- and even when you’re home, buy coffee from El Salvador (especially if it’s labeled Fair Trade).
How Do I Get There and Around?
El Salvador is tiny, but its tourist infrastructure makes internal travel more difficult than you might expect. The public bus system is inexpensive, but buses are crowded and usually don’t have luggage racks -— not ideal for luxury travelers. Renting a car is a popular choice (especially travelers with surf boards), or hiring a driver with a minivan.
The efficient international bus system Ticabus stops in San Salvador on its route from Guatemala City south (or reverse). El Salvador’s international airport in San Salvador is renovated and modern.
How Much Will I Pay?
Believe it or not, in 2001 El Salvador adopted the US dollar as legal tender. Costs in El Salvador are extremely low—no more than $3 USD for your average meal. However, the airport departure tax is hefty at $28 USD (ouch), and must be paid in cash.
What Will I Eat?
El Salvador cuisine is straightforward and tasty, centering around corn, beans, rice, tomatoes, and meat. Tamales and pupusas are the most common and delicious indigenous foods. Tamales are masa corn cakes wrapped in corn husks or banana leaves, and filled with seasoned meat. Pupusas are thick tortillas filled with a variety of ingredients, from meat to vegetables to pork rinds (honestly), supplemented with cabbage salad. Coffee and pastries also accompany most Salvadoran meals.
When Should I Go?
El Salvador’s rainy season is between May and November, and its dry season is between December and April. Even in rainy season, sunny days are the norm. Thunderstorms are short and strong, usually occurring late in the day.
During the Easter Holy Week, called Semana Santa, El Salvador’s hotels and beaches are packed with local tourists. Christmas and New Years are busy as well—make sure you have reservations long in advance if you plan on visiting during these holidays.
How Safe Will I Be?
Street crime, and even violent crime is a big problem in El Salvador. Obviously, most travelers visiting the country leave without incident. But it’s crucial to follow some ground rules when traveling in El Salvador—and in any Central American country, for that matter.
Don’t walk around at night in the cities, especially in San Salvador. Multiply that times ten if you’re a woman, and times ten thousand if you’re a woman traveling alone. Take a taxi, even if your destination is a couple blocks away. Keep copies of your passport in different locations. Don’t flash anything of value, especially money—keep it in a money belt under your clothes. If you are robbed, do as the robber asks—your camera isn’t worth your life.
As for health, it’s advised to get vaccinated against Hepatitis A and B and Typhoid, and make sure you’re up to date on all your boosters. Malaria prophylaxis with chloroquine is recommended if you’re traveling in rural areas, especially Santa Ana, Ahuachapan, and La Union.
