travel de el salvador

El Salvador Travel Guide

Last Updated: September 1, 2023

El Salvador is the smallest and most densely populated country in Central America . Somewhat bypassed on the tourist trail (it’s tucked away from the main route people take through Central America), this country is filled with natural beauty, forests, beaches, and even the opportunity to view some archaeological sites.

While the country has had a turbulent past (it was ruled by a dictator from 1931-1979 and then experienced a civil war from 1980-1992), El Salvador has slowly been coming into its own and is now a popular spot for intrepid backpackers looking to get off the beaten path.

El Salvador is the perfect place to experience the great outdoors without the crowds as you make your way around Central America. Everyone is super friendly and generally happy to have visitors and the crowds here are much smaller than you’ll find in neighboring Costa Rica and Panama .

The prices are lower too.

This travel guide to El Salvador can help you plan your trip, save money, stay safe, and make the more of your time in this underrated destination!

Table of Contents

• Things to See and Do
• Typical Costs
• Suggested Budget
• Money-Saving Tips
• Where to Stay
• How to Get Around
• How to Stay Safe
• Best Places to Book Your Trip
• Related Blogs on El Salvador

Top 5 Things to See and Do in El Salvador

1. Visit the Montecristo Cloud Forest

This cloud forest is home to diverse flora and fauna, including ferns, orchids, mosses, spider monkeys, and anteaters. The area is incredibly biodiverse and is believed to contain 7% of the world’s species. Within the cloud forest, you can explore Trifinio Fraternity Biosphere Reserve, established in 1987, which was the first protected area in El Salvador. Hike to the highest point, El Trifinio, with an altitude of 2,400 meters (7,874 feet), where the borders of El Salvador, Honduras , and Guatemala converge. One of the most popular attractions in the cloud forest is the Garden of the Hundred Years which contains over 100 different types of orchids. There’s a limit to how many people can visit the park each day, so it’s best to arrive early.

2. Hang out in El Tunco

One hour outside of San Salvador is this backpacker’s paradise. The tiny town is packed with hostels and is a popular place for relaxing beach vacations and lively party weekends. The name of the town translates to ‘the pig’ and it’s named after the landmark just offshore — a huge rock that resembles a pig. Cheap hostels, cheap drinks, a great party scene, and world-class surfing await in this beachside town. Besides the nightlife, El Tunco is known for its beautiful black sand beaches and gorgeous sunsets.

3. Go to Puerta del Diablo

Also known as the Devil’s Door, this rock formation serves as a lookout, offering sprawling views over San Salvador, the Pacific Ocean, and the surrounding mountains. Nowadays, it’s a beautiful place to visit and a popular tourist attraction, but its history is shrouded in darkness. During the civil war, it was a site where prisoners were held and tortured. Once a single rock, the formation has now separated into three boulders. The climb to the overlook is steep, with an ascent of 1,250 meters (4,101 feet). Take the bus from San Salvador and then it’s a quick walk to the boulders.

4. See the Cihuatán Ruins

Cihuatan was founded after the collapse of the Mayans around 900 CE and quickly became a regional capital. It lasted for 100 years before unknown invaders burned the city in the 10th century. It’s located near the modern-day town of Aguilares, about 30 kilometers (19 miles) outside of San Salvador. The Pre-Columbian archeological site covers over 180 acres and includes pyramids, Mesoamerican ball courts, and religious sites which were first excavated in the 1970s. By the 1980s, over 900 structures had been uncovered. You can visit the ruins and the museum explaining the history of the area as a day trip from El Salvador. Admission is $3 USD.

5. Visit La Libertad

La Libertad is a popular beach town alternative to El Tunco, with Punta Roca offering huge waves for surfing. The port city was established in 1770 and is a tropical paradise, with beautiful sandy beaches, palm trees, and opportunities to surf, sunbathe, and snorkel or scuba dive. Nearby you can explore Walter Thilo Deininger National Park which is rich in wildlife. If you want a real taste of the local life, visit the busy daily fish market on the waterfront. Otherwise, this place is all about relaxing, enjoying reggae music, and soaking up the sun.

Other Things to See and Do in El Salvador

1. hike the volcanoes.

El Salvador has its share of volcanoes to explore, and the best place to see several of them is Cerro Verde National Park. This park is home to Cerro Verde, Izalco, and Ilamatepec. The trails all allow you to get up close to the volcanoes, including a walk around the Cerro Verde crater, where you’ll find a cloud forest full of tropical birds and plant life. Ilamatepec is the highest point in the park, at 2,381 meters (7,811 feet) at the summit. There are lots of tours from San Salvador starting from about $85 USD, or you can show up and just pay the $3 USD entrance fee.

2. Visit Joya de Cerén

Joya de Cerén is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that tells a story about the everyday lives of the Mayans. Once a small Mayan farming settlement, the town was buried under volcanic ash in 595 BCE when the Laguna Caldera Volcano erupted. The site includes a Temazcal (sauna), and other important buildings like storehouses, a kitchen, and a religious building meant for communal events. There’s also an excellent preserved shaman’s home and a collection of agricultural tools. This site is the Mayan version of Pompeii . It’s $7 USD to visit.

3. Get cultural in San Salvador

Although most people don’t spend a lot of time in San Salvador, there are a few highlights to see. Most of the city’s activity centers around the Plaza el Salvador del Mundo, where you’ll see the iconic Savior of the World statue (with Jesus standing on a globe). Walk around downtown, try some pupusas (delicious El Salvadorian flatbread stuffed with cheese, pork, squash, or refried beans), and visit the domed Metropolitan Cathedral which is filled with colorful stained glass. At the National Palace, peruse the old government rooms and the courtyards, and if you want to do some souvenir shopping, head to the National Handicrafts market for some local artwork. (Note: Sometimes downtown San Salvador experiences gang violence. Read our safety section to learn how to keep yourself safe.)

4. Go diving

El Salvador has some of the best diving in Central America. The warm waters of Los Cóbanos (a resort beach area on the westside of El Salvador) contain reefs, underwater rock formations, and even shipwrecks. If you’re a beginner, you can learn to dive in volcanic crater lakes like Coatepeque and Ilopango, where the freshwater provides mild conditions for anyone who isn’t ready to tackle the open waters. There’s not a lot of marine life to see in the lakes, but visibility is clear and the azure waters of the lakes are stunning. Expect to pay around $85 USD for a two-dive trip and around $415 USD for an Open Water certification course.

5. Visit El Imposible National Park

This is the largest park in El Salvador and is named for its deep gorge. It’s part of the Apaneca Ilamatepec mountain range, with mangrove forests and a total of eight rivers, as well as plenty of waterfalls. You might see pumas, anteaters, antelopes, and even wild boars while here. Due to the delicate nature of the park, you’ll need to have a guide to explore it (you’re not allowed to hike alone). It’s $6 USD for the park entrance fee, and then you can request a guide (it’s usually about $10 USD for a group). You can also do a day trip from San Salvador with Impossible Tours for $130 USD.

6. Spend a day at Los Chorros

Los Chorros is a nature park composed of a series of natural swimming pools that cascade from overhanging volcanic cliffs, set against a backdrop of ferns, flowers, and moss. It’s 20 minutes outside of San Salvador. For only $3 USD to visit, it’s one of the most scenic ways to beat the heat!

7. Shop at La Gran Via

Located in the heart of San Salvador, this is an outdoor shopping center filled with restaurants, movie theaters, music, bars, live shows, and more. This is a nice place for an afternoon out, and at night it’s where the locals come for drinks and clubbing.

8. Tour the Museum of Popular Art

This museum is home to some of the country’s most valuable Salvadoran works, including works from over 177 artists such as paintings, sketch drawings, and sculptures from Rosa Mena Valenzuela and Salarrué (the most well-known writer and painter in El Salvador). It also has a huge showcase of miniature pottery, wood carvings, weaving, and jewelry. It’s a quirky, family-friendly place to visit. There are often craft-making sessions that you’re invited to join. Admission is only $1.50 USD.

9. Wander through colonial Suchitoto

Suchitoto (“Suchi”) is a small colonial town located on Lake Suchitlan in the mountainous northern region. Well-known around the country for its artistic community, most weekends draw hordes of Salvadorans from San Salvador (and other neighboring towns) looking to visit the many galleries and markets. There are easy looped walking trails all around Suchi that can take you to the lake, various waterfalls, and even caves to explore. Just find a trailhead and start walking!

10. Hang out on the Coatepeque Caldera

If you’re not learning how to dive here, spend at least a day on the caldera just enjoying the still, bright blue lake and its quiet village of El Congo in western El Salvador. You can hire a boat to take you around, go for a swim, or visit some of the village’s small restaurants.

11. Take the Ruta de Las Flores

The “Route of the Flowers” is a popular day trip from San Salvador, where you can visit small colonial towns and villages as well as coffee plantations. Pause in colorful towns like Nahuizalco, Apaneca, Juayua, and Ataco, where the main squares are busy with cafes and markets, and the buildings are covered in murals. Apaneca and Ataco are home to some of the best-known coffee plantations, like the El Carmen Estate, and if you’re visiting between November and February you’ll see the coffee beans flowering. You can do the route on your own, or take a tour from the city for around $90 USD.

El Salvador Travel Costs

Accommodation – During peak season, a bed in an 8-10-bed dorm costs $10-15 USD. Free Wi-Fi is standard and many hostels also include free breakfast. Private rooms with an ensuite bathroom cost around $25 USD per night (there is no real difference in prices during the high or low season).

Nightly rates for a budget two-star hotel room start at $40 USD. You’ll pay about $60 USD for a place on the beach, or a place with a pool

There are lots of Airbnb options in El Salvador. Private rooms start around $15-20 USD though they average double (or even triple) that. An entire home or apartment starts around $30 USD though prices usually average closer to $75-100 USD.

Food – Like its neighborhoods, the cuisine here is a mix of indigenous traditional foods with influence from the Spanish conquest. Pork, seafood, and corn are major staples and can be found at most meals. Pupusa is the national dish, a thick flatbread stuffed with cheese, chicharrón (pork), and refried beans. Cured pork, deep-fried cassava, tamales, and meat soups are other common meals.

Overall, food in El Salvador is very affordable. Like most Central American countries, you can find big plates of rice and beans for $3-5 USD. Breakfasts of eggs and plantains are also $3-5 USD. Fill up on the pupusas for less than $1 USD each.

Mid-range meals of pizza or a fried fish dinner are about $8-10 USD. A vegetarian meal is about $5-8 USD. A burger and fries is $10 USD. A beer to go with it will only cost between $1.50-3 USD.

There are some “high-end” dining spots around El Salvador, but most dining is pretty casual. You can find seafood dishes like ceviche between $15-19 USD, while a nice steak dinner ranges from $16-24 USD. Pasta dishes are between $12-15 USD.

Overall, the food is very cheap here, so take advantage of it when you can! If you do plan on cooking your own meals expect to spend around $25-35 USD per week, depending on your diet.

However, that said, given how few places have kitchen facilities, I wouldn’t buy a lot of groceries if I was here. I’d just get the cheap local eats!

Backpacking El Salvador Suggested Budgets

If you’re backpacking El Salvador, you’ll spend as little as $35 USD per day. This budget covers a hostel dorm, cooking some meals and eating cheap street food, limiting your drinking, taking the bus to get around, and doing most cheap and free activities like swimming and hiking.

A mid-range budget of about $90 USD covers staying in a private Airbnb room, taking the occasional taxi, enjoying a few beers at the bar, and eating out for all your meals. You’ll also be able to visit more museums, ruins, and parks or do some guided hikes.

On a “luxury” budget of $245 USD or more per day, you can stay in a hotel, eat any meals you want, enjoy as many drinks as you want, take taxis to get around, and do lots of tours. This amount of money goes a long way in a country like this and you’ll want for absolutely nothing if you’re coming here for luxury. The country is your oyster if you’re spending this or more!

You can use the chart below to get some idea of how much you need to budget daily, depending on your travel style. Keep in mind these are daily averages — some days you’ll spend more, some days you’ll spend less (you might spend less every day). We just want to give you a general idea of how to make your budget. Prices are in USD.

El Salvador Travel Guide: Money-Saving Tips

El Salvador is one of the cheapest countries in Central America, so you’ll find it easy to save money here without much effort. Regardless, here are some ways to save money during your visit:

• Snack on fruit – Fruit in Central America is super affordable. You can pick up a bag of mangos for around $0.50 USD at any roadside stall or market vendor, and even smoothies will cost less than $3 USD. Eat healthily and save money!
• Show up without reservations – It’s easy to just show up in a town like La Libertad or El Tunco and just barter for a room. If there’s availability, you could get your room for a fraction of what you’d be paying by booking online. A lot of accommodations don’t even have online reservation systems, so showing up and booking a room is the only way to do it in some cases.
• Go camping – While hostels are pretty cheap, you can camp at many of them for half the cost (for as little as $6 USD per night). Bring your gear and sleep under the stars!
• Stay with a local – Couchsurfing connects you with locals who will not only give you a free place to stay but also serve as a local tour guide and introduce you to the cool stuff only locals know about in town. There are not a ton of hosts here, however, so be sure to send your requests early.

Where to Stay in El Salvador

Hostels in El Salvador are affordable, fun, and safe. Here are my suggested places to stay in the country:

• Hostal Cumbres del Volcan Flor Blanca (San Salvador)
• Hostel Casa Verde (Santa Ana)
• Hostal Punta El Zonte (La Libertad)

How to Get Around El Salvador

Bus – Buses are the primary way to get around El Salvador’s cities as well as the country as a whole. You can get just about anywhere in one of El Salvador’s brightly painted school buses. Cities and towns often have designated bus depots with rides that cost less than $0.50 USD. You can easily move between towns for about $2-5 USD (it’s $2 USD to travel between San Salvador and Both La Libertad and El Tunco). San Salvador to Suchitoto is $1 USD. Fares may go up by 25% on the weekends due to more traffic.

Minivans – In most touristy areas in El Salvador you’ll find small tour offices that sell seats on minivans or minibusses. They’ll take you just about anywhere you need to go in the country (and onward into neighboring countries). These minivans cost more than the regular buses, but you still shouldn’t have to pay more than $10 USD wherever you’re going. You can also barter prices in this case, and if you can round up people from your hostel/accommodations to book as a group, you’ll save even more money.

Taxi – Taxis are easy to come by in El Salvador, although in smaller towns they take the form of tuk-tuks. Most are unmetered, so make sure you negotiate your price beforehand. Tuk-tuks are the cheapest option, and you can get a few blocks for less than $1 USD. Ask your hotel/hostel staff for price estimates before you head out so you know you’re not getting ripped off.

Car rental – Rentals start at $25 USD per day. Driving here is relatively safe compared to other Central American countries as the roads are much better maintained. You need to be 21 in order to rent a car here. An IDP (International Driving Permit) is also required.

For the best car rental prices, use Discover Cars .

When to Go to El Salvador

Like the rest of Central America, El Salvador’s dry season is between November and April, while the rainy season is between May and October.

The dry season is peak season, with travelers escaping the cold temperatures up north. Daily highs average about 30°C (86°F) here, and it rarely ever dips below 10°C (50°F). This is definitely the best time to visit.

Prices don’t fluctuate much in the off-season, so you have no real reason to visit during the rainy season. On the other hand, April to October is the best time for serious surfers.

How to Stay Safe in El Salvador

Unfortunately, El Salvador has a high rate of gang violence. Although it’s rarely targeted at foreigners, you should avoid certain areas. Most of that crime takes place in San Salvador, so avoid parts of Soyapango, Apopoa, and Mejicanos at all costs. Also, avoid the area around the Tica bus station in San Salvador, as there are sometimes attacks there against tourists. You’re not likely to spend a lot of time in these neighborhoods, however, and the more touristy places are patrolled by policemen.

La Libertad, Soyapango, and Usulutan also have some gang activity. Like San Salvador, police heavily patrol touristy areas.

In any destination, don’t be out on the street (or beach) alone after dark. Avoid traveling at night in general, as hijackings or muggings are known to happen.

You might encounter petty crimes, like theft, especially on public transportation. Do not flash any of your valuables around, or keep them at all. Credit card skimming is also a problem here, so try to use only ATMs at shopping malls, hotels, or banks.

You can more about common travel scams to avoid when you travel.

Solo female travelers should be cautious here. In addition to the tips above, the standard precautions apply (never leave your drink unattended at the bar, never walk home alone intoxicated, etc.).

If you experience an emergency, dial 911 for assistance.

The most important piece of advice I can offer is to purchase good travel insurance. Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to use it many times in the past. You can use the widget below to find the policy right for you:

El Salvador Travel Guide: The Best Booking Resources

These are my favorite companies to use when I travel. They consistently have the best deals, offer world-class customer service and great value, and overall, are better than their competitors. They are the companies I use the most and are always the starting point in my search for travel deals.

• Skyscanner – Skyscanner is my favorite flight search engine. They search small websites and budget airlines that larger search sites tend to miss. They are hands down the number one place to start.
• Hostelworld – This is the best hostel accommodation site out there with the largest inventory, best search interface, and widest availability.
• Booking.com – The best all around booking site that constantly provides the cheapest and lowest rates. They have the widest selection of budget accommodation. In all my tests, they’ve always had the cheapest rates out of all the booking websites.
• Get Your Guide – Get Your Guide is a huge online marketplace for tours and excursions. They have tons of tour options available in cities all around the world, including everything from cooking classes, walking tours, street art lessons, and more!
• SafetyWing – Safety Wing offers convenient and affordable plans tailored to digital nomads and long-term travelers. They have cheap monthly plans, great customer service, and an easy-to-use claims process that makes it perfect for those on the road.
• LifeStraw – My go-to company for reusable water bottles with built-in filters so you can ensure your drinking water is always clean and safe.
• Unbound Merino – They make lightweight, durable, easy-to-clean travel clothing.
• Top Travel Credit Cards – Points are the best way to cut down travel expenses. Here’s my favorite point earning credit cards so you can get free travel!

El Salvador Travel Guide: Related Articles

Want more info? Check out all the articles I’ve written on Central America travel and continue planning your trip:

My 1 Week Costa Rica Road Trip Itinerary

Do You Need Travel Insurance for Costa Rica?

The Best Tour Companies in Costa Rica

The 6 Best Hostels in Panama City, Panama

Is Belize Safe to Visit?

Is Central America Safe to Visit?

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El Salvador

Travel Advisory July 17, 2023

El salvador - level 3: reconsider travel.

Reissued with obsolete COVID-19 page links removed.

Reconsider travel to El Salvador due to  crime.

Country Summary:  In March 2022, the Government of El Salvador (GOES) declared a “State of Exception” in response to an increase in homicides. The declaration remains in effect. The State of Exception grants authorities power to arrest anyone suspected of gang activity and suspends several constitutional rights, including the normal protections of criminal procedure such as the right to a speedy trial. Prison conditions are harsh. Several U.S. and other foreign citizens have been detained under the State of Exception, some in a reportedly arbitrary manner. Under its Territorial Control Plan, the GOES also may, without prior warning, restrict access via checkpoints to areas suspected of gang activity. U.S. citizens are advised that access to and freedom of movement within these areas may be limited.

Though there has been a significant reduction in gang-related activity, violent crime remains a concern throughout significant portions of the country. Crime rates vary among departamentos (states) and municipios (municipalities), and areas witnessing higher crime rates are often located in close proximity to lower crime areas or must be crossed in moving between lower risk areas. Local authorities may lack the resources to respond effectively to serious criminal incidents, although the concentration of resources in resort areas means these areas tend to be better policed than urban areas.

Read the  country information page  for additional information on travel to El Salvador.

If you decide to travel to El Salvador: 

• Be aware of your surroundings.
• Do not walk outside after dark. Do not drive to unfamiliar and/or remote locations after dark.
• Do not physically resist any robbery attempt.
• Be extra vigilant when visiting banks or ATMs.
• Do not display signs of wealth, such as wearing expensive watches or jewelry.
• Engage local guides certified by the national or local tourist authority when hiking in back country areas.
• Enroll in the  Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP)  to receive Alerts and make it easier to locate you in an emergency.
• Follow the Department of State on  Facebook  and  Twitter .
• Review the  Country Security Report  for El Salvador.
• Prepare a contingency plan for emergency situations. Review the  Traveler’s Checklist .
• Visit the CDC page for the latest  Travel Health Information  related to your travel. 

Embassy Messages

View Alerts and Messages Archive

Quick Facts

Passport must be valid at time of entry.

At least one blank page.

A visa is not required for stays under 90 days, but you must purchase a tourist card for 12 USD upon arrival. The card is valid for 90 days. If your U.S. passport shows you were born in El Salvador, you do not need the tourist card.

None, check recommendation in Health Section.

Currency in excess of 10,000 USD must be declared.

Embassies and Consulates

U.s. embassy san salvador.

Final Boulevard Santa Elena Sur, Urbanizacion Santa Elena, Antiguo Cuscatlan, La Libertad San Salvador, El Salvador Telephone: +(503) 2501-2999 Emergency After-Hours Telephone: +(503) 2501-2999 Fax: +(503) 2278-5522 Email:   [email protected]

Destination Description

Learn about the U.S. relationship to countries around the world.

Entry, Exit and Visa Requirements

You need a U.S. passport and either a Salvadoran visa or a one-entry tourist card to enter El Salvador.

• You may obtain a tourist card when you arrive at the airport or seaport from immigration officials for a $12 fee. The card is valid for 90 days.
• If you plan to remain in El Salvador for more than 90 days, you must apply in advance for a multiple-entry visa, issued free of charge, from the Embassy of El Salvador in Washington, D.C. (202-595-7500) or from one of the 18  Salvadoran consulates  in the United States.

In June 2006, El Salvador entered into the “Central America-4 (CA-4) Border Control Agreement” with Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua. Under that agreement, U.S. citizens who legally enter any of those four countries may travel freely among the other three countries for up to 90 days.

If you wish to remain in the CA-4 region for more than 90 days, you must request a one-time extension from local immigration authorities in the country where you are present. If you are, “expelled” from one of the four countries, you are expelled from the entire CA-4 region.

Minors:  A U.S. citizen minor present in El Salvador for  more  than one year is considered a  resident  of El Salvador. To depart El Salvador, a minor resident needs written consent from any parent listed on the child’s birth certificate that is not traveling with the minor. The consent form must be notarized by a Salvadoran notary.  The process to obtain parental travel consent that is accepted by Salvadoran immigration can be lengthy. Plan ahead if you intend to have your minor child travel without both parents after being present in El Salvador for more than one year .

HIV/AIDS Restrictions:  The U.S. Department of State is unaware of any specific HIV/AIDS entry restrictions or regulations for visitors or for foreign residents of El Salvador. Antiretroviral medication with a prescription can be imported for personal use and for the duration of stay. 

Dual Nationality and International Parental Child Abduction:  Information about  dual nationality  and the prevention of  international child abduction  can be found on our website.

Customs:  For information about customs regulations, please read our  Customs Information page .

Volunteers, Mission Groups, and Non-Profits:  Groups bringing donated supplies, equipment, or medicine may experience difficulties with customs. To avoid potential problems, clear all donated material with the appropriate Salvadoran government office before arriving in El Salvador. To import donated medicines: Contact the Dirección Nacional de Medicamentos (National Directorate of Medications) via email at  [email protected]

Safety and Security

The crime threat level in El Salvador is critical and our  Travel Advisory  warns U.S. citizens of the high rates of crime and violence. See below for additional information on crime.

Dial 911 for emergency assistance in El Salvador.

Protests:  Demonstrations, sit-ins, and protests may occur at any time or place, but are most frequent in and around the capital San Salvador. Avoid demonstrations, because even apparently peaceful ones may turn violent. Follow local news media reports or contact the U.S. Embassy for up-to-date information.

Crime:  El Salvador has a high level of homicides and crimes such as extortion, assault, and robbery are common.

Typical crimes in El Salvador include extortion, mugging, highway assault, home invasion, and car theft. Gangs have traditionally controlled a majority of the space in El Salvador, even if their presence is not visible to outsiders, and exist by extorting money from businesses, travelers, residents and others living in or passing through their territory. Non-compliance or resistance to gang demands often results in violence. This activity can occur even in wealthy and relatively peaceful areas. Home invasions and/or burglaries of residences during broad daylight occur in areas of San Salvador; in some cases, gangs simply expel residents from their homes and take over the property for criminal use.  U.S. citizens who visit El Salvador for extended periods may be at higher risk for extortion demands.

El Salvador has tens of thousands of known gang members from several gangs including Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) and 18th Street (M18). Gang members have been known to frequently engage in violence or use deadly force if resisted. The gangs, or “maras,” customarily have concentrated on extortion, violent street crime, carjacking, narcotics and arms trafficking, and murder for hire.  Extortion is a common crime in El Salvador.

Many suspected gang members have been detained since March 27, 2022 under a State of Exception.  Reported crimes have reduced since that time, but crime in El Salvador remains at critical levels.

U.S. Embassy personnel are advised to walk only in known, lit, well-secured locations. Criminals may be active even in popular parks with a security presence.

Exercise caution at all times and practice good personal security procedures throughout your stay.

• Always travel in groups.
• Avoid remote or isolated locations.
• Avoid displaying or carrying valuables in public places.
• Avoid stopping at tourist overlooks, which may be targeted by criminals.
• Never leave passports and other important documents in vehicles.
• In public, remain alert and avoid the use of cell phones and earphones. These reduce your self-awareness and provide easy targets for crimes of opportunity.
• Do not travel on public transportation, especially buses.
• Use only radio-dispatched taxis, taxis stationed in front of major hotels, or internet-based rideshare services.
• Choose banks or ATMs inside secure, guarded areas and remain alert.
• Remain vigilant even in well-known restaurants, hotels, and retailers within San Salvador.
• Credit card cloning and similar fraud can occur; keep your card in sight.
• Be aware of your surroundings when traveling by car. Navigation apps seeking the quickest routes may direct you off safer routes into dangerous areas.
• Drive with your doors locked and windows raised.
• Avoid travel outside of major metropolitan areas after dark and on unpaved roads at all times because of hazardous road conditions and criminal activity.
• Criminals who threaten violence typically use violence without hesitation if victims do not comply instantly. Conversely, the Embassy has no reports of serious injury or worse among victims who comply.

Armed robberies of climbers and hikers in El Salvador’s national parks can occur. Engage the services of a local guide certified by the national or local tourist authority when hiking in back-country areas and within the national parks. The  tourist police force (POLITUR)  provides security and assistance to tourists. Officers are located in 19 tourist destinations. Beware of hikes and guides in locations without an official guide service or police presence, regardless of advice found on the Internet. 

A majority of serious crimes in El Salvador are never solved. The Government of El Salvador lacks sufficient resources to properly investigate and prosecute cases and to deter violent crime. 

Do not purchase counterfeit and pirated goods, even if they are widely available. Not only are counterfeit goods subject to seizure upon entry in the United States, but if you purchase them, you may also be exposed to legal liability in El Salvador.

Victims of Crime:  If you or someone you know becomes a victim of crime, report it to the local police by calling 911 and to the U.S. Embassy. Local authorities are responsible for investigating and prosecuting the crime.

The U.S. Embassy can:

• Replace a stolen or lost passport
• Help you find appropriate medical care
• Guide you on how to report a crime to police
• Contact relatives or friends with your written consent
• Explain the local criminal justice process in general terms
• Provide a list of local attorneys
• Provide information on  victim’s compensation programs in the U.S.
• Provide an emergency loan for repatriation to the United States and/or limited medical support in cases of destitution
• Help you find accommodation and arrange flights home

Domestic Violence:  U.S. citizen victims of domestic violence may contact the U.S. Embassy for assistance. If you are in immediate danger, call 911.

Tourism:  The tourism industry is unevenly regulated, and safety inspections for equipment and facilities do not commonly occur. Hazardous areas/activities are not always identified with appropriate signage, and staff may not be trained or certified either by the host government or by recognized authorities in the field. In the event of an injury, appropriate medical treatment is typically available only in/near major cities. First responders are generally unable to access areas outside of major cities and to provide urgent medical treatment. U.S. citizens are encouraged to purchase medical evacuation insurance . 

Watersports:  Strong undertows and currents make swimming at El Salvador's Pacific Coast beaches extremely dangerous even for experienced swimmers. Government lifeguards are generally present at most public beaches but are not always present at private beaches. Follow all instructions of any lifeguard, and do not enter the water at any location at which red warning flags are displayed to signify dangerous conditions. In addition, El Salvador’s search and rescue capabilities are limited, and access to medical resources in beach areas is inadequate. Carefully assess the potential risks of recreational water activities and consider your physical capabilities and skills. Be aware that drinking alcohol and swimming can be a deadly combination.

Local Laws & Special Circumstances

State of Exception: In March 2022, the Government of El Salvador declared a 30-day “State of Exception” in response to an increase in homicides; the State of Exception has been extended several times since, and it continues today. The State of Exception suspended several constitutional rights, including the normal protections of criminal procedure such as the right to a speedy trial, among others. Several U.S. and other foreign citizens have been detained under the State of Exception, some in a reportedly arbitrary manner. The number of all detainees has increased significantly, and prison conditions are harsh.

Criminal Penalties:  While in El Salvador, you are subject to local laws. Your U.S. passport will not help you avoid arrest. Remember your activities are limited by the type of visa you have. If you violate Salvadoran laws, you may be expelled, arrested, or imprisoned. Penalties for possessing, using, or trafficking in illegal drugs in El Salvador are severe. (Please note that any items containing THC, even certain CBD products that are legal and widely available in the United States, are illegal in El Salvador) . Convicted offenders can expect long jail sentences and heavy fines.

Some offenses committed overseas can be prosecuted in the United States, regardless of local law. For examples, see the  U.S. Department of State website  and the  Department of Justice website  on crimes against minors abroad.

Arrest Notification:  If you are arrested or detained, ask police or prison officials to notify the  U.S. Embassy  immediately.

Prison and detention center conditions in El Salvador are harsh and dangerous. Overcrowding constitutes a serious threat to prisoners’ health and lives. In many facilities, provisions for sanitation, potable water, ventilation, temperature control, and lighting are inadequate or nonexistent.

Guns:  You must have a locally obtained license to possess or carry a firearm in El Salvador. Convictions for possessing an unlicensed firearm can carry a prison sentence of three to five years. The U.S. Embassy cannot intervene on your behalf.

Disaster Preparedness:  Preparation for natural disasters is essential in El Salvador, which has 21 active volcanoes, constant seismic activities, and a rainy season that produces severe flooding and mudslides.

Find information about natural disaster preparedness on the  U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)  website. Find information in Spanish about earthquakes (sismos) and other natural disasters in El Salvador on the  Government of El Salvador’s web page . Learn more on our  webpage about crisis and disaster preparedness .

Women Travelers:  See our travel tips for  Women Travelers .

LGBTQI+ Travelers:  There are no legal restrictions on same-sex sexual relations or the organization of LGBTQI+ events in El Salvador. There is, however, widespread discrimination based on sexual orientation in employment, access to health care, and identity documents. Public officials, including the police, have reportedly engaged in violence and discrimination against LGBTQI+ persons. For more detailed information about LGBTQI+ rights in El Salvador, you may review the  State Department’s Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2018 . For further information on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex (LGBTQI+) travel, please read our  LGBTQI+ Travel Information  page.

Travelers with Disabilities:  Salvadoran law prohibits discrimination against persons with physical and mental disabilities in employment, education, access to health care, or the provision of other state services. The government, however, does not allocate sufficient resources to enforce these prohibitions effectively. There are few access ramps or provisions for the mobility of persons with sight and hearing disabilities.

For emergency services in El Salvador, dial 911. 

Private and public hospitals do not meet U.S. standards. The U.S. Embassy recommends that private hospitals be used only for emergency care to stabilize a condition prior to returning to the United States for definitive evaluation and treatment. Private hospitals and physicians expect up-front payment (cash or credit card). They do not bill U.S. insurance companies. 

Ambulance services are: 

not widely available and training and availability of emergency responders may be below U.S. standards 

• not equipped with state-of-the-art medical equipment 

The Department of State does not pay medical bills. U.S. Medicare does not apply overseas. Most hospitals and doctors overseas do not accept U.S. health insurance. 

Medical Insurance: Make sure your health insurance plan provides coverage overseas. Most care providers overseas only accept cash payments. See our webpa ge for more information on insurance coverage overseas. Visit the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for more information on type of insurance you should consider before you travel overseas. 

We strongly recommend supplemental insurance to cover medical evacuation. 

If traveling with prescription medication, check with the Government of El Salvador to ensure the medication is legal in El Salvador. Always carry your prescription medication in original packaging with your doctor’s prescription. 

The following diseases are prevalent: 

• Chikungunya
• Diarrheal illness

Vaccinations:  All  routinely recommended immunizations  for the U.S. should be up-to-date.

• Measles, mumps, rubella ,  tetanus, pertussis  and  chickenpox  are much more common than in the U.S., especially among children.
• Hepatitis A  and  typhoid   immunization is recommended for all travelers.
• Hepatitis B  vaccine is recommended for all those who may have sexual contact, tattoos or require medical treatment while in El Salvador.
• Yellow Fever : Travelers coming from countries where yellow fever is endemic must have had a yellow fever vaccination in order to enter the country. For more information,  visit El Salvador’s Immigration website .
• Tuberculosis is an increasingly serious health concern in El Salvador. For further information, please consult the  CDC’s information on Tuberculosis .

You can find detailed information on vaccinations and other health precautions on the following websites:

• Centers for Disease Control (CDC)
• World Health Organization (WHO)

Travel and Transportation

Major highways in El Salvador are among the best in Central America, but road conditions throughout El Salvador are not up to U.S. standards. Even within the city of San Salvador, it is common to see missing manhole covers and large objects in the roadway marking the danger.

Avoid driving during nighttime hours or periods of low visibility as slow-moving vehicles are common, and vehicles without taillights are often on the road. Mini-buses, regular buses, and taxis are poorly maintained. Drivers are frequently unlicensed and generally do not adhere to traffic rules and regulations. You can expect to find pedestrians walking on the roadways and, in rural areas, it is common to encounter livestock on the road.

Traffic Laws:  Drive defensively as traffic laws are not enforced. Passing on blind corners or cutting across several lanes of traffic is commonplace. Two lane traffic circles are common and are especially dangerous to navigate.

If you are in an accident, call the police. The law requires all parties involved in a vehicle accident to stay at the scene and not move the vehicles involved until the police respond, and you should do so unless you reasonably suspect that remaining at the scene presents a danger . Leaving the scene could lead to future legal complications, but always maintain your personal safety. When police arrive, be prepared to share your name, address in the country, vehicle registration and insurance, and driver’s license information. Be aware there are legal consequences to admitting fault.

Hit and run accidents are common. Salvadoran law requires the detention and arrest of a driver involved in an accident that injures or kills another person if the driver is under the influence of alcohol or does not possess a proper driver’s license.

You may drive with a U.S. driver’s license for up to 30 days. After that time, you must obtain a Salvadoran license.

If you want to apply for a Salvadoran driver’s license, you must present an authenticated copy of your U.S. driver’s license to Salvadoran authorities. Requests for an  apostille or authentication certificate  are generally submitted in writing to your state’s Notary commissioning authority (usually the Secretary of State’s office.)

Public Transportation:  Please refer to our  Road Safety page  for more information. Visit the website of El Salvador’s  national tourist office  and the  national authority responsible for road safety . Further information on traffic and road conditions is available in Spanish from  Automovil Club de El Salvador (ACES) .

Aviation Safety Oversight:  The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has assessed the government of El Salvador’s Civil Aviation Authority as being in compliance with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) aviation safety standards for oversight of El Salvador’s air carrier operations. Further information may be found on the  FAA’s safety assessment page .

Maritime Travel:  Mariners planning travel to El Salvador should also check for  U.S. maritime advisories and alerts . Information may also be posted to the  U.S. Coast Guard homeport website , and the  NGA broadcast warnings .

For additional travel information

• Enroll in the  Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP)  to receive security messages and make it easier to locate you in an emergency.
• Call us in Washington, D.C. at 1-888-407-4747 (toll-free in the United States and Canada) or 1-202-501-4444 (from all other countries) from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Eastern Standard Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays).
• See the  State Department’s travel website  for the  Worldwide Caution  and  Travel Advisories .
• Follow us on X (formerly known as "Twitter") and Facebook .
• See  traveling safely abroad  for useful travel tips.

Review information about International Parental Child Abduction in El Salvador .  For additional IPCA-related information, please see the  International Child Abduction Prevention and Return Act ( ICAPRA )  report.

Travel Advisory Levels

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The Ultimate 1 Week El Salvador Adventure Itinerary

From the outside, many people discard El Salvador due to its now expired reputation of street violence, MS-13, drugs, and crime. But the country has made strides, and it’s now one of the safest in Central America .

Our experience in El Salvador was that it’s a welcoming, warm country with tons of incredible sites to visit. I visited recently after two years, and I was shocked by how far the country has come with cleanliness, safety, and hospitality. I’m certain El Salvador will soon become a major tourist hotspot.

We were there during the Semana Santa, or “Holy Week” (Easter). As a result, we were able to participate in some pretty incredible parades, celebrations, and festivities. It was a very lively time filled with markets, music, and friendly, inviting people.

That being said, our time in El Salvador wasn’t always perfect. There were a couple hiccups that could have been avoided – and hopefully after reading this, you won’t have to face them yourself!

Though it’s a small country, El Salvador is filled with stunning things to see. As a result, one week there is the perfect amount of time to get just enough of a taste of it.

Related: Our Epic 2-Month Journey Across Central America

El Salvador travel restrictions

Keep up to date on the latest travel restrictions and visa requirements on the iVisa website .

The best way to get to El Salvador from Abroad

You can fly directly into the San Salvador (SAL) airport, or fly into Guatemala City (GUA) and take a bus to El Salvador.

We struggled finding bus companies that were still running between countries in Central America after Covid. Our struggles led to us finding Tica Bus . They were the most reliable, most convenient, and most accessible bus company we found.

With Tica Bus, you can actually select stops along the way as your final destination instead of continuing all the way to the next capital. Not knowing anything about the towns in El Salvador, we chose Santa Ana as our final destination.

Getting to Santa Ana, El Salvador

Though Santa Ana is a cute town, it’s not really special. If you plan to take the Ticas Bus, I’d just get off in Ahuachapan to start on the Ruta de las Flores, an incredibly cute array of 6 towns up in the mountains surrounding volcano Santa Ana. Ahuachapan is actually one of the first stops so you won’t have to sit as long on the bus, and you’ll be in a decently cute town to start with.

Alternately, you can ride the bus all the way to San Salvador from which you can rent a car. That’s probably the best option – as you’ll read below, getting around El Salvador is tough .

The Tica Bus cost us $25 each, and was overall decent. The ride always takes longer than predicted, especially with how slow the border crossings can be.

Related: The Ultimate Guide to One-Way Car Rentals Across Central America

Crossing the border from Guatemala into El Salvador

Out of all the border crossings we did in Central America, this one was actually the easiest. We disembarked in Guatemala to collect our exit stamps but did not actually have to step off the bus in El Salvador. Instead, a border agent came on the bus, collect everyone’s covid test results and passports, and returned with stamps.

Easy peasy.

Our one week adventure itinerary across El Salvador

A quick preview of our trip through El Salvador, starting from Santa Ana and ending in San Salvador to catch the bus to Tegucigalpa.

Getting Around El Salvador: Renting a car vs taking public transportation

Getting around El Salvador was the biggest struggle and hiccup of our trip there. At the time, pretty much none of the shuttle services were running. We had no trouble finding them in Guatemala, yet in El Salvador we had to resort to taxis, private transport, or public buses.

We were hoping to rent a car in Santa Ana, but none of the rental car agencies shown on google (even those with working websites) were responding. So if you want to rent a car, make sure to go all the way to San Salvador (or perhaps El Tunco, where there are some rental car companies running). The airport (SAL) has many rental car companies and is pretty close to the beaches.

As you can see, public transportation is definitely an option for many of the more popular segments of this itinerary.

As for the other tougher parts of the journey, Shreya writes, “you can also find motorbike rentals for $15/day and go on a few days trip to most of the places around El Salvador. There are definitely cheaper options for transportation other than a rental car or private transfers if others are looking for that.”

The roads in El Salvador are excellent all around, even the dirt ones. Driving is relatively easy and painless.

Consider reading: 10 Best Places You Need to Visit in Guatemala in 2022

Where to stay in Santa Ana, El Salvador (included: an awesome affordable hostel with private rooms)

We had an amazing time at the Casa Verde hostel in Santa Ana. Carlos, the owner, is a super cool and helpful guy with all the contacts for tours, transport, and maximizing your time in El Salvador.

Santa Ana itself is not very touristy. It has lots of local (and very cheap) markets, a cute central square, but is otherwise not exceptional town. The street food is pretty good but there isn’t much selection of restaurants. And if you’re vegetarian, forget it.

Must Do: Visiting the Ruta de las Flores in El Salvador

After failing to arrange a rental car, we got ourselves an uber to our first stop on the Ruta de las Flores: Apaneca. Though it was an hour away, Uber only charged us $30.

An off-duty police officer picked us up, so we got to ask about violence and crime first-hand. He told us that El Salvador’s tourism initiative involved the government bulking up security forces including national police and even the military. There are some rough spots, but there is security basically anywhere that tourists would want to go.

It all seemed to have good effect. We never felt uncomfortable walking or driving around, even at night.

Our favorite town on the Ruta de las Flores was Ataco . It’s one of the bigger towns and simply has more to offer in terms of food and nightlife.

Speaking of nightlife, Nahuizalco ‘s night markets are not to miss. They’re lively, exciting, and sprawling.

Chasing waterfalls in El Salvador

Central America has so many waterfalls that by the end, you should be tired of them… but you’re not.

We heard a local tip about some waterfalls close to the border with Honduras called the Salto de Malacatiupan . These are actually hot spring waterfalls and truly a must-see if you’re in the area.

Afterwards, we finished our tour of the Ruta de las Flores, exploring these incredibly cute towns during the Semana Santa. The streets were filled with locals flocking from all over the country, coming together to celebrate Easter with parades, parties, festivities, live music, great food, and awesome dancing. It was truly a spectacle.

Our full day tour of the Ruta de las Flores ended costing us $90 (total).

What you must see while in Juayua, El Salvador

We finished the night in Juayua , a tiny pueblo (town) with another must-see: the Feria Gastronomica , a weekend market filled with street food vendors. You’ll find everything from bao to barbeque to vegetarian food.

5 minutes from Juayua are the Chorros de la Calera , an amazing natural pool surrounded by cascades. At the moment, the cascades (main attraction) are closed, but you can still do a 2-3 hour hike to 7 waterfalls nearby.

There’s also a pretty cool maze nearby which features zip lining, biking on suspended lines, and other family-friendly activities.

The coolest place to chill out in El Salvador: Lake Coatepeque

Lake Coatepque is a ginormous crater lake situated between some gorgeous volcanos basically smack in the middle of El Salvador.

In my mind, Lake Coatepeque is the Lake Atitlan of El Salvador. It’s that nice. And during our stay, everything (hotels, restaurants) was basically fully open.

Here, you can spend the day relaxing on a hammock enjoying volcanic views, take a jetski out, or go for a swim.

Getting to Lake Coatepeque

Remember how I said getting around El Salvador was tough? As we couldn’t find a shared shuttle, we hired a private driver to get us from the Ruta de las Flores to the lake. Cost: $65. And we definitely searched around.

This is where having a rental car would be an enormous help.

We stayed at the only place that had rooms left during the busy Semana Santa: the Captain Morgan hostel. We quickly realized why there weren’t rooms left. It’s extremely noisy until late at night, the shared bathrooms are horrid, and the service is absolutely lackluster.

Instead, we recommend staying at the Cardedeu hotel (or residences if you fancy) to full take in the tranquility of this incredible lake.

RELATED: 16 Ultimate Tips for Your Next Rental Car in Guatemala

Surf City: El Salvador is the surf capital of Central America

Next, we took yet again another $65 private transfer to El Zonte, the “surf city” of El Salvador.

Surfers flock here from around the world to catch world-class swells and enjoy some of the cheapest beach living you can find on this side of the planet.

We stayed at Palo Verde “Sustainable” hotel , which was great but in no way “sustainable”. It’s right on the beach and has a lovely pool and great restaurant. You can also take surf lessons – unless red flag conditions, like we had, are present.

Food in El Salvador: great for meat-lovers, terrible for vegetarians

El Salvador was probably the toughest place to find good vegetarian food. Instead, you’ll probably eat side dishes most of the time – if they even let you. Most restaurant workers are simply confused by a request. When you say “no meat”, their reply is typically “ok so chicken?”

But in El Zonte, we caught or lucky break (surf pun?). The only place that was still open at 9PM, the last place we found, ended up being the best food we had in El Salvador outside of the capital.

The lovely restaurant, Beach Break , doubles as a boutique hotel close to the beach (obviously), and the owners are super friendly. You can eat with your feet in the sand while enjoying views on the river.

Best for last: Suchitoto and Cinquera, ex-civil war hotbeds

Another expensive private transfer later and we found ourselves flabbergasted by the beauty of the next area. Nestled in the highlands of El Salvador is a colorful, lively town with a background of civil war hardships, guerrilla warriors, and absolute devastation.

Seeing how far El Salvador has come since then is nothing short of mind-boggling. The town of Suchitoto was the closest thing we saw to Antigua, Guatemala except that the surrounding scenery was, in our opinions, even more beautiful.

We had dinner at a wonderful restaurant called 1800 Casa . WOW. Views. When you’re overlooking the massive Lake Salcoatitlan and its surrounding tallest mountains in El Salvador, you won’t want to leave. Trust me.

The next day, we took a tiny TukTuk to the ex-guerrilla headquarters of Cinquera , a town fraught with death, destruction, and violence. We took a tour into the forested highlands where guerrillas hid, lived, and fought to the death.

Our guide was the niece of an ex-guerrilla and much of her family had been directly affected by the tragedy and violence of the war.

As a result, hearing her firsthand stories felt like re-living the experience, the peril, the devastation. It was certainly more real than any movie or book I’ve ever seen or read.

It was truly touching and quite a meaningful end to our week in El Salvador.

RELATED: Our Epic 2 Month Central America Road Trip

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12 comments.

[…] Your Ultimate 2021 El Salvador Travel Guide […]

[…] The Ultimate 1 Week El Salvador Travel Itinerary (2021) […]

Great Post!!! I truly believe that there is much more to explore new places. The world has incredible beauty which makes us visit new places for sure.

Thank you so much!! I couldn’t agree with you more. 😊

[…] normal times, there are also shuttles from Antigua Guatemala to beach locales in El Salvador, but none were available when we did our […]

Great guide, thanks for writing it! I’ll be travelling soon to El Salvador and was wondering how you found the private driver. I’d be thankful for any tips.

Hi Cin! For the private drivers, we basically hire them a la carte. Usually we found contacts via the hotels/lodges we were staying at, but sometimes we found people through friends! We had maybe 4-5 different drivers across the country.

Hi! Thank you so much for the summary of your wonderful trip! I am taking my own family to El Salvador in one week to see my birthplace & where I lived the first 6 years of my life. As a war refugee (not officially recognized by the US, but that is my family’s story), I would love to take the tour you did with the niece of the ex-guerrillero. Do you happen to have her information? Thank you so much for your help.

Hi Melissa, it’s my pleasure. I’m glad that you’re rekindling your roots, that’s super cool! As for the guide, I unfortunately never got her information, but if you ask at the tourist office in the main square of Cinquera I’m certain they can find her, or someone else with direct lineage from the guerrilleros.

Sounds like you had a great trip!

The public buses, or chicken buses as the tourists call them, are actually very easy to take and cost a fraction of the price of what you were paying for Ubers and transportation. Taking the chicken bus from Santa Ana to San Salvador to El Tunco was very simple, took maybe 2 hours, and only had one bus change. Safety wise, I also thought it was fine. Maybe getting to places farther away with a chicken bus is harder, like Suchitoto. But you can also find motorbike rentals for $15/day and go on a few days trip to most of the places around El Salvador. There are definitely cheaper options for transportation other than a rental car or private transfers if others are looking for that.

Thanks Shreya, will add these details to the blog. This is sound advice!

Hey Shreya! Wondering about these motorbike rentals … are these for people who have motorcycle licenses or are these basic scooter type motor bikes that are easy to use? Also, what do you think the chances are of these getting stolen?

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4 perfect days in El Salvador

Nov 15, 2022 • 10 min read

Planes de Renderos in El Salvador © Luis Siguenza/Lonely Planet

Rejuvenated and forward-looking, this stunningly beautiful Central American country has momentum building that landed it a spot in our Learn category. 

El Salvador's idyllic beaches are catching the attention of professional surfers from around the world as it works hard to establish itself as Surf City. The country is quietly becoming the place where those in the know come to catch waves and hone their surfing skills.

There's so much to learn about this country. Lonely Planet guidebook author Paige R. Penland plans out your four-day getaway to its coastal waters, quaint towns and volcanoes.

I’ve visited El Salvador a dozen times since 2006, when I was lead author on Lonely Planet Nicaragua & El Salvador . I’ll be taking my 9-year-old son on the next trip, to visit Isla de los Pájaros and the epic waterparks for which this country should be better known. (Search for Apuzunga, Turicentro Atecozol and Canopys del Rio Sunzal to see what I mean.)

Why I think you should visit El Salvador

El Salvador offers almost everything travelers to Latin America are looking for, just three hours by plane from Miami: sunny beaches, quaint colonial towns, stunning volcanoes, colorful handicrafts, low prices and arguably the finest cuisine in Central America .

It is compact, with dramatic topography and excellent (main) roads. You could literally surf La Libertad all morning, relax over lunch in Spanish Colonial Suchitoto and watch sunset from a chilly 8000ft (2400m) at Hostal Miramundo – and only spend about four hours total in the car. 

All of this makes El Salvador an easy escape for North Americans on a long weekend. If time is no object, however, two to four weeks would be ideal.

Budget travelers can enjoy El Salvador on $40 per day, and much less if you plan carefully. Mid-range travelers will be comfortable on $100 per day (not including rental car). Luxury lovers will find a small selection of excellent resorts and restaurants for about half what they’d pay in more-popular Latin American destinations.

Travelers may read the international criticism of El Salvador’s current government and worry that their money is supporting it. There is some truth to that. On balance, however, I think tourism favors the little guy – Jack Ma taught himself English as a tour guide, after all. Think before you spend, and try to support local businesses with El Salvador’s best interests at heart.

El Salvador’s official currency has been the US dollar since 2001, another convenience for US travelers. In 2021, President Bukele made Bitcoin El Salvador’s second official currency, and it’s widely accepted through smartphone apps. That decision was controversial, to say the least – yet tourism has since grown an astonishing 30%.

I appreciate the Bitcoin bump because not every article about El Salvador begins with “war-torn” anymore. It’s not. This is a small country with big dreams, still willing to believe in the future. And that’s the real reason why you should come . 

Start with a perfect day in the capital

This itinerary assumes travelers have rented a car ($40–80/day). If you use public transportation, double travel times or check online bus schedules.

Our journey begins at Romero International Airport – or, if you’ve already been relaxing with the sun and surf along El Salvador’s 186mi (307km) coastline, 20 minutes away in La Libertad. Whether you’ve been here all week or just arrived, we’re headed up to the capital, San Salvador. 

10am – Pupusas for breakfast 

Pull off the highway in Olocuilta, where a tidy strip of pupuserías serve up stacks of the city’s signature rice pupusas , more delicate and refined than the more widely available corn masa versions of El Salvador’s cheap, filling national dish. If you’re looking for a more elegant brunch, enjoy gourmet tamales, omelets and tost secreto (Salvadoran-style avocado toast) at Tu Jardín Secreto. The relaxing garden setting is in Planes de Renderos, a popular escape from the city with parks , horseback rides and the family-friendly, 20-minute hike up Puerta del Diablo, a startling rock formation with views to the Pacific Ocean from the top.

11am – Arrive in Colonia Escalón

Our base in the capital is posh Colonia Escalón, with upscale shopping, dining and accommodation options. After coffee at Tipicos Margoth, catch a cab to the Museum of Anthropology for an overview of El Salvador’s history, including pre-Columbian relics, Spanish Colonial art and exhibits that explore modern challenges, from the civil war to gang violence and mass emigration.

From there, it’s a short walk to the National Craft Market, where artisans sell quality handicrafts from around the country, including comfortable hand-woven hammocks, clever ceramic dioramas from Ilobasco and the colorful naive folk art of La Palma – which you’ll see firsthand tomorrow.

2pm – Head to Centro Historico

Take a taxi to the Centro Historico, home to the National Palace , National Theater and Metropolitan Cathedral , the final resting place of St Oscar Romero. As you explore the city center’s parks, plazas and markets, don’t miss the somber Monument of Memory and Truth in Parque Cuscatlán, engraved with the names of those lost during El Salvador’s civil war (1980–92), and be sure to step inside Iglesia El Rosario to see the symphony of rainbows its windows play upon the sculptural interior.

4:30pm – Check out Volcán San Salvador

Grab a cab to the top of Volcán San Salvador ($20, 40 minutes) and watch the sunset and city lights over exquisite grilled meats and seafood served with sweet potato biscuits at Las Brumas.

9pm – Enjoy San Salvador's nightlife

There’s time for a disco nap before the country’s best nightlife begins. Look forward to an ever-changing assortment of clubs and bars: enjoy laid-back city views at The Rooftop, dinner and live music at Republik and all-night dance parties at AliVE. 

A perfect day in the Central Highlands

10am – Arrive at Suchitoto’s tiny Puerto San Juan , a cheerful cluster of souvenir stores, restaurants and a dock overlooking Lake Suchitlán, just 45 minutes from the capital. Boats ($35) offer one-hour tours around the islands , including Isla de Los Pájaros (“Bird Island”), its trees shrieking and singing with the voices of some 400 species of mostly migratory birds: jabiru storks, seagulls, cormorants, pelicans and many more. 

Noon – Lunch at Villa Balanza

After lunch at artsy Villa Balanza, it’s time to check in at the meticulously restored, 200-year-old mansion that is now one of El Salvador’s most luxurious properties, Los Almendros de San Lorenzo . The courtyards are hung with marvelous art and Moorish details, and filled with gardens and a sparkling pool: an architectural gem even by Suchitoto’s high standards. 

1:30pm – Stroll through the city

Just strolling the cobbled streets of this breezy Spanish Colonial city is a delight. The rich blue textiles fluttering from the doors are dyed with indigo, grown here since Pipil Mayans ran the place. Arte Añil, across from picturesque Iglesia Santa Lucia, offers classes (90 minutes, $100 per group) where you can try your hand at this ancient art.

4pm – Mayan-influenced art in La Palma

An hour north of Suchitoto is La Palma, birthplace of the vibrant, Mayan-influenced naive art that has become synonymous with El Salvador itself. It was pioneered by artist Fernando Llort in the 1970s to help local artisans thrive; today, you can visit workshops covered with murals, and watch artists create the vibrant pieces from wood, glass and other materials. After Llort’s most famous piece, on San Salvador’s Metropolitan Cathedral, was destroyed in 2011, artists recreated it using digital mapping and projected it onto the facade.

9pm – Back to Los Almendros for Dinner

Although Suchitoto has several excellent restaurants, we’ll return to Los Almendros for dinner, where chefs use Salvadoran ingredients and French techniques to create award-winning recipes. Try the mariscada , a traditional Salvadoran seafood stew with lobster and cream; the dijon chicken baguette; or the vegetarian lasagna. If you’re game, Suchitoto’s nightlife scene is small but always festive. 

Pyramids and Volcanoes

After a leisurely breakfast at Café 1800 , it’s an hour to Joya de Cerén , also called Central America’s Pompeii. While you’ve probably seen the massive stone pyramids and ballcourts of the Classical Mayan capitals (if not, the ruins of Copán are 5 hours north of Suchitoto), the modest lives of Mayan villagers are mostly lost to time.

Except here. Preserved since 600CE beneath 33ft (10m) of volcanic ash, small, lovingly decorated adobe homes, a temezcal (sweat lodge) and the oldest cultivated yuca (manioc) make this one of Central America’s most important archaeological sites. Fifteen minutes away, San Andrés was the regional Mayan administrative center, with small stone pyramids and the remains of a Spanish Colonial indigo-processing facility.

1pm – Volcanoes in Cerro Verde National Park

It’s another hour to Cerro Verde National Park , with three magnificent volcanoes and several hikes, including an easy half-mile (1km) loop with unforgettable views. Athletic travelers can arrange steep, three- to six-hour guided hikes ($9) to the top of either Izalco Volcano’s barren, steaming cinder cone, or to Santa Ana’s nested calderas and scenic lakes. These hikes leave at 10am and must be done with a guide, which might mean shifting your itinerary.  

4pm – Stay overnight at Lago Coatepeque

There are great places to stay in the park, but we’re headed to the enormous (10 sq miles/25 sq km), sparkling crater lake you were admiring on your hike, Lago Coatepeque. It’s another impossibly scenic hour in the car to the lakeshore, which is lined with hotels, restaurants and bars, most with swimming docks

Lodging along the lakefront runs from $10 to $200 per night, so you’ll have a pick for your budget. Dinner at La Octava Maravilla costs about $20 – and it’s mandatory. I’ll be having the mojarra rellena , a whole fried fish stuffed with shrimp and other shellfish. 

After dinner, order an ice-cold beer at one of the lakefront bars. The party can go all night.

Stop and smell the flowers in El Salvador

After breakfast on the lake, it’s another hour to Entre Ríos Ecopark ($3), outside the town of Izalco. Slip into one of the natural hot and cold pools to relax, or try the water slides. When you’re ready, order brunch right to your hammock.

1pm – Visit Ruta las Flores

Ruta las Flores is El Salvador’s most popular inland attraction, a strand of lovely little towns and accessible natural wonders in the coffee-growing highlands between Sonsonate and the Guatemalan border. If it’s Saturday, we’ll stop at Juayúa’s famed Gastronomic Festival, which runs every weekend with stands selling styrofoam plates piled grilled meats, spiced prawns and tasty rice dishes, and where souvenirs, cocktails and artwork are for sale while live music plays and “Zorro” offers horseback rides. Otherwise, it’s onto Ataco.

3pm – Handicrafts shop at Axul Artesanía

After coffee at El Jardín de Celeste , we’ll explore the ancient city, making sure to visit Axul Artesanía. The handicrafts shop is an experience in itself, with working looms and unique paintings that flirt with high art. The owners are also responsible for for Ataco’s superb collection of selfie-friendly murals. Later, we’ll learn more about the coffee growing all around us on El Carmen Estates ’ plantation tour ($6; 75 minutes).

6pm – Drinks at Casa Degraciela

Wherever we dine in Ataco, we’ll finish with drinks in the courtyard of Casa Degraciela, a sprawling, 150-year-old coffee plantation mansion that’s now a luxurious B&B. Someday we’ll come back, but tonight we’ve reserved the Japón suite at Santa Teresa Hot Springs Resort, just 20 minutes away. 

7pm – Enjoying the private hot spring

We splurged on this spacious suite because it comes with a private hot spring, drawn from the same natural thermal waters that flow like a river through the resort gardens and surrounding coffee plantation. Relax beneath the stars as you plot your return to El Salvador.

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Plan your perfect one week itinerary in El Salvador

With a one week itinerary, you can immerse yourself in the best El Salvador has to offer.

From the bustling capital of San Salvador to the serene beaches of La Libertad and the charming towns along the Ruta de las Flores, this journey will leave you with unforgettable memories.

Extended 1-week itinerary in El Salvador

Let’s dive into this extended 1-week itinerary that takes you through El Salvador’s remarkable beauty and culture.

📖 Read: El Salvador helpful travel guide and tips how to stay safe

Day 1: Arrival in San Salvador

Your journey begins at El Salvador International Airport, conveniently located near the capital city of San Salvador.

Once you’ve cleared customs and immigration, head to your chosen accommodation in the city. As you step into this vibrant city, you’ll immediately sense the pulse of El Salvador’s cultural and political life.

For an unforgettable stay with breathtaking ocean views, check out the post 7 Top El Salvador resorts with the best ocean views .

Kickstart your exploration with a visit to the historic center of San Salvador . The Metropolitan Cathedral, a striking example of neo-Gothic architecture, is a must-see.

Take a moment to appreciate the intricate details of this iconic landmark. Nearby, the National Palace, a grand neoclassical building, is another architectural gem that offers a glimpse into the nation’s history.

After your historical tour, it’s time to satisfy your taste buds. Sample authentic Salvadoran cuisine at a local restaurant.

Pupusas, a traditional Salvadoran dish, are a culinary must-try. These thick corn tortillas are typically filled with ingredients like cheese, beans, or pork.

You’ll find them at small eateries throughout the city, often served with curtido, a pickled cabbage slaw, and a spicy tomato salsa.

Day 2: San Salvador

On your second day, dive deeper into San Salvador’s cultural heritage. Start with a visit to the Joya de Cerén Archaeological Site , often referred to as the “Pompeii of the Americas.”

This UNESCO World Heritage Site preserves the remains of an ancient village buried by volcanic ash. It’s a captivating window into daily life during the 6th century.

Continue your journey through time at the Museum of Anthropology David J. Guzmán . This museum is a treasure trove of artifacts, offering insights into El Salvador’s pre-Columbian history.

The collection includes pottery, sculptures, and tools that showcase the cultural richness of the indigenous peoples who once thrived in the region.

As the afternoon sun bathes the city in a warm glow, explore the Santa Tecla Municipal Market .

This bustling market provides an authentic experience, where you can sample local street food, browse handicrafts, and mingle with friendly locals.

Day 3: La Libertad and the Pacific Coast

On day three, leave the city behind and venture to the coastal town of La Libertad.

This town is renowned for its picturesque beaches and is a hotspot for surf enthusiasts. But whether you’re a seasoned surfer or simply seeking a relaxing seaside escape, La Libertad has something for everyone. Read more about stunning beaches in El Salvador here .

Within La Libertad, Playa El Tunco stands out as a popular destination. The town offers a laid-back atmosphere, making it a perfect place to unwind.

Feel the warm sand beneath your feet as you explore the beach, take a refreshing dip in the Pacific Ocean, or watch the surfers ride the waves.

As the sun begins to dip below the horizon, find a beachfront restaurant to savor the catch of the day. Fresh seafood dishes like ceviche and grilled fish are abundant.

Enjoy your meal while witnessing the captivating sunset over the Pacific, a perfect way to end your day in La Libertad.

Day 4: Ruta de las Flores

Bid farewell to the coast and set off on a picturesque drive along the Ruta de las Flores, or the “Route of Flowers.” This winding route takes you through charming mountain villages, each with its own unique character and attractions.

Your journey begins in Juayúa, a town renowned for its food festival that takes place on weekends.

If your visit coincides with the festival, indulge in a delightful assortment of Salvadoran dishes and street food. The atmosphere is lively, with music, arts, and crafts adding to the festive spirit.

Continuing your drive, you’ll reach Ataco, a colorful and artsy town where vivid murals adorn the streets. It’s a perfect place for a leisurely stroll and some light shopping at local boutiques and galleries.

Nahuizalco, the next stop on the Ruta de las Flores, is known for its traditional crafts. Explore the local market to discover handwoven textiles, pottery, and other indigenous goods.

Don’t forget to sample the region’s renowned coffee, as El Salvador is celebrated for its coffee beans. Enjoy a cup at a local cafe, and perhaps purchase some to take home as a souvenir.

Day 5: Apaneca Highlands

As you continue your journey, you’ll ascend into the Apaneca-Ilamatepec Mountain Range, home to lush coffee plantations, pristine forests, and breathtaking volcanic landscapes.

📖 Also Read: Lesser known volcanoes to visit in El Salvador

Start your day by visiting one of the region’s coffee plantations. Here, you’ll learn about the coffee-making process, from the cultivation of beans to the art of brewing.

El Salvador’s coffee is revered worldwide for its quality, and this experience provides an opportunity to savor it at its source.

In the afternoon, set off on a hike in Cerro Verde National Park. The park offers a variety of trails suitable for different fitness levels.

Whether you’re up for an easy walk or a more challenging hike, you’ll be rewarded with stunning views of Coatepeque Lake, a tranquil volcanic crater lake surrounded by lush greenery.

The shimmering blue waters contrast beautifully with the verdant hills and make for a picturesque backdrop.

Day 6: Suchitoto

Say farewell to the Apaneca Highlands and make your way to Suchitoto, a colonial town nestled along the shores of Lake Suchitlán. Suchitoto is a tranquil, culturally rich destination, offering a change of pace from your mountain adventures.

Your first stop in Suchitoto is the Santa Lucía Church, a well-preserved colonial gem with charming architecture. Stroll around the central plaza, where cobblestone streets and local shops create an inviting atmosphere.

Immerse yourself in the local culture by exploring the town’s market, a hub of activity where you can purchase handcrafted souvenirs and interact with friendly artisans. Take this opportunity to sample regional dishes in one of the town’s cozy restaurants.

To fully appreciate the natural beauty of the area, embark on a boat tour on Lake Suchitlán . This tranquil journey allows you to spot various bird species and soak in the serene beauty of the lake’s surroundings.

Day 7: Joya de Cerén, Tazumal, and Departure

As your journey in El Salvador approaches its end, it’s time to return to San Salvador. However, there are a few intriguing stops to make along the way.

Visit the Tazumal Archaeological Site in Chalchuapa , which offers insights into the ancient Maya civilization that once thrived in this region. Explore the pyramids, plazas, and the museum to gain a deeper understanding of El Salvador’s rich archaeological history.

If you didn’t have a chance to visit on Day 2, make a quick stop at the Joya de Cerén Archaeological Site, often called the “Pompeii of the Americas .”

This UNESCO World Heritage Site provides a fascinating glimpse into the daily life of the Mayan villagers who once inhabited this location.

Savor your final evening in San Salvador by enjoying the city’s lively nightlife. Choose a restaurant that serves traditional Salvadoran cuisine and reflect on your extraordinary journey through this remarkable country.

This one week itinerary offers a well-rounded experience of El Salvador, encompassing historical and cultural exploration, outdoor adventures , and relaxation.

As you plan your perfect week in El Salvador, consider exploring some additional activities and experiences, such as hot springs, artisan workshops, or more hiking in different national parks.

El Salvador is a country of surprises, and your adventure can be as unique as you are.

This comprehensive itinerary is just the beginning of your journey through the captivating landscapes, rich history, and vibrant culture of El Salvador.

Whether you’re a solo traveler , a couple, or a group of friends and family, this remarkable destination has something to offer everyone.

So, pack your bags, embark on your adventure, and create your own unforgettable memories in the “ Land of Volcanoes .” Enjoy your trip!

Did you know…. When you buy something after clicking on one of my links, I get a small commission. However, you continue to pay the same amount!

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I’m Magdalena – Globetrotter, Free Spirit, and your personal travel guide. Since 2017, I’ve been calling France my home while exploring and falling in love with 35+ diverse countries, from the frost-kissed ski towns to the sun-kissed beaches of Costa Rica and El Salvador. Thrive and Wander is a testament to my adventures, filled with destination guides, travel itineraries, and tips for solo female travel. So grab your backpack, let go of your fears, and join me on this journey to explore our beautiful world!

• Naturaleza y aventura
• Pueblos y ciudades
• Parques Arqueológicos
• Salud y bienestar
• Home of the right surf
• Oriente salvaje
• Entre volcanes y el mar
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• Sobre El Salvador

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19 Best Places To Visit in El Salvador in 2024

Planning a trip to El Salvador in 2024? This is your guide to visit the most beautiful places in the country. El Salvador may be a small nation but it is rich in both culture and geography. This stunning ‘must-visit’ country sits in the heart of Central America on the Pacific Ocean.

El Salvador has incredible national parks, long stretches of breathtaking untouched beaches, enchanting waterfalls, marvellous lakes, mountainous areas with picturesque villages, a plethora of inland attractions like the vast plains of coffee plantations and of course the incredible volcanos.

All the El Salvador tourist attractions listed are based on my own experiences traveling in El Salvador. Salva the owner of the tour agency, Tunco Life guided me around and showed the best his country had to offer. Have a look at the Tunco Life website for more inspiration about traveling to El Salvador.

Thanks to its majestic and diverse landscapes, El Salvador has become a melting pot for tourists from different parts of the globe who wish to get away and explore the unknown. For wanderlusters looking for the perfect escape away from all the noise and pollution, El Salvador would be a great unspoilt destination off the beaten path in Central America.

Here is a little recap video of some of my adventures in El Salvador.

Stay connected when traveling to El Salvador. This is my guide for  buying a sim card for El Salvador in 2024  with the best prepaid sim cards and e-sim cards.

Amongst a long list of possible tourist destinations to visit in El Salvador, here are 19 of the most beautiful and famous places for anyone interested in exploring this side of Central America.

Related: 24 Best Places to Visit in Honduras !

1. El Tunco - Surf Village

Undoubtedly one of the most famous places to visit in El Salvador and that for a little surf town. El Tunco is all about surfing and thousands of surf fanatics flock to the El Salvador coast to show off their skills.

El Tunco is always listed among the best things to do in El Salvador, but even if you are not into surfing you don’t want to miss this place when visiting El Salvador.

El Tunco is located just 45 minutes south of the capital San Salvador on the coast near to Libertat. It feels like a mix of the uncomplicated backpacker vibe of Southeast Asia mixed with a Latin vibe. The village itself is pretty small, but there are restaurants, bars, backpacker hotels and souvenir shops everywhere.

Try renting a scooter to go around the coast to discover hidden gems, restaurants with endless ocean views, fancy hotels, lovely restaurants, beach parties, waterfalls and more. Also visiting the boulevard and the fish market in Libertat are cool things to do in El Tunco. Another lovely little town on the coast of Libertat is El Zonte, similar to El Tunco, but much less crowded.

On my trip to El Salvador I made El Tunco and Libertat my base for a couple days from where I visited some of the most beautiful places to visit in El Salvador.

Where to stay in El Tunco

If you are traveling El Salvador on a budget I recommend Hotel Mopelia . It has affordable private rooms as well as dorm rooms, fast WiFi, a swimming pool and a lively bar with more than 50 different craft beers from around the world.

If you are looking for a great mid range hotel then head over to the town of El Zonte and stay at the Palo Verde Hotel . A lovely and quiet boutique hotel with Bali vibes.

If you looking to splurge I can recommend the Acantilados luxury hotel with an amazing infinity pool looking over the pacific ocean.

2. Mizata - Hidden Gem Coastal Town

We stay on the Pacific coast for our next El Salvador tourist attraction: Mizata. Just like El Tunco a sleepy coastal town catered towards surfers. But when you think El Tunco was too touristy then head to Mizata.

There is not much going on in Mizata, but this is where you find the ultimate El Salvador holiday feeling. Very laid-back, off the beaten path and the ultimate place to chill on the beach in El Salvador.

The surf breaks in Mizata is what most people come for, but there are also organized pool parties in weekends and there is a cool young crowd that gathers here. Mizata is located about 45 minutes East of El Tunco on the way to the Ruta de las Flores, another famous thing to do in El Salvador.

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Where to stay in Mizata

One of my favorite places to go in El Salvador is Nawi Beach House . This hotel is located directly on the beach and has an incredible laid-back vibe. Some rooms face the ocean and have porches. Highlight of the hotel is the big infinity pool with attached beach bar. Nawi Beach House organizes pool parties every month.

3. Suchitoto - Colonial town

Consider starting your trip to El Salvador  by exploring this cool area and if possible spend a day or two there and combine it with another amazing places to visit in El Salvador: Lake Suchitlan.

Suchitoto is a historical sleepy yet colorful town with picturesque views of the mountainous area around Lago Suchitlán. The little municipality has great colonial architecture and marvellous historic landmarks, but it is also a great place to go for outdoor activities.

This colonial town still has arty-crafty cobblestone streets and adobe homes. If you’re looking to learn some history you should visit the 18th century Santa Lucia Church. If art is what you’re after, make a point of visiting the Centro Arte para la Paz which is a museum and convent.

This little charming town has very friendly and welcoming locals. Aside from its old town vibe and laid-back ambiance, you should try to do a Indigo Art (Arte Añil) workshop. You will learn how to use natural colors and create your own colorful t-shirt. You can find the Arte Añil workshop right on the corner of the main square opposite the Tourist Office.

Where to stay in Suchitoto

I can recommend you Casa 1800 Suchitoto with the most amazing views over Lake Suchitlan.

The attached restaurant serves delicious food. This colonial boutique hotel is one of my secret El Salvador travel tips. Great place for lunch.

4. Lake Suchitlán - the largest lake in El Salvador

Only a stone’s throw away from Suchitoto you can find the largest (man-made) lake in El Salvador. The lake was created after the construction of the Cerron Grande dam in 1976.

The most popular thing to do in Lake Suchitlan is of course a boat ride across the lake. Visitors can also see wildlife in the surrounding areas like sloths, monkeys, iguanas. Bird watching is also very popular when visiting Lake Suchitlan. If you are looking for more active tours in Lake Suchitlan then try kayaking.

You can arrange a boat ride yourself by walking down from Suchitoto to Puerto Touristico San Juan and ask one of the local fishermen to take you around. Bring some food, cold beers and I am sure you have a great day out on the lake.

Not far away from Lake Suchitlan is the 13 meter (39 ft) Los Tercios Waterfall for anyone seeking a dose of the outdoors. About 2.5 miles down the road from the waterfall are the hot springs of Agua Calienter that are rich in natural beauty.

If you still have some time left, venture a little further away and explore the iconic Guazapa volcano. Here you can also learn much more about El Salvador’s civil war history. When visiting Lake Suchitlan I recommend you booking a hotel in Suchitoto.

4. San Salvador Historic Center

San Salvador is not only the capital but also the economic, cultural and political center of El Salvador.

The infrastructure is still haphazard even though it’s been under repairs. This may be attributed to scars from earthquakes and previous wars. Definitely not all of the areas in San Salvador are worth visiting, but the historic center surely is a tourist attraction worth adding to your El Salvador things to do list.

There’s an easy-going atmosphere in this densely populated city and tourists are often shocked to find laid-back locals and a relatively slow pace to the city. The historic center has a captivating appearance in one magisterial metropolis – a blend of colonial structures and 21st-century modern architecture.

Some of the best places to visit in San Salvador are: the iconic National Palace, National Theater, National Cathedral, Monumento al Divino Salvador del Mundo, El Calvario Church.

The Iglesia El Rosario is one of the most remarkable places to go. Ugly from the outside, impressive from the inside.

Additionally, the historic district has amazing plazas like the Gerardo Barrios Plaza, Liberty Plaza, and Plaza Francisco Morazan.

Is it safe to visit San Salvador? Well let me tell you that I launched my drone right in front of the cathedral on the main square. I found it completely safe and locals were super friendly.

Despite being a majestic metropolis, you will only be a few hours away from dignified natural beauty this country has to offer. This makes San Salvador also a great base when exploring any tourist destination around the country. There are gorgeous volcanoes, stunning crater lakes, and parks just around the corner.

Where to stay in San Salvador

Hotels in San Salvador are not really cheap, but you can find some good ones for about $50 per night and up. Best area to stay is in and around San Benito where the nightlife, restaurants, etc. are located.

I can recommend you Hotel Villa Serena San Benito . Very simple, but affordable compared to other hotels and in a good location.

Are you ready to splurge then look at these 5 star hotels in San Salvador: Barceló , Real Intercontinental or the Sheraton Presidente .

5. Santa Ana Volcano - Popular El Salvador Activity

Are you looking for outdoor activities on your El Salvador trip? If the answer is yes then you need to visit Cerro Verde National Park and hike up to the rim of the highest volcano in El Salvador: Santa Ana.

Undoubtedly one of the best places to see in El Salvador is the green crater lakes of the Santa Ana Volcano and to get there you will need to hike up for about 1,5 hour from the Parque Nacional Cerro Verde entrance.

Santa Ana is the highest volcano in El Salvador at 2,381 metres (7,812 ft) above sea level, but don’t worry everyone can do this. It does not matter if you do it in 45 minutes or 2 hours. The hike first goes uphill through the forest and then follows a steeper rocky part. The last bit is a little more flat until you reach the crater rim.

You can do the Santa Ana volcano hike by yourself but you must be accompanied by a guide. The entrance fee is $6 and the hike starts at around 1,850 meters (6.070 ft). Hike can be appointed at the entrance gate. I had to wait a little for the group to depart, but after 10 minutes everyone chooses their own pace and never saw my group anymore.

There is a parking spot if you drive up to the Cerro Verde National Park. There is also a bus stop if you like to use public transport. You can visit the Santa Ana volcano easily from San Salvador (1 hour) El Tunco, Libertat (1 hour 15 minutes) or from the nearby city called Santa Ana.

6. Cerro Verde National Park - Hikes with breathtaking views

The above mentioned Santa Ana Volcano is located in the Cerro Verde National Park, but there is more to Cerro Verde National Park than the spectacular Santa Ana volcano.

In fact there are 2 more volcanoes: Izalco and Cerro Verde. This amazing place to visit in El Salvador is also called Los Volcanos National Park.

These volcanoes in the Cerro Verde National Park are home to some brilliant flora and fauna and tourists also enjoy various activities such as guided bird-watching, horseback riding, numerous walking trails and viewing platforms with views over the Santa Ana and the Izalco volcanos. But also over the beautiful Lake Coatepeque and Ruta de las Flores.

The Cerro Verde volcano is generally considered to be the most popular and this is why the park is named after it. It’s more of a mountain that boasts of one of the country’s few cloud forests as it’s covered with dense vegetation.

The volcanoes have a long history of eruptions. Izalco was once known as the “Lighthouse of the Pacific” due to its 200-straight years of eruptions until the 1960s. Santa Ana is the most active of them all, with steam constantly rising from one of its craters - sulfurous lagoons. 

7. City of Santa Ana - Historical city vibes

This is the second-largest city and a top tourist destination in El Salvador. It offers tourists an urban appeal with a tranquil environment.

Santa Ana’s early 20th-century neo-Gothic cathedral, elaborately decorated theatre, and picturesque main square get lots of tourists. The aforementioned theatre is called Teatro de Santa Ana and the main square is known as Parque Libertad. Sometimes visitors can enjoy a live performance at the theatre – this would be a great experience for art lovers.

Lastly, the City of Santa Ana is an ideal location to stay in and take day trips to explore various tourist spots around the country. Some great locations that you can venture to outside the city include scenic Lake Coatepeque, Ruta de las Flores, Chalchuapa archeological site and of course the Cerro Verde National Park.

Any coffee lovers in the house? Santa Ana, being home to the biggest coffee industry has so much to offer you. While here, don’t forget to visit downtown Santa Ana and enjoy the gastronomy and sample local brews as you do some shopping. Visiting a coffee plantation is one of the best things to do in El Salvador.

8. Joya de Ceren - UNESCO World Heritage Site

Joya de Ceren is an extraordinarily well preserved Mayan village. The village was abandoned in a rush in 640 AD as the people who once lived there were fleeing from an eruption of Laguna de Caldera.

Joya de Ceren boasts of a rich cultural heritage and has stunning landmarks. It is the only UNESCO World Heritage site in El Salvador.

This paradise of breathtaking natural wonders was buried in volcanic ash. As a result, the city was left hidden but intact. The town was discovered much later – in the year 1976.

9. La Palma - Backpackers favorite

Your trip to El Salvador wouldn’t be complete without visiting this quaint mountain village. La Palma is located in the Chalatenango department of the country. It boasts a gorgeous and natural landscape as well as a vibrant art scene. As you walk through the city you’ll take note of the fascinating graffiti and murals on the walls.

La Palma is famous for being the town where the celebrated artist – Fernando Llort – taught. He used bright colors, childish images, and religious themes to capture the hearts of the El Salvadorans.

There are numerous galleries and art workshops where tourists can pass their time as they soak in the town’s beautiful artistic heritage. Today, many of the town’s residents make a living by practicing his artistic style.

Thanks to its mountainous topography, visitors can enjoy picturesque views on the scenic hiking routes around La Palma that are safe for tourists.

This town is pretty close to the Honduran border so many visitors choose to stay here for convenience when on a trip around Central America. La Palma is a great place to visit in El Salvador for backpackers.

From the wall paintings and town murals to workshops, old-fashioned Llort-inspired souvenirs, and the mosaic Central Park, a stop at La Palma is definitely worth it, especially for art lovers.

10. Tazumal - Archeological site

Tazumal is a cluster of unusual step pyramids that was established around 400 AD. The highest of these pyramids (and the largest in the country) reaches up to a height of 23 meters (75 ft). Its self-governing status lasted until Spanish forces moved into El Salvador in the 1520s, after which the local people were defeated and exploited.

The Stanley H. Boggs Museum displays artefacts that were uncovered during the excavation and is a fascinating place to go. Visiting this on-site museum gives you a glimpse of Tazumal’s past. 

Some of the artefacts displayed here include pottery, statues, and incense burners.

One of the most notable items in the museum is the Stone of Victories statue. This artefact provides rare evidence of a connection between modern-day El Salvador and what is now Veracruz, Mexico.

11. Juayua - Ruta de las Flores

This town is located on the western side of the country in the hilly countryside. It’s perched in and between the hills of the country and tourists can expect to enjoy picturesque views and a cool breeze.

Juayua offers a plethora of natural attractions. The small town of Juayua is part of the astonishing La Ruta de Las Flores (Flower route), a very famous tourist attraction in El Salvador. I promise this route is going to captivate your heart.

From Juayua you can hop on the route of the Seven Waterfalls as well and visit several beautiful waterfalls. One of the best places to visit in Juayua is the Los Chorros de La Calera waterfall.

Thanks to its gastronomy which you can taste daily, this town is a paradise for foodies. You shouldn’t miss the weekend food festival – the Gastronomica Fair – where tourists go on a palatable culinary adventure.

Additionally, the area produces some of the best coffee beans in the country. Sample this in Juayua.

Lastly, Juayua is also well-known for the magnificent murals painted by local artists that can be found all over the town.

Where to stay in Ruta de las Flores

If you decide to explore the Ruta de las Flores and its many cool things to do and places to visit I recommend you finding a base for 2 or 3 nights. There are many hidden gems around these mountains villages and accommodation is affordable.

A highly recommended Ruta de las Flores hotel is Hotel Juayua . Get yourself a room with a view and enjoy absolutely breathtaking views over the volcanos of El Salvador all the way to the ocean.

Hotel Juayua has a swimming pool as well and we are talking about $50 per night only. Hotel Juayua also offers Temazcal ceremonies in their own sweat iglo.

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12. Sonsonate - Ruta de las Flores

Make sure that the majestic city of Sonsonate is on your El Salvador itinerary. Sonsonate is also located on the Ruta de las Flores.

Sonsonate features a gorgeous landscape with vast plain lands, charming old-world neighborhoods, and a tranquil ambiance all through the city. Visitors here get to enjoy the most enchanting views.

While in Sonsonate, don’t miss out on learning the history of the city and check out its train and transport heritage in Railway Museum Plaza. If you have some extra time on your hands, pass by the Sonsonate Cathedral and say a prayer before embarking on an exciting adventure to Parque Aquatico Escudo.

13. Laguna Verde - Mountain Lake

A small lake located off the beaten path on the Ruta de las Flores. Laguna Verde is hidden away up in the mountains. The adventure of visiting Laguna Verde already starts in Quezalapa where you can rent dirt bikes or buggies.

Buggy tours are guided and lead you through coffee plantations and through local villages for about 20 minutes until you reach Laguna Verde. Unfortunately swimming is not allowed in Laguna Verde, but there is a little boat that can take you out.

You can also rent mountain bikes and bike around the laguna and the surroundings before you hop back in your buggy and drive back to Quezalapa. I joined one of the tours of Apaneca Adventure Tours and I would highly recommend them to you.

14. Cafe Albania - Adrenaline Park

Another amazing place to visit in El Salvador and located on the Ruta de las Flores is a small little adventure park. Cafe Albania sounds like a coffee place or may be a coffee plantation, but instead we are talking about zip lining, a swing and more.

Cafe Albania is an adrenaline park and one of the coolest things to do in El Salvador. There are three zip lines, a free-fall swing, a maze and an elevated bike track. The views of the surrounding are pretty spectacular up here.

If you are not into any of these adventures you can enjoy a drink and a meal with a view in their restaurant overlooking the valley. Cafe Albania is definitely one of the best places to visit in El Salvador for cool Instagram photos.

15. Nahuizalco and Cascada la Golondrinera - Indigenous heritage

Also on the Ruta de las Flores you can find the village of Nahuizalco, one of the Pueblos Vivos in El Salvador. Pueblos Vivos means lively villages in English and basically is a designated tourist destination in El Salvador by the government.

It is a cute little town with a main square, a cathedral, coffee places, live music and souvenir shops. A typical laid-back touristy town in the mountains. Nahuizalco is where you will find most indigenous people of El Salvador.

The Museo Comunitario Nahuat Pipil is a must visit when traveling to Nahuizalco. It will tell you all about the dark past of this hill station and the massacre that occurred here in 1932, when around 20.000 indigenous people where killed in 1 month.

The entrance to the museum is free and visiting only takes you about 10 minutes, but be prepared for a heavy story.

One of the best things to do in Nahuizalco is visiting the nearby Cascada la Golondrinera. This hidden waterfall is one of my best kept El Salvador travel tips. Hidden away from mass tourism, even my guide had never been there. Tours to the Golondrinera waterfalls are hard to find, but where there is a will there is a way.

You start a short hike at a local village nearby guided by a local. The hike follows a path down to the river which you will be crossing until you hit a small narrow canyon. Here you will enter the river and walk through the canyon for about 10 minutes until you hit the hidden Cascada la Golondrinera.

A secret but beautiful place to visit in El Salvador! Don’t miss out on this one.

16. San Miguel - 3th biggest city

This is El Salvador’s third largest and most populated city and is located on the eastern side of the country. Despite not being very well developed, it’s a popular tourist destination in El Salvador.

This gorgeous city hugs the country’s small eastern coast, offering close proximity to several beach towns with some of Central America’s best surf. The San Miguel coastal locale is a major center of trade that has some of the country’s high-quality seafood.

In November, the town hosts a fun-filled festival – the San Miguel Carnival – that’s one for the books and among the best things to do in El Salvador in November. The festival is full of color, lights, fantastic food, and thrilling rides.

Don’t forget to wear light clothes as this is the hottest destination in the country especially during summer.

There are a bunch of outdoor activities available around the city such as hiking along the highly active San Miguel Volcano and the nearby San Vincente volcano that has some of the country’s most challenging trail-less hikes. Be ready to enjoy the breathtaking views from the peaks of these volcanos.

Its historical downtown offers some noteworthy landmarks such as the 19th-century Cathedral and Francisco Gavidia Theatre to the San Miguel Market and the bustling Avenida Roosevelt. This is one of the best places to go in El Salvador for nightlife.

17. El Mozote - Dark history

This fascinating village is located in the Morazán department. Historians are fond of exploring this village with a grim history. This is where the El Mozote massacre took place where about one thousand civilians were killed by the US Government-funded army called the Atlacatl Battalion.

Monument De La Paz La Reconciliación has now become a symbol of that tragic period and the dark side of the history of El Salvador.

If you’re visiting El Mozote for adventure, you’ll be spoilt for choice as there are numerous attractions. Some beautiful places to visit are the waterfalls of: Llano del Muerto, Cascadas las Pilas, and Cascada la Olamina.

18. Ruta de Paz - Civil War History

The name “Ruta de Paz” translates to “Path of Peace.” This is a popular tourist route that winds through the area hit hardest by the civil war. The path is located in the Morazán department which is the former nucleus of the guerrillas during the war.

Tourists encounter beautiful mountains and quaint colonial towns with three main stops along the route. The stops are at Perquin, Arambala, and San Fernando.

Perquin is the most popular among these stops and even has accommodation for tourists. If you’re into sight-seeing, city walks, and getting to know the culture and history of El Salvador, then Perquin is definitely adding to your list of places to go in El Salvador.

This delightful little municipality also has a fair share of pleasant natural wonders that make it an ideal destination for nature lovers and adventurous thrill-seekers.

Ruta de Paz can best be visited on a day trip from either El Mozote or San Miguel.

19. Conchagua Volcano - Ultimate adventure

Last but not least the Conchagua Volcano all the way in the most southeastern point of the country. If you hike up to the top you will be rewarded with one of the best views imaginable. Conchagua Volcano surely deserves a spot on this list of best places to visit in El Salvador.

Unfortunately due to weather conditions I was not able to visit myself, but it has been on my list for years. Camping on top of Conchagua overlooking the Gulf of Fonseca that borders Nicaragua, Honduras and El Salvador.

Waking up with sunrise views of the islands of Conchaguita, Meanguera, Zacatillo and Tiger Island will be an unforgettable El Salvador travel experience.

Is it safe to travel to El Salvador?

For most people, the idea of visiting El Salvador seems a bit questionable. You can’t blame them for thinking that El Salvador is unsafe for tourists as the media has put this country in a really bad position.

El Salvador doesn’t rank amongst the world’s safest countries but it neither is the “crime-filled” state that the media paints it to be. As a matter of fact, El Salvador is very safe for tourists in 2024 and that is based on my own experiences.

Stating this I am sure sparks a big discussion because who am I to tell you that it is a safe country when the whole world screams it is one of the unsafest countries to travel.

I sincerely invite you to watch my series of Instagram stories in my highlights. You will see me road tripping through El Salvador without any issues.

Despite previously having a reputation as an unsafe country, El Salvador is now one of Central America’s safest countries to visit. The country’s distasteful reputation has changed rapidly over the recent years and more and more tourists are discovering this up-and-coming travel destination.

El Salvador is an amazing travel destination for those who are interested in surfing, laid-back beach towns, hiking, volcano adventures, backpacking, but also for the luxury traveler there are some amazing luxury hotels, private villas and trendy boutique hotels.

Just use standard precocious and common sense when traveling in El Salvador and you will be fine. Just like in any other country around the world. 

Things to know when traveling to El Salvador?

Apart from its gorgeous natural wonders, El Salvador has super friendly and very hospitable people. The infrastructure is also pretty good so getting around is easy. It’s easy to navigate through the majority of the country via a series of the inner city and national bus routes. If you’re planning to venture outside the city, I recommend you to rent a car. It is the easiest way to get to the best places to see in El Salvador.

The country has a predominant tropical climate. The best time to visit El Salvador is from November through March. This is the driest time and you’ll avoid the worst heat of April before the rains start in May and last till October.

There are numerous local markets and giant shopping malls where visitors can find whatever it is that they want to buy in El Salvador. The dining options are also quite varied. One famous delicacy found in El Salvador is pupusas. These are classic tortillas stuffed with a mixture of cheese, minced meat, spicy sauce, and a variety of vegetables (carrots and cabbages are the most commonly used.) Other foods include rice, beans, pork, chicken, and lots of seafood at the coast.

Expect that your stay in this pretty country will exceed your expectations and will help you break all the misconceptions you have.

My experiences traveling to El Salvador

As you have seen, El Salvador condenses so many brilliant places within its borders. With its civil war over two decades ago, tourists from all works of life are now discovering the array of tourist attractions in El Salvador.

I arrived by bus from Tegucigalpa, Honduras. I first spent some time in the capital San Salvador before I moved on to the Pacific Coast were I found it hard to leave. As said in the above explore the villages in Libertat and find your favorite one.

The Ruta de las Flores I explored by car for a couple days and enjoyed the tranquil temperatures and amazing adventures in the rolling green hills. Never did I feel unsafe or uncomfortable on my trip to El Salvador.

My El Salvador travel tips in short: eat Pupasas, chase waterfalls, conquer big waves, enjoy the sunsets, sip coffee, climb volcanos and meet the friendly local people.

I hope all the above tips for traveling to El Salvador were helpful. Let me know if you have any additional questions, please leave me a comment below and I am more than happy to help answering your questions.

If you decide to travel to El Salvador after reading this article it would sincerely make me happy as I think the country deserves it a lot. Still suffering from having such a bad image from that past, but 100% is nothing like that anymore.

As per January 2024 I have visited more than 155 countries around the world on my  road to visit every country in the world . El Salvador is definitely among my favorite countries in Central America and surely I will be back again in 2024.

For more info about my trip to El Salvador check out my Instagram Page @traveltomtom .

      View this post on Instagram       A post shared by Adventure Travel & Blogger (@traveltomtom)

Enjoy your trip to El Salvador!

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How to See El Salvador Like an Insider

The first thing you notice about Rafael Hernandez is his smile. Bright, youthful, and beaming, it’s a toothy grin you’d think belonged to a child. But now in his late 40s, Hernandez is anything but a babe in the woods.

As the head park ranger at the Cinquera Forest, located in the Northeast corner of El Salvador, Hernandez takes his job seriously. And really, you can’t blame him. He spent the better part of a decade protecting the rugged landscape and the people hiding in it from total destruction during the country’s gruesome civil war.

In Cinquera, on a day with air so thick you could cut it with a knife, Hernandez walked our small group through the national park. Along the way, he named nearly every bug, plant, and animal, and even warmly greeted the stray puppy who apparently frequents the trail. He was so connected to each leaf you’d swear they were saying “hello” back.

At the top of the trail, Hernandez stopped to tell us his life story. In deliberate and frank terms he explained how he and a few dozen other guerilla fighters lived in this very forest during the war. Here, they shot down helicopters, fought off government-led insurgents, and ensured the safety of the people. He even lifted a pant leg to show off the shrapnel scars to prove it.

After a decade of fighting, the war ended. But Hernandez knew the fight for his nation’s wellbeing had only just begun. So, it was then that he transitioned from fighter to lover in an attempt to care for the rich landscape we stood on as — of all things — an official government worker.

“Then, I’d die for the people,” Hernandez said of his time as a guerilla in the civil war. “Now, I’d die for the land.”

Hernandez is just one man, but he’s the perfect representation of why you should be visiting El Salvador right now too.

Nestled under Guatemala, sandwiched by Honduras and the Pacific Ocean, the tiny nation might just be Central America's best-kept secret.

With just 8,124 square miles of space and a mere 6 million citizens, El Salvador is surely tiny, which is how it got its nickname of El Pulgarcito de Centroamérica or "The Thumbelina of Central America." It’s a nation rich with history, experiences, and beauty. Of course, it’s also one also brimming with controversy and a whole lot of misunderstanding.

Right now, El Salvador comes with a level 3 travel warning by the U.S. government that reads: "Reconsider travel to El Salvador due to crime. Violent crime, such as murder, assault, rape, and armed robbery, is common. Gang activity, such as extortion, violent street crime, and narcotics and arms trafficking, is widespread."

The U.S. Department of State didn't give El Salvador a 4, which means don't go. Instead, it warned travelers to be aware of their surroundings, which is sage advice for traveling to just about anywhere. It is important, however, to find the right people to guide you.

If you can work up the gumption to see a new place, want to engage with a population of people like Hernandez who are more than ready to show you a side of a country that doesn’t make it into the headlines, and are willing to take safety precautions, El Salvador is for you. Here’s where to go, what to see, and how you can take a hike with Hernandez too.

Invest in a guide.

This point cannot be stressed enough: Get a guide, get a guide, get a guide. (Did I mention you should get a guide?) Though beautiful, there are still plenty of places visitors should avoid. And that’s where a trusty local comes into play.

On our trip through the nation, we happened to have one of the best guides on the market: Benjamin Rivera, a tour guide with Salvadorean Tours . On the tour, Rivera arranged our every move from hotel to hotel, lunch place to dinner, and helped translate every word we couldn’t. Hire him, or someone like him, to do the same for you.

Get ready to buy a lot of art.

Like the other Central American countries surrounding it, El Salvador has long been home to artistic talent.

For a prime example, pay a visit to Arbol de Dios, the gallery and art shop of the renowned Salvadoran artist Fernando Llort . Llort, who died in August of 2018, is perhaps one of the nation's most important and prolific artists. In 1985, he founded his art house as a way to showcase the culture of his beloved El Salvador. Inside, visitors can learn and pay homage to the man and even take part in a small tile painting workshop.

Try all the delicious food.

If you’ve ever tasted Latin food, then you have a sense of what you’re in for. But, El Salvador is also home one culinary treat so divine you could (and probably will) eat it for every meal: pupusas.

Pupusas, considered the national dish of El Salvador, are thick corn tortillas stuffed with smashed beans, cheese, or pork, or some combination thereof. They are then served alongside a tomato sauce and cabbage and vinegar garnish.

While you can get your hands on pupusas on just about every corner, there’s perhaps no better place to indulge than Casa 1800 , a boutique hotel and restaurant located in Suchitoto, the “Cradle of History and Culture," in El Salvador.

These Are the Most Common Items People Forget to Pack

Also known as the "Place of the Bird Flower,” Suchitoto offers visitors the ideal view of the country’s history thanks to its landscapes, architecture, and, of course, through its meals. Take a quick detour off the cobblestone streets, through the large wooden doors of Casa 1800, and you’ll be smacked with a view so vast you’ll think it never ends. There, you can cook alongside the hotel’s chef, who will attempt (with a great deal of patience) to teach you how to perfect the pupusa too.

Get ready to adore tie-dye once more.

El Salvador happens to be one of the biggest — and best — producers of indigo in the world. And, because tie-dye is having such a major fashion moment, your 2019 trip to the country wouldn’t be complete without taking part in an indigo workshop to make a piece for yourself. Head to Suchitoto, where you can create a piece alongside master indigo creator Irma Guadron at her shop for just $25 per person.

Be prepared to fall in love with the landscape.

The best part about visiting such a small nation is the fact that you can literally see it all. On our trip, we spent time in the forest, hiked a volcano (located at the El Boquerón National Park , which comes with an entrance fee of just $2) and hit the beach, in a span of just a few days.

To hike with Hernandez, head to the Northeast section of San Salvador to the town of Cinquera. There, you may get lucky enough to see Hernandez, the head park ranger at the Cinquera Forest (otherwise known as Parque Ecologico Bosque de Cinquera) and have him hike beside you. Don’t worry, if Hernandez isn’t personally available there are still plenty of staffers to help you.

Though the forest is beautiful, there was perhaps nothing like looking out onto the Pacific Ocean in the coastal town of El Zonte and realizing it had one of the most perfect right waves on Earth. In El Zonte, we cozied up at the Palo Verde hotel ($129/night), an eco-friendly surf retreat where the owner will personally help guests sign up for surf lessons and ensure their every need is tended to.

Now, all you need to do is book your flight (several non-stops are available from both New York City and Los Angeles). Soon, you will be singing the praises of travel to El Salvador to anyone who will listen, too.

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15 Tips for Visiting El Salvador: Saftey & More

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El Salvador  has grown in popularity in the last couple of years for visitors, and for good reason! It’s home to over 200 miles of coastline and hundreds of volcanoes, and there’s truly something for every type of visitor to  enjoy in El Salvador .

If you’re planning a trip here, though, you’ve probably heard a lot of different things about El Salvador. To help you prepare for your trip, here are my tips for visiting El Salvador.

PS my husband’s family is from El Salvador so many of these tips come from them and their tips for us before our trip. They were extremely helpful in planning our trip and making sure we were prepared so glad I can share these tips for El Salvador with you!

Tip 1: Safety

Salvadorans are some of the most kind and welcoming people. You’ll find people very welcoming and easygoing here! Things move at a slow pace and are relaxed. Below are a few tips for staying safe and understanding the culture.

• Stay alert and don’t walk alone at night: While El Salvador is relatively safe right now, there are still cases where people run into trouble. Staying alert and in groups made us feel safe through Colonial San Benito and around El Tunco at night.
• Stay aware of your belongings: Just like in Europe, the most common type of crime against tourists is theft. Keep an eye on your belongings. Don’t put them in a back pocket, keep them in a cross-body bag, and don’t set down your things without holding onto them.
• Don’t underdress : El Salvador is still pretty traditional and religious, so dressing more conservatively is expected. This is less important in major tourist areas and more important in places like Ruta de Flores or outside San Salvador/El Tunco.
• Do not take photos at any local religious ceremonies in El Salvador or of the people without asking. If you feel like you must, let’s say if you’re invited to a ceremony or something, always ask beforehand.
• Be polite and courteous . When addressing someone, always start with a simple buenas . Also, don’t be afraid to offer a friendly greeting when sitting down next to someone. Make sure to give a formal greeting to anyone older or of a higher ranking (so Señora or Señor ) and use the more formal usted rather than a simple vos .

Tip 2: Choose a “home base” for your trip

As you plan where you’re going to stay , it’s important to keep in mind the top things you want to do, of course, but the good news is El Salvador is a small country. It’s easy to choose a home base for your trip and take day trips from there. There are all types of day trips you can take – hiking a volcano, visiting a coffee farm, exploring a beautiful village, swimming in a volcanic lake, and so much more. You’ll find there are a lot of fun things to do in El Salvador .

I’d recommend staying either in San Salvador or at the beach near El Tunco in La Libertad. These two areas have plenty to do and will be easily walkable for you in the evenings after a day of exploring on any day trips you choose to take.

In San Salvador, I recommend staying in San Benito at the Barcelo . Highly walkable and a great location for heading to many popular sites on the western side of El Salvador.

In El Tunco, I’d recommend Los Farallones . Walkable to many different places and right on the beach. This is an excellent spot for your trip!

Tip 3: Weather and What to Pack

El Salvador has a relatively homogeneous climate, with pronounced rainy and dry seasons and moderate temperatures. The country’s tropical climate has a typical wet season ( May-October ) and dry season ( November-April ).

Keep in mind that El Salvador’s climate can vary based on the region due to its diverse topography. Coastal areas are generally hot and humid, while higher elevations offer cooler temperatures.

When deciding what to pack, it’s best to pack for hot weather as well as one long-sleeve or light jacket for higher altitudes and evenings. Get my full one week El Salvador packing list when you subscribe to my website!

Tip 4: Get around by Uber, hiring a driver, or bus

In El Salvador, Uber is easily accessible, safe, and simple in areas like San Salvador and El Tunco. However, it can be more difficult to get an Uber outside these main areas. Make sure your phone will work so you can easily call an Uber when needed! We found that all trips were between $2-$7, with our trips ranging from a five minute to twenty minute drive.

I would recommend hiring a driver for your time in El Salvador outside these two areas, such as for day trips to Ruta de Flores or Santa Ana Volcano. We used a family friend of my husband, and it cost us about $100 a day split between four of us. This saved us so much worry, time, and effort on our trip. We were able to do everything we wanted and more, along with discovering places that we didn’t even know about! You can find recommendations for local guides here .

The old school buses, known by many as the “ chicken buses ” are very cheap and always available. You can spend between 40 cents to 2 dollars. However, it takes lots of time to get you to your destination. The bus has many stops on the way, and this is one of the causes of the delay. You will likely have this means of transportation as the only option when you visit any small town in the country if you don’t have a driver.

Tip 5: US Dollar is the currency

The main currency used in El Salvador is USD, which you can get from ATMs throughout the country. Credit cards and debit cards are accepted in most places throughout El Salvador, but you will find that sometimes machines are not working, and you will need to be prepared to have some cash on hand at all times just in case. Having a little cash is also nice because then you can easily tip staff with a few dollars when needed.

Note: It’s not recommended that you carry large amounts of cash with you. While El Salvador is relatively safe, you should be careful with how much money you have on hand especially as you make purchases.

Tip 6: ATMs

While ATMs are available throughout El Salvador, it is common for them to run out of cash. Ask your hotel or guide for help if you find you are running out, and look before you get close to not having any. It’s best to stay ahead of your cash flow. We had to go to three separate ATMs before finding one that works just because they were out of cash.

Tip 7: Stay flexible with hours listed online

Google might say that something is open, you arrive, and it is, in fact, closed. Hours of operation are often off on their websites too! If there’s a particular place you are wanting to visit, we found social media accounts to be the most accurate place for different destinations. I also say stay flexible because you may end up needing to change plans last minute. It’s all part of the adventure.

Tip 8: Costs of Food and Drinks

When it comes to costs, it’s a travel destination of extremes. You can easily snag a bed in a nice hostel for less than $20, but you can also splurge on a beachside property for a few hundred dollars a night. Street food is still available on the cheap, and sit-down meals at a modern cafe will set you back between $5-10 USD.

You can eat well here on a budget and splurge at a much more affordable price than many other destinations too. It’s all up to you and your taste buds!

Tip 9: Food to try

The pupusa is the most well-known food you have to try in El Salvador. But, there are several other dishes popular and worth a try on your trip. Some recommendations are below.

• Carne Asada
• Sopa de Gallina
• Pollo Campero
• Tipico Salvadorean Breakfast
• Tamarindo (Fresh Fruit Juice)
• Refresca de Insalada (Fresh Fruit Juice)

Tip 10: Tipping

Most places include a 10% tip, but it’s always good to have a few extra dollars in cash if you’d like to give more than the included price or share a tip with additional people.

You’ll find Salvadoreans very hospitable and welcoming. When someone helps you open a door at your hotel, carry your bags, or offers above-average service, it’s always nice to give a few extra dollars!

Tip 11: Street Food

You’ll see street food vendors all over El Salvador and while it is good to try the local food, you’ll want to be careful of what you choose to eat. In general, our guide recommended we only eat street food that was fully cooked or fresh fruit that we could peel or was freshly peeled. We had no stomach issues with this advice and did eat Carne Asada from a street vendor. Just be careful and pay attention to food safety practices you see.

Tip 12: Prepare to speak Spanish

Many people in El Salvador do speak English, but I found it was less likely than other countries in Central/South America I’ve visited like Panama or Colombia. Prepare with Google Translate, practice your Spanish before your trip, and/or hire a guide who can translate for you.

Tip 13: Wifi

Lots of hostels and hotels will have reliable internet, and there are some great co-working spaces in major cities if you want to get some work done. Generally though, wifi is a little bit slower here. You can get the SIM card from Digicel, and you might have to rely on that for video calls (get a video chat app on your phone rather than using your laptop or tablet). If you have T-Mobile, your phone will work as long as you have the correct plan without needing to pay anything extra.

Tip 14: Drinking water

Although if you’re in San Salvador, the capital city, chances are the water coming out of your tap is okay to drink, although it can taste pretty chlorinated. Outside of the city, avoid drinking the tap water.

Lots of people, though, use well water in El Salvador, accessing groundwater, and this should also be avoided. As you might not be sure where your water is coming from, you should stick with bottled water or a decent filtration system, like most Salvadorans do.

Tip 15: Understanding the past is important

Due to El Salvador’s past and nearby countries being popular tourist spots, it is not overly touristy there. Most people consider it to be the least touristic country in Central America. As a result, tourism infrastructure is lacking in many places. It’s easy to get a local experience there and immerse yourself in the culture.

El Salvador has a tumultuous past. It was colonized by both the Spanish and the Portuguese at different points in the 1800s, with many tribes being torn from their lands. In the 1980s, a civil war began and lasted until 1992. During this time, gangs also became prevalent in El Salvador as well.

With all that said, things are rapidly changing in El Salvador, and you’ll hear people talk about the lack of crime and the uptick in safety within the country. Many of the tourists you see will be American or Canadian Salvadorans who are returning for the first time since their childhood. The rifts in society caused by the civil war are still very relevant today, and it’s also worth looking into Salvadoran migration to and from the United States before your visit.

I hope these tips prepare you for your trip to El Salvador and that you are more excited than ever about your trip!

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Amazing El Salvador Itinerary: One Week in El Salvador

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El Salvador travel advice

Latest updates: The Need help? section was updated.

Last updated: August 14, 2024 10:19 ET

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Safety and security, entry and exit requirements, laws and culture, natural disasters and climate, el salvador - exercise a high degree of caution.

Exercise a high degree of caution in El Salvador due to the risk of arbitrary enforcement of local laws and violent crime.

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Emergency measures

In March 2022, the government of El Salvador implemented emergency measures, resulting in massive arrests of suspected criminals. These measures frequently involve deploying military and security forces to targeted areas to combat organized crime.

Although the security situation has improved, a state of exception remains in effect. As a result, security forces have increased rights to conduct searches, seizures, and detain persons of interest, including foreign citizens. Local authorities have detained foreigners, sometimes in a reportedly arbitrary manner.

If you're in El Salvador:

• be aware that you may be subject to searches by security forces
• expect a heightened security presence, including on roads, in public spaces, and in residential neighbourhoods
• always cooperate with military and police officers
• always carry valid identification and be prepared for various checkpoints
• limit your movements after dark
• ensure family or friends know where you are
• monitor local media for the latest information
• follow the instructions of local authorities

Crime is a serious problem throughout the country.

Violent crime

Violent crime has decreased significantly since March 2022, especially in urban areas, including the metropolitan area of San Salvador and resort areas. However, violent crime still occurs, often involving armed gang members as well as common and petty criminals.

Armed robberies occur with weapons such as guns and knives, especially on public transportation. Robberies by thieves on motorcycles occur. Robberies may occur in tourist areas, especially isolated scenic spots.

• Remain vigilant and exercise caution at all times
• Don’t show signs of affluence or display valuables, particularly jewellery and electronics, including cell phones
• Check in advance with local contacts, authorities or hotels to see if your chosen destination is safe and which is the best route to get there
• Travel in groups if possible
• Avoid walking after dark
• Stay at hotels that have robust security measures
• Keep in mind that even the most secure locations are not completely free of risk

If you're threatened by armed criminals:

• don't resist, as gang members in particular can be quick to engage in violence
• avoid eye contact with the perpetrators

Petty crime

Petty crime, such as pickpocketing and purse snatching, is common.

Thieves also break into cars parked in public places.

• Avoid displaying signs of affluence in public, including when landing at El Salvador's international airport
• Ensure that your belongings, including your passport and other travel documents, are secure at all times
• Avoid carrying large amounts of cash
• Be particularly discreet when using ATMs
• Choose supervised parking lots if available
• Keep car doors locked and windows closed at all times
• Don't leave any valuables in your car

If you're robbed, go to a police station and report the crime immediately.

Most Salvadorans don’t speak English or French. You should not expect assistance in your preferred language.

Greater San Salvador Area

In the city of San Salvador, neighbourhoods such as Escalón, La Cima, San Benito and San Francisco are relatively safe.

To attract more tourists, local authorities have made efforts to secure a few blocks in the downtown area, known as the Centro Histórico de San Salvador. The Centro Histórico includes:

• the Metropolitan Cathedral
• the National Palace
• the National Theatre
• Plaza Barrios
• Plaza Libertad
• Plaza Morazán

Outside that area, the entire downtown is unsafe for tourists.

Dangerous areas in San Salvador can be as small as two or three blocks in a broader generally safe neighbourhood. They are often known as “zonas marginales” or “comunidades.”

Avoid crossing an area that is a known criminal stronghold, even if you are only trying reach a safer neighbourhood.

Neighbouring cities to the west of the capital are generally safe. These include:

• Antiguo Cuscatlán, including Santa Elena
• Nuevo Cuscatlán
• Santa Tecla, including Ciudad Merliot

Crime occurs more frequently in cities to the north and east, such as:

• Ciudad Delgado
• San Martín

Border crossings

Border areas often see higher criminal activity and violence, including in rural areas.

El Salvador lies along well-established Central American trafficking routes. Criminal groups smuggling people, guns or drugs can be violent. There have been incidents of travellers being attacked near border crossings.

Some border crossings occasionally close without warning.

If you plan to cross land borders in El Salvador:

• do so early enough so you arrive at destination before dark
• use official border crossings only
• avoid exchanging currency
• avoid displaying money or valuable items such as jewellery and electronic equipment

Organized crime

Gang-related crime has reduced significantly since March 2022, when the government began major efforts to contain gang-related crime and arrest thousands of gang members. While gang violence rarely targets foreigners, violent assaults against tourists may occur.

Violent incidents carried out by gangs are frequent, including:

• armed robbery
• assaults, especially on highways
• home invasion

There are urban neighbourhoods and rural areas with one or few entrances where local gang members monitor non-residents to rob them.

Tattoos may be considered as an indication of gang affiliation. Travellers should consider covering tattoos when travelling in El Salvador.

Express kidnappings

Express kidnappings occur, particularly in high-crime areas.

In this scenario, criminals kidnap the victim and force the person to withdraw funds from an ATM.

Victims are generally selected on the basis of perceived wealth, including driving late-model cars. They are identified at places such as:

• shopping centres
• gas stations
• restaurants
• parking lots

Credit card, ATM and Bitcoin e-wallet fraud occurs. There have been reports of identity theft and failed transactions, especially involving Chivo, the Salvadoran government’s official Bitcoin e-wallet.

When using debit or credit cards or Bitcoin e-wallets: 

• pay careful attention if others are handling your cards
• use ATMs located public areas or inside a bank or business
• avoid using card readers with an irregular or unusual feature
• cover the keypad with one hand when entering your PIN
• check for any unauthorized transactions on your account statements

Overseas fraud

Women's safety

Women travelling alone may be subject to some forms of harassment and verbal abuse.

Incidents of sexual assault occur, including on public buses and at beach areas.

• Avoid travelling alone, with informal guides or with strangers, even if they appear friendly and helpful
• Avoid public buses and large crowds on the street
• Exercise caution at nightclubs and beaches

If you are a victim of sexual assault, report it to the police and contact the Embassy of Canada in San Salvador.

Advice for women travellers

Spiked food and drinks

Never leave food or drinks unattended or in the care of strangers. Be wary of accepting snacks, beverages, gum or cigarettes from new acquaintances. These items may contain drugs that could put you at risk of sexual assault and robbery.

Soccer matches

Avoid crowds that can form without warning at sporting events such as soccer matches, as they have led to violent incidents. Exercise caution if attending a soccer match or if staying in the vicinity of sporting venues.

Criminals have targeted tourists climbing volcanoes and hiking in remote locations.

Access to volcanoes may also be restricted due to volcanic activity or high winds, especially:

• Izalco volcano
• Santa Ana, also known as Ilamatepec, volcano
• San Miguel, also known as Chaparrastique, volcano

If you intend to go hiking:

• never do so alone and always hire an experienced guide from a reputable company
• buy travel insurance that includes helicopter rescue and medical evacuation
• ensure that your physical condition is good enough to meet the challenges of your activity
• ensure that you're properly equipped
• ensure that you’re well informed about weather and other conditions that may pose a hazard
• inform a family member or friend of your itinerary, including when you expect to be back
• know the symptoms of acute altitude sickness, which can be fatal
• obtain detailed information on routes before setting out and do not venture off marked trails

Water activities

Coastal waters can be dangerous, even for experienced swimmers. Riptides are common. Several drownings occur each year.

Lifeguards don’t usually supervise beaches. Rescue services may not be consistent with international standards.

If you plan on swimming or surfing:

• consult residents and tour operators for information on possible hazards and safe areas
• follow the instructions and warnings of local authorities
• avoid isolated beaches
• monitor weather reports, especially during the rainy season, as prolonged periods of rain can cause the height of waves to increase along beaches

If you plan on participating in boating activities, such as whale-watching:

• choose a well-established and reputable company that has insurance
• make sure the vessel you are boarding is carrying appropriate safety equipment and that life jackets are provided for all passengers and accessible at all times
• don’t board vessels that appear overloaded or unseaworthy

If in doubt concerning the safety of the facilities or equipment, don’t use them.

Water safety abroad

Demonstrations

Demonstrations and protest marches take place regularly, especially on main roads in San Salvador near:

• the National Assembly
• the Presidential House
• San Salvador City Hall
• the Judicial District
• Cuscatlán Park
• Plaza Salvador del Mundo

Even peaceful demonstrations can turn violent at any time. They can also lead to disruptions to traffic and public transportation.

• Avoid areas where demonstrations and large gatherings are taking place
• Follow the instructions of local authorities
• Monitor local media for information on ongoing demonstrations

Mass gatherings (large-scale events)

Road travel

Road conditions and road safety vary greatly throughout the country. Serious accidents are common.

Road conditions

Many rural roads are unpaved and some rural areas are accessible only by four-wheel-drive vehicle.

Roundabouts are common.

Driving can be dangerous due to:

• dangerous curves in roads
• poorly marked road signs
• poor lighting at night
• potholes and missing manhole covers
• construction sites
• roaming livestock
• pedestrians on the shoulder of highways
• slow-moving, overloaded or poorly maintained vehicles

Driving habits

Drivers don’t respect traffic laws. They often drive at excessive speeds. They are aggressive and reckless, and frequently overtake on both the right and the left.

Bus drivers and motorcyclists in particular can be aggressive or unpredictable.

Narrow lanes and heavy traffic offer little courtesy for cyclists. Most Salvadoran cyclists travel with a trailing car for safety.

Checkpoints

Police traffic checkpoints are common across the country. Officers will often ask to see your valid documents and your mandatory safety equipment. They may also be checking for impaired drivers or for gang members.

If you drive in El Salvador:

• always drive defensively
• plan your trip ahead of time, especially if you plan to visit a rural area
• use caution when entering a roundabout
• avoid road travel at night between cities
• avoid stopping at isolated viewpoints
• keep your car doors locked and the windows closed at all times
• avoid hitchhiking, which is not a common practice in El Salvador

Public transportation

Buses are often unreliable. They are poorly maintained and the site of petty theft, armed robbery and sexual harassment.

• Don’t use local or intercity public buses
• Use only reputable tour operators and international coach services use only a company with a strong reputation

Taxis and ridesharing services

Taxis are widely available but vary in quality. Major hotels work with executive transport companies.

If using a taxi in El Salvador:

• don’t board taxis at taxi stands
• don’t hail taxis in the street
• negotiate fares in advance

Ridesharing services are available in much of greater San Salvador. If you use a trusted ridesharing app, confirm the driver’s identity and the licence plate before getting in the car.

We do not make assessments on the compliance of foreign domestic airlines with international safety standards.

Information about foreign domestic airlines

Every country or territory decides who can enter or exit through its borders. The Government of Canada cannot intervene on your behalf if you do not meet your destination’s entry or exit requirements.

We have obtained the information on this page from the Salvadoran authorities. It can, however, change at any time.

Verify this information with the  Foreign Representatives in Canada .

Entry requirements vary depending on the type of passport you use for travel.

Before you travel, check with your transportation company about passport requirements. Its rules on passport validity may be more stringent than the country’s entry rules.

Regular Canadian passport

Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months beyond the date you expect to leave El Salvador.

Passport for official travel

Different entry rules may apply.

Official travel

Passport with “X” gender identifier

While the Government of Canada issues passports with an “X” gender identifier, it cannot guarantee your entry or transit through other countries. You might face entry restrictions in countries that do not recognize the “X” gender identifier. Before you leave, check with the closest foreign representative for your destination.

Other travel documents

Different entry rules may apply when travelling with a temporary passport or an emergency travel document. Before you leave, check with the closest foreign representative for your destination.

Useful links

• Foreign Representatives in Canada
• Canadian passports

Tourist visa: not required for stays up to 90 days Business visa: not required for stays up to 90 days Student visa: not required for stays up to 90 days

Entry immigration card

To enter El Salvador, you must purchase an entry immigration card, which is valid for up to 180 days. Local officials determine the card's validity period.

The entry immigration card is not a visa, but it’s a mandatory requirement to enter El Salvador.

You don’t need an entry immigration card if you meet one of these conditions:

• hold a Canadian passport showing you were born in El Salvador
• show proof that one of your parents is a Salvadoran national

Keep the receipt of your entry immigration card with your passport. It will allow you to re-enter El Salvador, as long as it is still valid.

To extend your stay in El Salvador beyond 180 days, you must  depart and re-enter El Salvador by air, land or sea and obtain a new entry immigration card.

Entry and exit stamps

You must obtain entry and exit stamps at border crossings.

Central America-4 Border Control Agreement

Under the terms of the Central America-4 Border Control Agreement (CA-4), your Salvadoran entry immigration card will allow you to travel for up to a total of 90 days within any of the CA-4 countries, which are:

• El Salvador

When travelling between these countries, you still must check in at immigration counters but don’t need to obtain additional permits. Other countries’ authorities will stamp your passport to record your entry/exit dates and to ensure that you have not overstayed the initial time authorized for your visit in the CA-4 region. The 90-day period begins at your first point of entry to any of the CA-4 countries. You will be fined if you exceed the 90-day limit.

You may request an extension of up to 90 days once a year. If you are in El Salvador, you must request this extension and pay the required fee at El Salvador’s immigration headquarters in San Salvador at least 5 days before your first 90-day limit expires. Immigration authorities will determine the length of the extension.

If you have received a new Canadian passport while inside El Salvador – for example, your previous passport was lost – and you want to continue travelling by land in the CA-4 region, you need a new Salvadoran entry stamp in your new passport before entering one of the other countries. You must present your new passport at El Salvador’s immigration headquarters to arrange this.

Work or study

If you intend to work or study in El Salvador for longer than 180 days, you must apply for residence from inside the country. The documentation required to obtain Salvadoran residence is extensive.

Make sure you have all the required documents before you leave Canada.

Other entry requirements

Customs officials may ask you to show them a return or onward ticket and proof of sufficient funds to cover the cost of your stay.

• Children and travel

A Canadian minor, under 18 years of age, living in or visiting El Salvador for more than one year is considered a resident of El Salvador.

To depart El Salvador, a minor resident needs written consent from any parent listed on the child’s birth certificate who is not travelling with the minor. The consent form must be:

• an original document (not a photocopy or a scan)
• notarized by either a Salvadoran notary in El Salvador or a Salvadoran consul abroad.

Travelling with children

Yellow fever

Learn about potential entry requirements related to yellow fever (vaccines section).

Relevant Travel Health Notices

• Global Measles Notice - 13 March, 2024
• Zika virus: Advice for travellers - 31 August, 2023
• COVID-19 and International Travel - 13 March, 2024

This section contains information on possible health risks and restrictions regularly found or ongoing in the destination. Follow this advice to lower your risk of becoming ill while travelling. Not all risks are listed below.

Consult a health care professional or visit a travel health clinic preferably 6 weeks before you travel to get personalized health advice and recommendations.

Routine vaccines

Be sure that your  routine vaccinations , as per your province or territory , are up-to-date before travelling, regardless of your destination.

Some of these vaccinations include measles-mumps-rubella (MMR), diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, varicella (chickenpox), influenza and others.

Pre-travel vaccines and medications

You may be at risk for preventable diseases while travelling in this destination. Talk to a travel health professional about which medications or vaccines may be right for you, based on your destination and itinerary. 

Yellow fever   is a disease caused by a flavivirus from the bite of an infected mosquito.

Travellers get vaccinated either because it is required to enter a country or because it is recommended for their protection.

• There is no risk of yellow fever in this country.

Country Entry Requirement*

• Proof of vaccination is required if you are coming from or have transited through an airport of a country   where yellow fever occurs.

Recommendation

• Vaccination is not recommended.
• Discuss travel plans, activities, and destinations with a health care professional.
• Contact a designated  Yellow Fever Vaccination Centre  well in advance of your trip to arrange for vaccination.

About Yellow Fever

Yellow Fever Vaccination Centres in Canada * It is important to note that  country entry requirements  may not reflect your risk of yellow fever at your destination. It is recommended that you contact the nearest  diplomatic or consular office  of the destination(s) you will be visiting to verify any additional entry requirements.

There is a risk of hepatitis A in this destination. It is a disease of the liver. People can get hepatitis A if they ingest contaminated food or water, eat foods prepared by an infectious person, or if they have close physical contact (such as oral-anal sex) with an infectious person, although casual contact among people does not spread the virus.

Practise  safe food and water precautions and wash your hands often. Vaccination is recommended for all travellers to areas where hepatitis A is present.

Measles is a highly contagious viral disease. It can spread quickly from person to person by direct contact and through droplets in the air.

Anyone who is not protected against measles is at risk of being infected with it when travelling internationally.

Regardless of where you are going, talk to a health care professional before travelling to make sure you are fully protected against measles.

  Hepatitis B is a risk in every destination. It is a viral liver disease that is easily transmitted from one person to another through exposure to blood and body fluids containing the hepatitis B virus.  Travellers who may be exposed to blood or other bodily fluids (e.g., through sexual contact, medical treatment, sharing needles, tattooing, acupuncture or occupational exposure) are at higher risk of getting hepatitis B.

Hepatitis B vaccination is recommended for all travellers. Prevent hepatitis B infection by practicing safe sex, only using new and sterile drug equipment, and only getting tattoos and piercings in settings that follow public health regulations and standards.

 The best way to protect yourself from seasonal influenza (flu) is to get vaccinated every year. Get the flu shot at least 2 weeks before travelling.  

 The flu occurs worldwide. 

•  In the Northern Hemisphere, the flu season usually runs from November to   April.
•  In the Southern Hemisphere, the flu season usually runs between April and   October.
•  In the tropics, there is flu activity year round. 

The flu vaccine available in one hemisphere may only offer partial protection against the flu in the other hemisphere.

The flu virus spreads from person to person when they cough or sneeze or by touching objects and surfaces that have been contaminated with the virus. Clean your hands often and wear a mask if you have a fever or respiratory symptoms.

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is an infectious viral disease. It can spread from person to person by direct contact and through droplets in the air.

It is recommended that all eligible travellers complete a COVID-19 vaccine series along with any additional recommended doses in Canada before travelling. Evidence shows that vaccines are very effective at preventing severe illness, hospitalization and death from COVID-19. While vaccination provides better protection against serious illness, you may still be at risk of infection from the virus that causes COVID-19. Anyone who has not completed a vaccine series is at increased risk of being infected with the virus that causes COVID-19 and is at greater risk for severe disease when travelling internationally.

Before travelling, verify your destination’s COVID-19 vaccination entry/exit requirements. Regardless of where you are going, talk to a health care professional before travelling to make sure you are adequately protected against COVID-19.

In this destination, rabies is commonly carried by dogs and some wildlife, including bats. Rabies is a deadly disease that spreads to humans primarily through bites or scratches from an infected animal. While travelling, take precautions , including keeping your distance from animals (including free-roaming dogs), and closely supervising children.

If you are bitten or scratched by a dog or other animal while travelling, immediately wash the wound with soap and clean water and see a health care professional. In this destination, rabies treatment may be limited or may not be available, therefore you may need to return to Canada for treatment.  

Before travel, discuss rabies vaccination with a health care professional. It may be recommended for travellers who are at high risk of exposure (e.g., occupational risk such as veterinarians and wildlife workers, children, adventure travellers and spelunkers, and others in close contact with animals). 

Safe food and water precautions

Many illnesses can be caused by eating food or drinking beverages contaminated by bacteria, parasites, toxins, or viruses, or by swimming or bathing in contaminated water.

• Learn more about food and water precautions to take to avoid getting sick by visiting our eat and drink safely abroad page. Remember: Boil it, cook it, peel it, or leave it!
• Avoid getting water into your eyes, mouth or nose when swimming or participating in activities in freshwater (streams, canals, lakes), particularly after flooding or heavy rain. Water may look clean but could still be polluted or contaminated.
• Avoid inhaling or swallowing water while bathing, showering, or swimming in pools or hot tubs. 

Travellers' diarrhea is the most common illness affecting travellers. It is spread from eating or drinking contaminated food or water.

Risk of developing travellers' diarrhea increases when travelling in regions with poor standards of hygiene and sanitation. Practise safe food and water precautions.

The most important treatment for travellers' diarrhea is rehydration (drinking lots of fluids). Carry oral rehydration salts when travelling.

Typhoid   is a bacterial infection spread by contaminated food or water. Risk is higher among children, travellers going to rural areas, travellers visiting friends and relatives or those travelling for a long period of time.

Travellers visiting regions with a risk of typhoid, especially those exposed to places with poor sanitation, should speak to a health care professional about vaccination.  

Insect bite prevention

Many diseases are spread by the bites of infected insects such as mosquitoes, ticks, fleas or flies. When travelling to areas where infected insects may be present:

• Use insect repellent (bug spray) on exposed skin
• Cover up with light-coloured, loose clothes made of tightly woven materials such as nylon or polyester
• Minimize exposure to insects
• Use mosquito netting when sleeping outdoors or in buildings that are not fully enclosed

To learn more about how you can reduce your risk of infection and disease caused by bites, both at home and abroad, visit our insect bite prevention page.

Find out what types of insects are present where you’re travelling, when they’re most active, and the symptoms of the diseases they spread.

There is a risk of chikungunya in this country. The level of risk may vary by:

The virus that causes chikungunya is spread through the bite of an infected mosquito. It can cause fever and pain in the joints. In some cases, the joint pain can be severe and last for months or years.

Protect yourself from mosquito bites at all times.

Learn more:

Insect bite and pest prevention Chikungunya

• In this country,   dengue  is a risk to travellers. It is a viral disease spread to humans by mosquito bites.
• Dengue can cause flu-like symptoms. In some cases, it can lead to severe dengue, which can be fatal.
• The level of risk of dengue changes seasonally, and varies from year to year. The level of risk also varies between regions in a country and can depend on the elevation in the region.
• Mosquitoes carrying dengue typically bite during the daytime, particularly around sunrise and sunset.
• Protect yourself from mosquito bites . There is no vaccine or medication that protects against dengue.

Zika virus is a risk in this country. 

Zika virus is primarily spread through the bite of an infected mosquito. It can also be sexually transmitted. Zika virus can cause serious birth defects.

During your trip:

• Prevent mosquito bites at all times.
• Use condoms correctly or avoid sexual contact, particularly if you are pregnant.

If you are pregnant or planning a pregnancy, you should discuss the potential risks of travelling to this destination with your health care provider. You may choose to avoid or postpone travel. 

For more information, see Zika virus: Pregnant or planning a pregnancy.

American trypanosomiasis (Chagas disease)   is a risk in this country. It is caused by a parasite spread by infected triatomine bugs. The infection can be inactive for decades, but humans can eventually develop complications causing disability and even death.

Risk is generally low for most travellers. Protect yourself from triatomine bugs, which are active at night, by using mosquito nets if staying in poorly-constructed housing. There is no vaccine available for Chagas disease.

Animal precautions

Some infections, such as rabies and influenza, can be shared between humans and animals. Certain types of activities may increase your chance of contact with animals, such as travelling in rural or forested areas, camping, hiking, and visiting wet markets (places where live animals are slaughtered and sold) or caves.

Travellers are cautioned to avoid contact with animals, including dogs, livestock (pigs, cows), monkeys, snakes, rodents, birds, and bats, and to avoid eating undercooked wild game.

Closely supervise children, as they are more likely to come in contact with animals.

Person-to-person infections

Stay home if you’re sick and practise proper cough and sneeze etiquette , which includes coughing or sneezing into a tissue or the bend of your arm, not your hand. Reduce your risk of colds, the flu and other illnesses by:

•   washing your hands often
• avoiding or limiting the amount of time spent in closed spaces, crowded places, or at large-scale events (concerts, sporting events, rallies)
• avoiding close physical contact with people who may be showing symptoms of illness 

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) , HIV , and mpox are spread through blood and bodily fluids; use condoms, practise safe sex, and limit your number of sexual partners. Check with your local public health authority pre-travel to determine your eligibility for mpox vaccine.  

Medical services and facilities

Good health care is limited in availability.

There have been some improvements in recent years, but public medical services and facilities remain below Canadian standards. State-funded public hospitals are located in large cities, mostly in San Salvador. Public clinics are located throughout the country, but their resources, hours of operation and services are limited. Public hospital services are free for foreigners.

Private clinics and hospitals are often better staffed and equipped. In the Colonia Escalón district of San Salvador, the two following hospitals offer good emergency and advanced care services:

• Hospital de Diagnóstico
• Hospital Centro Médico Escalón, formerly called Hospital de la Mujer

Private hospitals in San Salvador and other major cities, such as Santa Ana and San Miguel, may accept credit cards. However, you may have to provide upfront payment in cash to obtain private medical services elsewhere. They may also request a deposit if you require hospitalization. In rural areas, staff may ask you purchase all consumables prior to receiving care.

Most health-care providers speak only Spanish.

Medical evacuation can be very expensive and you may need it in case of serious illness or injury.

Make sure you get travel insurance that includes coverage for medical evacuation and hospital stays.

Health and safety outside Canada

Keep in Mind...

The decision to travel is the sole responsibility of the traveller. The traveller is also responsible for his or her own personal safety.

Be prepared. Do not expect medical services to be the same as in Canada. Pack a   travel health kit , especially if you will be travelling away from major city centres.

You must abide by local laws.

Learn about what you should do and how we can help if you are arrested or detained abroad .

Detention conditions may be below the standards of Canadian prisons.

Penalties for possession, use or trafficking of illegal drugs are severe. Convicted offenders can expect prison sentences.

Drugs, alcohol and travel

Political activities

El Salvador’s constitution prohibits political activities by foreigners.

You may be detained or deported if you participate in demonstrations or other political activities.

Identification

You may be subject to identity checks during your stay in El Salvador.

Always carry valid identification such as a driver's licence or passport.

Keep photocopies or digital copies of the following, in case of loss or seizure of the original:

• the identification page of your passport
• your birth certificate
• your Canadian citizenship card
• your driver’s licence

Keep originals and copies in separate safe locations.

Photography

It’s illegal to photograph:

• military installations and equipment
• schools when minors are present

Ask permission before photographing individuals, especially in areas with Indigenous presence.

Imports and exports

Salvadoran authorities require permits for the import or export of firearms, plants or animals. If you purchase an antique in El Salvador, keep your receipt in case you are asked to prove ownership at the border.

Investments

If you plan on buying property or making other investments in El Salvador, seek legal advice in Canada and in El Salvador before making any commitments. Disputes related to properties could take time and be costly to resolve.

Dual citizenship

Dual citizenship is legally recognized in El Salvador.

If you are a Canadian citizen, but also a citizen of El Salvador, our ability to offer you consular services may be limited while you're there. You may also be subject to different entry/exit requirements .

Dual citizens

International Child Abduction

The Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction is an international treaty. It can help parents with the return of children who have been removed to or retained in certain countries in violation of custody rights. The convention applies between Canada and El Salvador.

If your child was wrongfully taken to, or is being held in El Salvador, and if the applicable conditions are met, you may apply for the return of your child to the Salvadoran court.

If you are in this situation:

• act as quickly as you can
• contact the Central Authority for your province or territory of residence for information on starting an application under The Hague Convention
• consult a lawyer in Canada and in El Salvador to explore all the legal options for the return of your child
• report the situation to the nearest Canadian government office abroad or to the Vulnerable Children's Consular Unit at Global Affairs Canada by calling the Emergency Watch and Response Centre

If your child was removed from a country other than Canada, consult a lawyer to determine if The Hague Convention applies.

Be aware that Canadian consular officials cannot interfere in private legal matters or in another country's judicial affairs.

• List of Canadian Central Authorities for the Hague Convention
• International Child Abductions: A guide for affected parents
• The Hague Convention – Hague Conference on Private International Law
• Canadian embassies and consulates by destination
• Request emergency assistance

2SLGBTQI+ persons

Salvadoran law does not prohibit sexual acts between individuals of the same sex.

However, 2SLGBTQI+ persons could face discrimination based on their sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression or sex characteristics.

Travel and your sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression and sex characteristics

You can drive with your valid Canadian driver’s licence for the period you are allowed to stay in the country.

In the event of a car accident, as required by Salvadoran law:

• remain at the scene
• call the police
• don’t move your vehicle until the authorities arrive

Some accidents may attract a crowd that could turn hostile. If you feel unsafe:

• ensure your windows and doors are locked
• leave the area
• report the accident to the police and your insurance company as soon as possible

If you plan to travel between countries, you must carry an international driving permit.

International Driving Permit

There are two official currencies in El Salvador:

• the U.S. dollar (USD)
• Bitcoin (BTC)

Bitcoin became legal tender in September 2021, though not all businesses have fully transitioned to accepting it. Traditional and Bitcoin ATMs are widely available.

Canadian credit and debit cards are generally accepted. However, Canadian dollars cannot be exchanged in El Salvador.

When exchanging money before your trip, ask for small denominations. Bills of $50 and $100 are not widely accepted and increase the risk of robbery.

Earthquakes and tsunamis

El Salvador is located in a highly active seismic zone. Tremors occur regularly and major earthquakes occur from time to time.

Tsunami warnings may be issued after a strong earthquake. A tsunami can occur within minutes of a nearby earthquake. However, the risk of tsunami can remain for several hours following the first tremor. If you’re staying on the coast, familiarize yourself with the region’s evacuation plans in the event of a tsunami warning.

In the event of an earthquake:

• monitor local media to stay informed of the evolving situation

Volcanoes pose a significant risk to the population in El Salvador.

Although there has been a decrease in volcanic activity in recent years, several volcanoes remain active. Authorities issue warnings about volcanic activity when appropriate, especially at the San Miguel/Chaparrastique volcano.

If you intend on visiting a volcano area:

• hire an experienced guide from a reputable company
• monitor levels of volcanic activity through the local media
• pay close attention to all warnings and avoid restricted areas
• be prepared to modify your travel arrangements or even evacuate the area on short notice
• follow the advice of local authorities
• Earthquakes  – What to Do?
• Latest earthquakes  – U.S. Geological Survey
• Tsunami alerts  – U.S. Tsunami Warning System
• Seismic and volcanic activity alerts  – Salvadoran Observatory of the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (in Spanish)

Rainy season

The rainy season extends from May to November. Seasonal flooding can hamper overland travel and reduce the provision of essential services. Roads may become impassable and bridges may be damaged.

Hurricane season

Hurricanes usually occur from mid-May to the end of November. During this period, even small tropical storms can quickly develop into major hurricanes.

These severe storms can put you at risk and hamper the provision of essential services. You could face serious safety risks during a hurricane.

If you decide to travel to a coastal area during the hurricane season:

• be prepared to change your travel plans on short notice, including cutting short or cancelling your trip
• stay informed of the latest regional weather forecasts
• carry emergency contact information for your airline or tour operator
• follow the advice and instructions of local authorities
• Severe storms outside Canada
• Large-scale emergencies outside Canada
• Active storm tracking and hurricane watches and warnings – U.S. National Hurricane Center

Local services

Dial 911 for emergency assistance.

Tourist police

The tourist police, POLITUR, provides a security presence in tourist areas and urgent first response assistance to tourists.

If you need assistance, dial (503) 2511-8302 or (503) 2511-8300.

Hotline – health

The Salvadoran government provides a hotline to speak with a medical professional or request urgent medical assistance.

In case of a medical emergency, dial either:

• 911, and ask for a 132 operator

Consular assistance

For emergency consular assistance, call the Embassy of Canada to El Salvador, in San Salvador, and follow the instructions. At any time, you may also contact the Emergency Watch and Response Centre in Ottawa.

The decision to travel is your choice and you are responsible for your personal safety abroad. We take the safety and security of Canadians abroad very seriously and provide credible and timely information in our Travel Advice to enable you to make well-informed decisions regarding your travel abroad.

The content on this page is provided for information only. While we make every effort to give you correct information, it is provided on an "as is" basis without warranty of any kind, expressed or implied. The Government of Canada does not assume responsibility and will not be liable for any damages in connection to the information provided.

If you need consular assistance while abroad, we will make every effort to help you. However, there may be constraints that will limit the ability of the Government of Canada to provide services.

Learn more about consular services .

Risk Levels

  take normal security precautions.

Take similar precautions to those you would take in Canada.

  Exercise a high degree of caution

There are certain safety and security concerns or the situation could change quickly. Be very cautious at all times, monitor local media and follow the instructions of local authorities.

IMPORTANT: The two levels below are official Government of Canada Travel Advisories and are issued when the safety and security of Canadians travelling or living in the country or region may be at risk.

  Avoid non-essential travel

Your safety and security could be at risk. You should think about your need to travel to this country, territory or region based on family or business requirements, knowledge of or familiarity with the region, and other factors. If you are already there, think about whether you really need to be there. If you do not need to be there, you should think about leaving.

  Avoid all travel

You should not travel to this country, territory or region. Your personal safety and security are at great risk. If you are already there, you should think about leaving if it is safe to do so.

What are you looking for?

17 top things to do in el salvador in 2024.

Despite spending less than 2 weeks here, I really loved El Salvador!

So much so, it made the list of our favourite backpacking destinations around the world .

El Salvador is actually the smallest country in Central America wedged between Guatemala and Honduras.

It’s a country of volcanoes, beauty and a reputation for violence in the past.

But that shouldn't worry you.

A stop here should be on every Central America backpacking itinerary and we are going to inspire you with the top things to do in El Salvador !

Need somewhere to stay? Check out our guide on where to stay in El Salvador

Travellerspoint

Top Things To Do In El Salvador

Let's get down to business! This guide will cover all the best things to do in El Salvador as well as a few final travel tips .

1. Hiking the Santa Ana Volcano

This was probably my favorite thing to do in all of El Salvador. 

The Santa Ana volcano is one of many incredible volcanoes that you can hike in the country , and is known for its stunning blue/green crater lake that’s in the middle of the crater (which you can see once you reach the top). 

This is one of the top tourist attractions in El Salvador, so of course you can expect many other groups to be hiking here and also some crowds at the top (although the earlier you go, the less there will be).

Whilst you don’t need to be in excellent physical condition, it can be somewhat demanding and will take around 2 hours to walk up from the trailhead.

I’ve written about my experience climbing the Santa Ana Volcano and how you can visit without a guide.

However, booking an organized tour does have its benefits. With this full day tour you’ll have all transport and entrance permits included. You’ll also get to visit Lake Coatepeque along the way.

Those who want zero crowds can head on this private early-morning tour . Given it’s a faster-paced rhythm up (to get there before others), you’ll want to make sure you’re in decent physical condition for this tour.

The Santa Ana Volcano is located within the Cerro Verde National Park , and the trail is open from 8:00am until 4:00pm daily (which is the same for all other hikes in the Los Volcanes National Park region).

Book your Santa Ana Volcano Hike right here!

2. Take a coffee plantation tour

El Salvador is one of the best coffee regions that you can visit in Latin America, and they really do produce some amazing coffee.

I am a coffee fanatic, so I was actually very excited to come to Central America in general to taste all the amazing coffees.

The coffee of El Salvador is my second favorite in the region (Nicaragua has to be first!).

One of the best ways to get immersed in all things coffee is to take a tour around a plantation. We highly suggest heading on this full-day coffee plantation tour where you will learn about how the coffee is made and of course brew your own cup! You’ll also get to visit the stunning town of Ataco too.

Those who simply want to drink the good stuff without a tour can also find numerous coffee shops throughout Santa Ana.

Some of the very best are located around the Parque Libertad , such as Santein Café and Tostao Coffee Bar.

Book your awesome coffee tour right here

3. Visit The Mayan Ruins of Tazumal and Joya De Cerén

So everywhere in Central America has its own batch of Mayan Ruins, and El Salvador is no different.

Now, I’ll be upfront and say we personally didn’t visit the Mayan ruins. We planned too, but I’d already seen about 5 sets and the capital of the Mayan world: Tikal, and just didn’t feel like seeing any more.

However our writer George did, and has pitched in his thoughts here!

If you want to see Mayan ruins that are completely uncrowded (as in you could be the only ones there), then you will love the ruins in El Salvador.

Joya de Cerén is definitely the most popular of the two, however I found that actually Tazumal was pretty impressive.

Here you can see a well-preserved pyramid, along with all kinds of cacti and green plants around (which make for a great photo op). Tazumal Ruins are located within the town of Chalchuapa , and are open from 9:00am until 4:00pm, Tuesday through to Saturday.

Both sites are easy to reach from Santa Ana via chicken bus, which leave frequently near the Bus Terminal de Francisco Lara Pineda . You’ll want the 218 Bus, which leaves from around 10a Avenida Sur ( just ask a local for the exact bus stop since it can be tricky to find - you’ll find many speak good English here ).

So whilst you can see many pyramids throughout Central America, I think these are a great opportunity to experience the ancient Mayans' fine work without the crowds.

We highly suggest booking this full day tour , where you’ll visit both Joya de Cerén and Tazumal. As well as having a knowledgeable guide teach you about both sites as you walk around, you’ll also get to stop for a scenic lunch at Lake Coatepeque.

This fantastic tour takes you to ALL the Mayan ruins in El Salvador

4. Visit the Santa Ana cathedral

Santa Ana is a really underrated city , and is full of architectural delights and local gems.

It’s the second biggest city in El Salvador (after San Salvador ), and it’s actually quite cute.

There is a lovely square that’s got a great pizza restaurant, and is also home to the beautiful Santa Ana Cathedral !

Also known as the Cathedral of Our Lady Saint Anne, this neo-Gothic church is known for its incredible exterior and imposing twin towers.

It’s definitely worth a visit if you're in the area.

The Santa Ana Cathedral is located next to the Parque Libertad , and is open all days of the week from 6:00-11:45am, and then from 3:00-6:00pm.

5. Surf at El Tunco

El Salvador is home to some of the best surfing in the world , and it’s got something both for the beginners and pros out there.

Head to the beaches of El Tunco and El Sunzal for an amazing time surfing. It costs roughly $20 for a lesson and a days board rental.

El Tunco itself is also a backpacker hub, so it’s got lots of great restaurants and bars. 

The weekend is when this place really comes to life with fantastic parties and live music!

It’s worth heading to La Guitarra at least once, where you can watch live music whilst sipping on cocktails next to the Pacific Ocean.

We stayed in a place called the Casa De Mar hotel which was right on the beachfront and had the best surf break in the area literally in front of it!

The beaches are the most touristy part of El Salvador, so if for some reason, you are really concerned about safety, then this is one of the safest places to visit in El Salvador.

Ps, I suggest El Tunco because it’s where we went, but there are plenty of other beautiful beaches in El Salvador including La Libertad, Costa Del Sol and much more.

If you’re in San Salvador and don’t have much time (but want to visit the beach), then we highly suggest heading on this awesome day tour . Here you’ll have all transport sorted to and from El Tunco, where you’ll also get to visit the incredible waterfalls of El Tamanique.

Be sure to check out: The Best Hotels In El Tunco

6. Visit the waterfalls of El Salvador

There are a variety of waterfalls in El Salvador that are worth visiting, and I love waterfalls, so that’s why they’ve made it on my list of top things to do in El Salvador!

The Tamanique Waterfalls are one of these, which are easily visited from El Tunco with a day trip. 

You can head here with this organized tour , or you can rent a moped for the day and visit them yourself independently. It’s a 30 minute hike, however you can swim in the waterfalls which makes it worth the trip.

Alternatively, if you’re staying in San Salvador then you can also head on this day tour to the falls which includes all transport.

Then there is the Seven Waterfall hike which is for those who love chasing waterfalls and hiking!

One of them is located in the incredible town of Juayúa and the other one is in the Parque Nacional El Imposible.

Juayúa is the main base for visiting the waterfalls, and here you’ll literally visit seven waterfalls which are all stunning in their own right.

Some of them are more difficult to reach and you will need to use ropes, so be careful and remember to bring solid hiking shoes with you!

We didn’t visit waterfalls in El Salvador, because it kind of takes a lot to impress us waterfall-wise nowadays (we’ve seen A LOT), but actually I regret not visiting some of the waterfalls here.

This post from Champagne roads will fill you in on ALL the waterfalls in El Salvador, even the ones the guide books don’t mention.

She spent 3 months in El Salvador and had seen around 20, so I think it’s a great resource!

Oh, and you can fly a drone legally in this country, which means you’re going to catch some pretty awesome shots.

If you can, rent a car and you’ll get to see much more of the waterfalls and the unseen El Salvador.

Take this tour to visit some of the BEST waterfalls in El Salvador

7. Visit the Ruta De Flores

The Ruta de Las Flores is a winding route of about 20 miles that goes through coffee plantations, brightly colored colonial towns and colonial architecture. 

The five main towns on the Ruta de Las Flores include Salcoatitán, Nahuizalco,  Apaneca, Ataco and Juayúa.

You can get buses from each place to the next, and there are a variety of hotels and hostels along the way. It’s also easy to get here from San Salvador, and you can see the numerous options here on Moovit .

If you want to see the true natural beauty of El Salvador, then this is the place to be.

Now if you’ve only got time to visit one small town, then make it Juayúa! It’s definitely one of the best places to see along the Ruta de Flores, and one of those must-visit gems in El Salvador.

Whilst you can visit independently, sometimes taking an organized tour will make everything much more simple. We recommend this day tour from San Salvador , which includes private transport as well as extra time at the thermal hot springs of Santa Teresa.

You can also head on this alternative group tour , which includes visits to food markets, novel activities in each town as well as round-trip transport from the capital.

8. Go shopping in the capital

San Salvador is actually quite a commercialized city, and it’s home to the biggest shopping mall in all of Central America.

So, if you’ve got some spare cash or need some new clothes, then be sure to hit the Metrocentro and shop until you drop! 

They also have some cool arcade shops and cinemas, so you can also chill here and have a touristy day!

If you’re thinking of things to buy in El Salvador as a present or gift, then this is also a good alternative place to find them. Here you can find everything from coffee to novel domestic goods.

The Multicentro is open from 7:00am-9:00pm all days of the week.

Before or after the mall we recommend taking a city tour too (where you will see many of San Salvador’s top highlights). On this half-day tour , you'll have all logistics sorted as you visit impressive sites such as La Iglesia Rosario as well as the Catedral Metropolitana.

Take this half day tour to see the best sights in San Salvador

9. Visit the San Salvador Volcano

The San Salvador Volcano is another incredible peak which is located in the El Boquerón National Park. 

It’s located just outside of the capital, and you can visit the “peak” by heading to the park and then on a 15-20 minute hike upwards to the summit.

You’ll get to see a crater, which is fairly green and it’s probably not the type of crater you’re picturing in your mind (not like the Santa Ana crater).

But it’s easy to hop in an uber to the entrance and walk up! It’s got beautiful views of the city, and it’s definitely one of the top things to do in San Salvador !

You can also fly a drone over to get some cool shots.

It’s important to note that the volcano hiking path (as well as the El Boquerón National Park in general) is open from 8:00am until 5:00pm daily.

You can head on this day trip where you’ll hike to the summit, which also includes Pupusa Tastings and a city tour of the capital.

You can also go with a tour if you’d prefer!

10. Explore Lake Ilopango

This is another one of the great things to do in El Salvador. 

Actually, Lake Ilopango is more like a beach. I say that because it’s got little “beaches” around it and the locals all flock there like it’s the beach ( temperatures are pretty hot year-round which makes it perfect for sunbathing ).

There are lots of restaurants to dine by the lake, and you can rent a boat and have a romantic boat ride on the lake too!

Located east of San Salvador , it’s a really cool place to explore for the day. You can get there and back via Uber for around $8 which isn’t bad!

There is a random little waterpark by the lake too, which I think is mainly for kids, but if you’ve got children, then this is a pretty good place to take them.

You can also visit Lake Ilopango with this guided tour , where you’ll take kayaks out around the lake and enjoy the awesome volcanic landscapes and wildlife.

11. Explore the colonial town of Suchitoto

This is El Salvador's equivalent to the Antigua of Guatemala, except much smaller and much less touristy. 

There aren’t exactly many accommodation options up in Suchitoto, so most people opt to explore the colonial town on a day trip from the capital .

You’ll find that they’re pretty good value tours too, which include all transport and visit various attractions with your own local guide.

But, if you wish, you can go there yourself, either by Uber or by taking the local chicken buses from San Salvador . I would ask your hotel to guide you on what buses to get!

Suchitoto is full of cute churches, colorful buildings and a nice market too! 

It’s also close to another beautiful lake, so it’s definitely worth visiting for a day to see both attractions.

You can also head here on this half-day trip from San Salvador if you have less time free, where you’ll visit the main highlights such as the Saint Lucia Church and the House of Crafts.

Suchitoto is located roughly 50 km north of San Salvador , and can be reached in around an hour and a half using public transport.

Take this awesome valued tour to Suchitoto

12. Swim at Lake Coatepeque Caldera

So, when you hike the Santa Ana volcano, you’ll see this incredible lake from the views at the top. 

It’s a vast lake and a beautiful place to visit, either after your hike or just on a day trip!

You can get there via chicken bus or taxi, and it’s only an hours drive from Santa Ana .

There are lots of lovely restaurants around the lake for a bite, and you can also swim or rent some kayaks and spend the day relaxing at the lake.

You can stay overnight (or for a few days) to enjoy the more relaxed setting. Captain Morgan Hostel is the perfect place to stay, offering both private rooms and dorm beds. They also have an on-site bar, garden and sun terrace right on the lake.

If you like to have everything sorted for you in advance, then you can head on this day tour from Santa Ana , where you’ll also hike the volcano and have all transport included.

Are you staying in San Salvador? Then you can join this convenient tour , where you’ll spend plenty of time at Lake Coatepeque (including both hotel pick-up and drop-off).

13. Eat Pupusa

Pupusas are one of the most common and popular foods you can find in El Salvador - and you’ll find people selling them on the streets everywhere!

It’s basically like a round bread type thing stuffed with either cheese and beans, or mince and cheese. I’ve had both and they’re delicious!

They typically cost around $1 for 2 although I’ve seen 3 or 4 for $1 too. If you want a quick lunch, or a quick snack, then you have to eat pupusas!

They’re also really good when you want food after a night of drinking. A little lady sells them on the streets of El Tunco at like 2-3am haha ( perfect for reducing those day-long hangovers! ).

You’ll also want to head to Pupuseria Tita at least once whilst in Santa Ana, who are highly-renowned for their tasty pupusas. They’re open from 5:00pm until 9:00pm, Tuesday until Sunday.

14. Visit the El Imposible National Park

Literally meaning “The Impossible Natural Park”, this region already has an awesome name, so it’s worth visiting!

It’s a great spot for hiking and camping, and if you’ve got a spare night or two, you should definitely get your hands on a tent and spend time here.

The surroundings of El Imposible National Park are beautiful, so be sure to bring your camera fully-charged with you!

It’s best to visit during the week as it’s less busy. The region is open for both hiking and camping all hours of the day, all days of the week (except when it’s closed on Sundays).

Btw, it’s steep walking, so it’s not for the faint hearted.

There are 3 main trails: Cerro Leon (8 km) , Los Enganches (11km) and Piedra Sellada (8 km).

You can opt to visit with a tour, or you can make a DIY trip on your own.

It’s free to camp and you can rent tents at the entrance (I think), and it’s $6 to enter the park.

Transport to and from will be via chicken buses and won’t cost more than $1.

You can also join an organized tour in order to save yourself the hassle. On this day trip you’ll spend time exploring various breathtaking waterfalls, which are perfect for a quick cool-off from the hot El Salvadorian sun.

The El Imposible National Park is located close to the Guatemalan border , with the closest city of Santa Ana roughly 2.5 hours away.

You can do an organised tour here to save hassle.

15. Visit San Andrés, El Salvador

San Andrés is a pre-columbian archaeological site that’s really worth the visit, and therefore easily makes our list of top things to do in El Salvador.

This is one of the largest pre-Hispanic archaeological sites in the country , and is only 45 minutes from San Salvador .

As a result it’s a worthwhile day trip to do from the capital, and you can use either  Uber or chicken buses to get there.

Or, you could rent a driver for the day to take you there amongst other sights in the area.

If you’re in San Salvador, then we recommend joining this day tour where you’ll visit San Andrés ruins, as well as the ruins of Tazumal and Joys de Cerén.

Those up for more adventure can instead head with this action-packed tour that also visits numerous volcanoes and Lake Coatepeque!

16. Camp at Conchagua

This is a great area of natural beauty and one Bradley and I missed out on. 

Actually most of the research is in Spanish on Google, so it’s hard to get exact information, but this is a wonderful place to camp.

It’s better to visit Conchagua via car and actually some people opt to sleep in their car rather than camp, but that’s up to you.

Conchagua Volcano is the only one that is located in the coastal plains of El Salvador, which offers a completely different setting compared to the rest further in-land.

There is a viewpoint here called Soul of the mountain, which is said to offer some of the most beautiful views in all of El Salvador!

The owner of the “viewpoint” organizes a tour that costs $10 for transport to and from and entrance to the viewpoint, which isn’t bad.

He is called Luis Diaz and his contact number is +503 7824 7766. You can gain more information via him!

Conchagua Volcano is located right in the extreme south-east of El Salvador , close to Honduras. The closest city to the region is San Miguel, which is around an hours drive away.

17. Chill at The Santa Teresa Hot Springs

When it comes to El Salvador attractions, this should easily make the list. 

However the Santa Teresa Hot Springs is actually quite an undiscovered hidden gem of El Salvador, and it doesn't make it on many of the backpacking itineraries or lists of things to do in El Salvador. But it should!

I love a good hot spring, and there is actually a “luxury” resort area here called the Santa Teresa Park which offers you the unique opportunity to appreciate the largest Ausol in Central America.

Here you can also see the magic pool, trail of the lagoons, the romantic pool as well as the blue lagoon, which all together make the hot springs of Santa Teresa the main tourist destination in the West of El Salvador.

These are beautiful hot springs, all well organized, and I REGRET NOT KNOWING ABOUT THEM!

I wish I had gone, but even when I did my initial research, this wasn’t on the list of things to do in El Salvador, so if you go to El Salvador, please go and tell me what you think!

You can head on this day tour from the capital , which includes pick-up and drop-off and gives you plenty of time to really relax at this underrated site.

The Santa Teresa Hot Springs are located close to the city of Ahuachapan , and are open from 8:00am until 10:00pm all days of the week.

So there you have it, my guide on the top things to do in El Salvador! I hope this guide has given you some inspiration to the many amazing and different things there are to do in El Salvador.

It’s truly an undiscovered country that’s slowly but surely rising in popularity, so if you can, visit before it becomes overly backpackery (not a word but I like it haha), and so you have it all to yourself (and whilst there are no drone laws!!)

On that note, be sure to check out our guide on the best travel drones .

Why visit El Salvador?

El Salvador is often overlooked by backpackers but it shouldn’t be.

It’s home to the stunning Santa Ana volcano, amazing waterfalls and natural beauty, and some of the best surf in the world, that’s consistent all year round!

Simply scratch the surface and you’ll soon discover a country with amazing places to visit, people to meet and beauty to discover.

Is El Salvador safe to visit?

Yes. I am well aware of the reputation that El Salvador has for having one of the highest homicide rates in the world. Which it does, or did.

But the people of El Salvador are actually very much aware of this reputation too. And whilst there is no denying there is violence in the country (just like there is in any country), it doesn’t target tourists.

I have to say, I didn’t feel uneasy for a single minute in El Salvador, and Bradley and I used chicken buses to get from place to place and it felt safe.

The people were friendly, and not once did we feel threatened.

So I can say that it’s safe, or it was for us. Just take normal precautions such as don’t walk around alone at night, don’t get drunk and put yourself in a vulnerable position (especially at night), and don’t flash the cash or expensive jewelry.

Also ,don’t get involved with drugs.

Follow those rules and you will have a fuss free and wonderful experience in El Salvador!

When is the best time to visit El Salvador?

The dry season or summer of El Salvador runs between November and April, so I would say this is the best time to visit.

The wet season runs from May and October.

Bradley and I visited in February and the weather was dry and super warm. El Salvador is a very warm country and the temperature sits at around 33-35 degrees Celsius every day.

Read Also: How To Plan A Trip

How to get to El Salvador?

As I mentioned before, El Salvador is actually quite a small country. You could get from one end to the other in around 4-5 hours.

This means there is only one airport in the country and that’s located in the capital: San Salvador.

You can get flights to San Salvador from a variety of locations, and if you’ve been visiting Mexico or Guatemala, you can get flights for around £60.

If you’re flying from England or the USA the chances are you will have a stopover somewhere before you land in San Salvador.

For those travelling by bus/on land, you can get to the beaches of El Salvador easily by shuttle bus from Guatemala. You can also get to the capital too.

If you want to go to Santa Ana, you will have to leave from Guatemala city, not Antigua as no direct shuttles go to Santa Ana from there.

If you’re coming from the other end (Honduras or Nicaragua), you can use Tica bus to get to San Salvador!

Visa Requirements for El Salvador

El Salvador is part of the C4-4 agreement (El Salvador, Honduras, Guatemala and Nicaragua). This agreement gives tourists 90 days to travel in any of the 4 countries. NOT EACH COUNTRY ( a common mistake).

You can request a 30 day extension, which gives you 120 days in the 4 countries.

If you're from Australia, Belgium, Lavtia, or Croatia you are required to purchase a visa card on arrival which is $10 and lasts 30 days.

You can find more information here.

How long do I need to backpack El Salvador?

Since it’s such a small country, you don't need a lot of time to see everything. I would say 2 weeks is suffice, but you could take it slow and do 3, especially if you are surfing.

You could do it a lot quicker if you’re only making a few stops! I know people who spent less than a week here but I don’t think that’s enough time to get to know the country and truly appreciate its beauty and check off all the top things to do in El Salvador!

Where to after El Salvador?

El Salvador is usually part of a full Central America backpacking list, so depending on whether you’re going north or south, it would make sense to visit Guatemala afterwards, or Nicaragua !

Both countries are amazing, and if you have time, you should definitely visit both. To date, I haven’t visited Honduras as it wasn’t really safe at the time, but I will return and visit it in the future - don’t worry!

Hotels In El Salvador

The hotel industry in El Salvador is nowhere near as big as other countries, so for that reason, I’m going to list a hotel recommendation for each area I visited!

• El Tunco: Casa De Mar ‍
• Santa Ana: Pool House Hostel ‍
• San Salvador: Cinco hotel B&B ‍
• Ruta De Flores: Casa Degraciela Hotel Boutique

You can find the best accommodation in San Salvador here .

The equipment we use when travelling

In case you're wondering what cameras we used for these photos.

• ‍ Canon G7x Mark II : Brilliant little point and shoot, video recording for creating travel videos and vlogging camera. A great all-in-one when you don't want to carry lots of equipment. ‍
• Tripod:  We carry a travel tripod to take some pictures together or get unique shots.
• Memory cards: I use 64G sandisk, sometimes sandisk gold for my drone footage. ‍
• Mavic Pro Drone:  Our baby mavic is high quality, worth a lot of money and worth it for the beauty it captures. There are more new drones out, but this is honestly perfect.

If you’ve got anything else you think I should add to my list of the top things to do in El Salvador, then please comment below.

Happy travelling!

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El Salvador Itinerary: One Week In El Salvador 2023

Some links in this post contain affiliate links. I receive a small commission if you use the links at no extra cost to you! Happy reading 😀

One week in El Salvador is the perfect amount of time for first-time visitors in the country. In this El Salvador itinerary, you’ll get the chance to stay in one of El Salvador’s biggest cities, hike an active volcano, swim in waterfalls, relax on a black pebble beach and party in one of the country’s most popular beach towns .

El Salvador has so much to offer, and it should be on every backpacker’s Central America list. I’ll be honest, we were sceptical about visiting El Salvador at first. But I am so glad we didn’t skip it – it was two weeks we’ll never forget!

However, I do recommend following an itinerary and sticking to certain areas of El Salvador . Sadly, there are still some towns and cities that are not safe for tourists, so be sure to do your research about El Salvador before visiting.

In the following post, I outline the best areas to visit when travelling to El Salvador, what you should do, where you should stay and how to make your El Salvador trip once in a lifetime.

Other El Salvador posts:

• Backpacking El Salvador: Routes, Itinerary, Safety + More!
• BEST & Safest Hostels In El Tunco, El Salvador
• El Tunco El Salvador: COMPLETE Guide
• 21 EPIC Things To Do In Santa Ana, El Salvador

Related post: Backpacking El Salvador : everything you need to prepare for your first trip to El Salvador!

Want to see epic photos and videos from these experiences?

Follow me on Instagram! As we travel, I post everything live on Instagram, so check out my recent highlights and posts. If you can’t find what you’re looking for, drop me a DM!

El Salvador Itinerary: One Week In El Salvador Route Summary

In this route, you will base yourself in two locations in El Salvador. As you only have seven days, this is the perfect split between two of the most exciting locations in the country.

🗺️ One week El Salvador route: Santa Ana > El Tunco > Onward travel

As you can see on the El Salvador map below, travelling from Santa Ana to El Tunco doesn’t take very long, even if you book a backpacker shuttle. Depending on where you are coming from, you can do this one-week El Salvador itinerary in reverse if needs be (especially if you are starting from the airport).

Worried you’re only visiting two locations on your trip? Don’t panic! Santa Ana is the adventure hub of El Salvador, and this will only be a base whilst you take day trips to other destinations in the country. This includes volcano hiking, lake swimming and even sliding down a 35m high rainbow slide!

Of course, there are other locations you could visit in El Salvador (such as El Cuco Beach, Suchitoto and San Salvador. However, they are not included in this particular one-week El Salvador itinerary.

I highly recommend getting  travel insurance  if you are backpacking El Salvador or Central America.  SafetyWing is the best company to cover your trip, covering both medical and travel delays, lost checked luggage, emergency response, natural disasters and personal liability.  ➡️ You can sign up for  SafetyWing here.

⚠️ For more information about safety and staying safe in El Salvador, particularly on public buses, please read the following UK Government advice.

Getting from Antigua (Guatemala) to Santa Ana (El Salvador)

If you are travelling south through Central America, you will cross the border from Guatemala into El Salvador. One of the best options, if you are travelling from Guatemala, is to stop in Santa Ana first, as it is close to the border.

In summary,  there   are three ways to get from Antigua to Santa Ana:

• Shuttle (most common backpacker way)
• Public bus (cheapest option but with the longest duration)
• Private transfer (most expensive but quickest option)

If you’re backpacking El Salvador,  the most common, safest and easiest way to travel between Santa Ana and El Tunco is by  shuttle .  The  shuttles  hold around 16 people and  are full of other backpackers.

🚎 If you are travelling from Antigua to Santa Ana by public bus, check out my full in-depth guide here.

Getting from Santa Ana to El Tunco

The options for travelling between Santa Ana and El Tunco are:

• Shuttle bus (easiest, recommended option)
• Public bus (cheapest option)
• Private transfer (most expensive but the quickest option)
• Hiring a car  and driving yourself

🚎  For the public bus from  Santa Ana to El Tunco ,  please check out my  in-depth guide here.

🚕 Alternatively, you can  hire a car and drive yourself , or hire a private driver. If you would like a  private driver in El Salvador , you can  check out prices here.

For more information on how to get to and from El Tunco, check out my complete El Tunco guide !

Getting from El Tunco to the airport

El Tunco is just 50 minutes from El Salvador’s International Airport . From the airport, you can either  hire a private driver ,  hire a car  yourself or get a public bus.

🚎  Getting the public bus from El Salvador airport to El Tunco?  The public bus will take around 2-3 hours, and you will need to:

➡️  From the airport, get the 183 micro-bus to San Luis Talpa.  This is a 10-minute journey.

➡️  At San Luis Talpa, get the 166 bus to La Libertad.  This should take just over an hour, and La Libertad is just 15 minutes away from El Tunco. It is a large beach town.

➡️ From La Libertad, catch a bus to El Tunco.  There are many public buses in this area, and you can get one from where you were dropped off. This journey should not take more than 20 minutes.

🚕 Alternatively, you can  hire a car and drive yourself , or hire a private driver.  If you would like a  private driver in El Salvador , you can  check out prices here.

El Salvador Itinerary Day 1-4: Santa Ana

🛌 Stay: Santa Ana ( Casa Verde , Casa Vieja Guest House or Hostel Velvet )

⏰ Nights : 3-4, depending on your itinerary

🚗 Day trips from Santa Ana : Lake Coatepeque , Santa Ana volcano , the Rainbow Slide and the Rutas de las Flores

✈️ Distance from the airport: 2 hours (108km)

For your first stop on your El Salvador itinerary, I recommend staying in Santa Ana. Santa Ana is one of the biggest and busiest cities in El Salvador and is known to be safer than the capital, San Salvador.

Santa Ana is also a great base for any adventure activities in El Salvador. Lake Coatepeque , the Santa Ana volcano and Cerro Verde National Park, the Rainbow Slide and the Rutas de las Flores are all accessible from Santa Ana.

If you base yourself in Santa Ana, you can tick off bucket-list activities easily in the first few days. Either hire a car or book tours to see some of the best attractions in the country.

🇸🇻 TOP TIP: You do not need to stay in Lake Coatepeque, or in any of the cities along the Ruta de las Flores. This is a personal choice, but all of the areas can be accessed as a day trip from Santa Ana.

Related post: 21 EPIC Things To Do In Santa Ana, El Salvador | Backpacking El Salvador : everything you need to prepare for your first trip to El Salvador!

Where to stay in Santa Ana

Unfortunately, there aren’t many accommodations for tourists in Santa Ana (yet). We found finding accommodation here quite hard! It’s also a large city, and some areas are nicer than others, so be sure to check out the following hostels and hotels in some of the best areas.

If you are a backpacker in Santa Ana, I recommend checking out the following hostels:

• Casa Verde : for all kinds of backpackers in Santa Ana
• Casa Vieja Guest House : a family run guest house that also runs tours all over Santa Ana
• Hostel Velvet is also a great place for backpackers or digital nomads to stay in Santa Ana.

For somewhere a little nicer in Santa Ana:

• Remfort Hotel : A ten-minute walk to the main downtown area of Santa Ana, with an outdoor swimming pool, a fitness centre and a terrace. ➡ Check prices now!
• Villa Napoli: Large, spacious and bright rooms in a hotel with an outdoor swimming pool, garden, a shared lounge and terrace in Santa Ana. ➡ Check prices now!

🌈 Recommended tour in El Salvador: The Rainbow Slide! Slide down a colourful rainbow slide – a must-do for any adrenaline junkies in El Salvador! ➡ Check prices now!

Best things to do in Santa Ana

When you are in Santa Ana, I recommend using it as a base to travel out of the city and visit some of the areas nearby. Some of the best things to do when in Santa Ana include:

• Drive the Ruta De Las Flores (including a visit to the towns of Juayua, Concepcion de Ataco and Apaneca)
• Slide down the famous Rainbow Slide at Cafe Albania
• Zipline across the jungle at Cafe Albania
• Walk the streets of Santa Ana, visiting the local markets and stalls
• Eat pupusas in a local pupuseria
• Take an overnight trip to Suchitoto
• Do a coffee tour, including drinking coffee in the Axul Cafe in Ataco
• Walk the streets of Apaneca
• Visit the weekly food festival in Juayua
• Do the seven waterfalls hike (Chorros De La Calera is the prettiest)
• Visit and swim in Lake Coatepeque
• Hike the Santa Ana volcano (tours start from Cerro Verde National Park)
• Stay at the Captain Morgan backpacker hostel on Lake Coatepeque

Related post: 21 EPIC Things To Do In Santa Ana, El Salvador

Don’t forget insurance!

Whilst you’re backpacking, you will always need insurance. We use SafetyWing, for the most flexible, reliable and budget-friendly options. They have the best cover for worldwide, long-term trips, and at the most affordable backpacker prices! You can check out their cover here.

El Salvador Itinerary Day 4-7: El Tunco

🛌 Stay: El Tunco ( Papaya Lodge or Canuck’s Guest House )

🏄🏼‍♀️ Do: surfing, relaxing, partying , exploring

🚗 Day trips from El Tunco: El Zonte, Playa San Blas, La Libertad (incl. La Paz and Punta Roca)

✈️ Distance from airport: 50 minutes (42km)

For the last 3 days of your El Salvador one-week trip, I recommend heading to a small beach town on the Pacific Coast, El Tunco . El Tunco is one of the busiest tourist areas in El Salvador, but it’s still quiet compared to other popular beach towns in Central America such as Puerto Escondido or Caye Caulker .

El Tunco is beautiful. With a black sand and pebble beach, this coastline is one of the best in the country. You can expect blood-orange sunsets on a nightly basis, and rippling waves perfect for any budding surfer.

Related post: El Tunco Beach El Salvador Complete Guide : what to do, where to stay, what to eat and how to make the most out of your trip to one of El Salvador’s prettiest beaches! 🏖️

Where to stay in El Tunco

El Tunco is a small, sleepy beach town on the Pacific coast of El Salvador. It’s really important to know where to stay when booking a trip to El Tunco , as some of the surrounding areas aren’t as nice, and aren’t as great for tourists.

If you are a backpacker in El Tunco, I recommend staying in one of the following. Both of these hostels are in a safe area in El Tunco and are within walking distance of the beach.

• Papaya Lodge : for solo backpackers and couples
• Canuck’s Guest House : for digital nomads, solo travellers and couples.

If you’re looking for a bit of a nicer stay in El Tunco, I recommend the following hotels:

• Boca Olas Resort Villas:   450 yards away from El Tunco Beach. A 4-star hotel with an outdoor swimming pool, free private parking, a garden and a terrace, free WiFi, a restaurant and a bar. ➡  Check prices now!
• Hotel & Bar La Guitarra:   this hotel is actually on El Tunco beach, and has easy access to all of El Tunco’s attractions. ➡  Check prices now!
• Eco Del Mar:  a beautiful eco-friendly hotel located in the heart of El Tunco surrounded by tropical forest. ➡  Check prices now!

Related post: The best and safest hostels to stay in El Tunco, El Salvador | Complete guide to visiting El Tunco for the first time

Best things to do in El Tunco

Whilst you’re in El Tunco, I recommend trying some of the following activities and tours.

• Relax on the black sand and pebble beaches
• Eat traditional Salvadorian food
• Party in El Tunco (full El Tunco nightlife guide here !)
• Listen to the Salvadorian street musicians
• Surf on El Tunco beach
• Have a beach club day at Monkey Lala
• Explore the sea caves at El Zonte
• Visit the Atami Resort to swim in the ocean pools
• Watch the sunset from El Tunco beach
• Visit the Tamanique Waterfalls
• Watch the sunrise at El Zonte

Related post: El Tunco Beach El Salvador Complete Guide : more information on visiting El Tunco for the first time!

Getting around El Salvador

You can travel around El Salvador in multiple ways, depending on how much time you have, your budget and where you want to visit . The most common way for backpackers to travel around El Salvador is via rental car or shuttle. 

🚗 GETTING AROUND EL SALVADOR BY CAR

One of the easiest and most popular way to travel around El Salvador is by rental car. Driving in El Salvador is safe, straightforward and easy. Driving in between towns like El Tunco and Santa Ana will save a lot of time on shuttles. You can also drive the Rutas De Flores at your own pace if you have your own car.

➡ Check car hire prices in El Salvador now!

🚖 GETTING AROUND EL SALVADOR BY A PRIVATE DRIVER

Hiring a private driver to get around El Salvador is one of the most popular and safest ways to see the country. Private drivers can be hired for different amounts of time.

➡ Check prices and bookings for your own private driver in El Salvador here.

🚌 GETTING AROUND EL SALVADOR BY SHUTTLE BUS

If you aren’t hiring a car in El Salvador, you can travel via shuttle bus. This is another easy and safe way to travel around El Salvador. Shuttles in El Salvador will be with other backpackers, and can either be booked online or via your hostel. I recommend pre-booking your shuttles in advance.

➡ Check shuttles in El Salvador now!

Bucket list tours in El Salvador 

Looking to book a tour in El Salvador? Tours are one of the best and safest ways to see the hidden gems of El Salvador. If you’re travelling during peak season, I highly recommend pre-booking your tours to ensure you don’t miss out!

When travelling, we use this company to book our tours . Tours include skip-the-line tickets to the world’s most iconic attractions, walking tours by top local experts, immersive food and beverage tours, cooking and craft classes, bucket list experiences, and niche offerings you won’t find anywhere else! 

Some of the best tours in El Salvador include: 

• Santa Ana Volcano, Full Day Tour 🌋 ➡ check prices here!
• Rainbow Slide Experience 🌈 ➡ check prices here!
• Tamanique Waterfalls and El Tunco Beaches ➡ check prices here!
• Day trip to Honduras, Copan Ruins 🇭🇳 ➡ check prices here
• Half-Day San Salvador City Tour ➡ check prices here!

➡ Check out more tours for your trip here!

Local foods to try on your one-week El Salvador trip

If you only have one week in El Salvador, I highly recommend trying pupusas . Pupusas quickly became one of our favourite foods when in El Salvador, and we may have become a little obsessed with them!

Pupusas are similar to pancakes and can be served either savoury or sweet. They are thick corn tortillas made from flour or maize and egg, which are then stuffed with everything from chicken, pork, beans, avocado, cheese and even chocolate!

Pupusas can be found all over El Salvador, and are sold for as little as 80p ($1) for one. For a main meal, you’ll need around 3-4 pupusas to feel full. That’s a pretty cheap meal!

🚗 One of the easiest and most popular ways to travel around El Salvador is by rental car. Driving in El Salvador is safe, straightforward and easy . ➡ Check car hire prices in El Salvador now!

Where to go AFTER El Salvador

After visiting El Salvador, most backpackers do one of the following.

🇬🇹 Travel NORTH to Guatemala. You can easily get to Antigua (Guatemala) from Santa Ana (El Salvador). ➡️ For a full guide on travelling from Santa Ana to Anitgua, click here.

🇳🇮 Travel SOUTH to Nicaragua. Another option is to travel to Leon, south of El Salvador. There are direct shuttles from El Tunco to Leon, Nicaragua. Bear in mind – this takes around 19-20 hours! ➡️ Full how-to get from El Tunco to Leon guide here!

🇭🇳 Travel EAST to Honduras. You can travel to Honduras easily from El Salvador. Most backpackers visit the Copan Ruins and Utila in Honduras.

✈️ Fly out of the country to another destination. There is an international airport in El Salvador, just 50 minutes from El Tunco. If you want to avoid the 20-hour shuttle journey from El Tunco to Leon , this is a great option! ➡️ Check flight prices now.

📲 Don’t forget to download your eSim for El Salvador! ESIMs are easy to download and ready to use within a few minutes of purchasing, so there’s no longer a need to hunt down free Wifi! ➡ You can check out the prices and packages for eSIMs here!

El Salvador Itinerary: One Week In El Salvador: FAQs

1) is el salvador safe for tourists.

Yes, El Salvador is safe for tourists and backpackers , but you still need to stick to busy and well-known areas. Whilst most trips will be trouble-free, there is still violence and crime in certain areas, and some cities and towns are less safe than others.

The truth is, the past 40 years for El Salvador were hard. They had a civil war that lasted for 12 years, as well as consistent violent gang-related crimes, affecting both gang members and innocent civilians.

El Salvador was sadly one of the most dangerous countries in the world in 2015 and 2016 (outside of a warzone), with almost 18 murders a day. Whilst this may sound frightening, the new president (who was elected in 2019) has gone above and beyond to make sure El Salvador is safer for both innocent locals and tourists.

If you’re visiting El Salvador, stick to the main backpacker locations (such as Santa Ana and El Tunco ). To add extra safety precautions, stay in the main backpacker hostels or tourist hotels in these areas.

As a reminder, these are:

Santa Ana: Casa Verde , Casa Vieja Guest House or Velvet Hostal

El Tunco: Canuck’s Guest House or Papaya Lodge

Lake Coatepeque: Captain Morgan

Related post: Check out my honest opinion about safety in El Salvador here 🇸🇻

2) When is the best time to visit El Salvador?

You can visit and do this one-week El Salvador itinerary 365 days a year and still be able to do some of the bucket list activities and trips.

But, if you’d prefer to avoid the afternoon rainy downpours, head to El Salvador during the dry season (November – May) , but expect to pay a little more than the wet season (May – November).

Related post: Best time to visit El Salvador for backpackers : weather, humidity, rainfall, wildlife and more! ☀️

3) Is El Salvador worth going to?

Yes! El Salvador is a great place to backpack that is a little off the beaten track.  It’s not a well-known holiday destination (especially if you’re from the UK), so visiting whilst backpacking Central America is a great idea.

If you’re looking for bucket list activities, El Salvador has a lot to offer.  From  hiking the Santa Ana volcano , sliding down the famous  Rainbow Slide , swimming in Lake Coatapeque and  jumping in waterfalls at Tamanique . 

El Salvador is also well-known for its surfing,  and El Tunco is a great location for advanced surfers. If you’re a keen (and good) surfer, El Salvador is worth visiting for the waves. 

Related post:   El Tunco Beach El Salvador Complete Guide : what to do, where to stay, what to eat and how to make the most out of your trip to one of El Salvador’s prettiest beaches! 🏖️

4) Do I need a SIM card to travel around El Salvador? 

Yes, I highly recommend downloading an eSIM on your phone to ensure you can use it for directions and safety in El Salvador. We found most of the cities to be chaotic and difficult to find local SIM cards.

ESIMs are easy to download and ready to use within a few minutes of purchasing, so there’s no longer a need to hunt down free Wifi! ➡ You can check out the prices and packages for eSIMs here!

5) Do I need a car to travel around El Salvador?

This is down to personal preference. We found El Salvador easy enough to travel around via buses and shuttles , but one of the preferred modes of most backpackers is hiring a car.  

You can hire a car and drive around the entire country at your own pace. D riving in El Salvador is safe and straightforward. Some of the main towns and cities are a distance away from each other, so to maximise your time in the country, you may want to hire a car . 

🇸🇻 If you’re looking to hire a car in El Salvador, we rent our cars from this company . They’re reliable, cheap and have car rentals all over the world!  ➡ You can check out the prices for car hire in El Salvador now!

El Salvador Itinerary – One Week in El Salvador: In A Nutshell

So, there you have it! Everything you need to know for an El Salvador itinerary of one week. When you’re planning a trip to El Salvador, make sure you let me know over on Instagram or in the comments below!

If you haven’t seen my blog before, I write posts aimed at first-time backpackers on a budget. I’m currently travelling around the world with my boyfriend (read more here !), creating guides and itineraries for you to follow in our footsteps!

Keep an eye out for more El Salvador content, all written from a personal and realistic point of view. You can sign up for my newsletter and juicy travel updates here!

As always, thanks for reading and supporting the blog!

Happy travelling 🙂

🇸🇻 Where to next in El Salvador?

• How To Get From Santa Ana To El Tunco: COMPLETE Guide
• Best Time to Visit El Salvador: Complete Guide
• Antigua To Santa Ana El Salvador COMPLETE Guide!

MEET THE AUTHOR!

Hi! I'm Jennie! As a part-time travel blogger based in London, I'm using my 10+ years of travel expertise to encourage & inspire you to step out of your comfort zone through sustainable, mindful and purposeful travel.

If I'm not writing, I'm either reading, drinking coffee or taking a wild swim (all at the same time if I'm feeling impressive).

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El Salvador

El Salvador is a country in Central America and, geographically, is part of continental North America . It is bordered on the southwest by the Pacific Ocean, and lies between Guatemala and Honduras .

Understand [ edit ]

El Salvador covers an area of about 21,040 square kilometres (the smallest country in Central America), although it is the most densely populated. El Salvador is home to more than 6,500,000 people. It is divided into 14 sections called Departments. It has 25 volcanoes, 14 lakes, and three large cities and is divided in to East, Central and West with the the capital San Salvador in the central region, Santa Ana in the west and San Miguel the largest city in the east.

History [ edit ]

The civilization of El Salvador dates from the pre-Columbian time, around 1500 BC, according to evidence provided by the ancient structures of Tazumal in Chalchuapa.

The Spanish Admiral Andrés Niño lead an expedition to Central America and disembarked on the Island Meanguera, located in the Gulf of Fonseca, on 31 May 1522. This was the first Salvadoran territory visited by the Spaniards. In June 1524, Spanish Captain Pedro de Alvarado began a predatory war against the native tribes of Cuzcatlán. During 17 days of bloody battles many natives and Spaniards died. Pedro de Alvarado was defeated and, with an injury to his left hip, abandoned the fight and fled to Guatemala, appointing his brother, Gonzalo de Alvarado, to continue with the conquest of Cuzcatlán. Later, his cousin Diego de Alvarado established the Villa of San Salvador in April 1525. King Carlos I of Spain granted San Salvador the title of City in the year 1546. During the following years, El Salvador developed under Spanish rule.

Towards the end of 1810, a feeling of a need for freedom arose among the people of Central America and the moment to break the chains of slavery arrived at dawn on November 5th, 1811, when the Salvadoran priest, Jose Matías Delgado, sounded the bells of the Iglesia La Merced in San Salvador, making a call for insurrection. After many internal fights, the Acta de Independencia (Act of Independence) of Central America was signed in Guatemala on September 15th, 1821.

In December of 1931, the corrupt and incompetent regime of the Labour Party, headed by Manuel Araujo, was overthrown and General Maximiliano Hernández Martínez assumed the presidency. The fraudulent elections of January 1932 were the detonating factor of the social outbreak. Several voting sites were suspended in populations in which the Communist Party had a strong presence. A new insurrection began. After two frustrated assaults on the Cuartel de Caballería (Cavalry Quarters) were conducted by the rebel forces, the government ordered martial law. Strict censorship of the press was implemented. In the following days thousands of farmers and workers, carrying machetes and some few "Mauser" rifles attacked police stations, municipal offices, telegraph stations, warehouses, and wealthy landowners' properties. This insurrection was crushed. On January 31st, Manuel Antonio Castañeda sentenced Farabundo Martí to death. He was shot and killed on February 1st, 1932.

Over the next decades, many coups d'états followed, including the one that overthrew General Maximiliano Hernández Martínez.

Relations with Honduras deteriorated in the late 1960s. There was a border clash in 1967, and a four-day so-called Football war (Soccer War), as it was named by the international mass media, broke out in July 1969. The war ended with a cease-fire prompted by pressure from the United States and the Organization of American States. The Salvadoran forces that had invaded Honduras were withdrawn. They were just a few kilometres outside Honduras' capital.

A movement of organized leftist guerrillas sprang up in 1974 and 1975, amid increasing political violence. In 1980, three of the leftist organizations united to coordinate a fight against the government. This movement was called FMLN (Frente Farabundo Martí para la Liberación Nacional. English: Farabundo Martí National Liberation Front). In March of the same year Monseñor Oscar Arnulfo Romero, the archbishop of San Salvador, was assassinated while he was celebrating mass. It is widely believed that the order for his execution came from Major Roberto D'Abuisson, the founder and leader of ARENA, a right-wing party. D'Abuisson is best known for his suspected involvement in death squad murders. He died of cancer in 1992. On January 16th, 1992, the government of El Salvador and the Farabundo Martí National Liberation Front (FMLN), signed Los Acuerdos de Paz (Peace Accords) in Chapultepec, Mexico, putting an end to one of the most painful chapters in the history of El Salvador. The 12 years of armed conflict claimed the lives of over 75,000 people and caused the exodus of hundreds of thousands more who fled to the United States, Canada, and other countries in order to escape the violence.

Today, El Salvador is stable and with a growing economy, leaving behind its painful history.

Climate [ edit ]

Tropical; rainy season (May to October); dry season (November to April); tropical on the coast; temperate in the uplands.

Holidays [ edit ]

Regions [ edit ].

Cities [ edit ]

• San Salvador - national capital; San Salvador department
• San Miguel , San Miguel department
• La Libertad
• Puerto Cutuco ( La Union )
• San Francisco Gotera , Morazán department
• Santa Tecla

Other destinations [ edit ]

• Parque Nacional Cerro Verde
• Parque Nacional El Imposible
• San Miguel beaches - Playa Las Flores , Playa El Esteron , Intipuca Beach and El Cuco

Get in [ edit ]

Visa-free [ edit ]

Citizens of the European Union/EFTA , Andorra , Antigua and Barbuda , Argentina , Australia , Bahamas , Bahrain , Barbados , Belize , Brazil , Brunei , Canada , Chile , Colombia , Costa Rica , Ecuador , Fiji , Guatemala , Honduras , India , Israel , Japan , Kuwait , Macedonia , Madagascar , Malaysia , Marshall Islands , Mexico , Monaco , New Zealand , Nicaragua , Panama , Paraguay , Qatar , Russia , Saint Kitts and Nevis , Saint Lucia , Saint Vincent and the Grenadines , San Marino , Sao Tome and Principe , Saudi Arabia , Singapore , Solomon Islands , South Africa , South Korea , Taiwan , Turkey , Trinidad and Tobago , Tuvalu , Ukraine , United Arab Emirates , United States / American Samoa , Uruguay , Vanuatu , and Vatican City can visit El Salvador for up to 90 days visa-free. Citizens of the mentioned countries except Belize, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama must have proof of sufficient funds to cover your stay as well as documents stating your next destination.

Holders of diplomatic, official or service passports of Belarus , Bolivia , Cuba , Dominica , Dominican Republic , Egypt , Grenada , Guyana , Haiti , Jamaica , Jordan , Kenya , Montenegro , Morocco , Pakistan , Papua New Guinea , Peru , Philippines , Serbia , Suriname , Thailand , Venezuela and Vietnam do not require a visa.

Tourist card [ edit ]

Citizens of the European Union(except Bulgaria , Croatia , and Romania ), Argentina , Chile , Colombia , Costa Rica , Guatemala , Honduras , Monaco , New Zealand , Nicaragua , Panama , Paraguay , Saint Kitts and Nevis , Saint Lucia , Saint Vincent and the Grenadines , San Marino , Sao Tome and Principe , South Africa , Switzerland , Turkey , Trinidad and Tobago , Uruguay and Vatican City do not need a tourist card upon arrival. All other citizens of countries/territories not mentioned need a tourist card upon arrival. Tourist cards are $12.

Visas [ edit ]

Immigration requires that visitors entering El Salvador have their passport and one of the following documents: visa or tourist card. Visas are issued by the Consulate of El Salvador accredited in the countries where these type of diplomatic missions exist; and the tourist card is generally issued for 90 days and includes Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua (you can travel for 90 days throughout those 4 countries, called the CA-4 and the visa does NOT start over when you cross borders of any of those 4 countries). When arriving by air, your visa can be purchased for US$12 at the airport. [1] Land entrances are not charged for El Salvador as the visas for Guatemala, Nicaragua and Honduras include El Salvador in the CA-4 visa. Passports of certain countries might need to obtain a visa before entering El Salvador such as Malaysia. Some countries pay a fee for the issuance of the visa.

Visas can be extended once per year for up to another 90 days. A list of detailed instructions in English can be found here .

By plane [ edit ]

Visitors travelling by plane arrive at El Salvador International Airport in Comalapa, located on the beach forty-five minutes outside of the capital's city limits. The airport code is SAL.

Avianca is the main airline as of May 2013 after TACA Airlines merged with Avianca. Although it serves in Bogota , Colombia, it now serves Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, and Guatemala after the TACA Merger and thus, it has now expanded services further to South America and Spain. Avianca flies a fleet of A319s, A320s, A321s (much of them from its former TACA Fleet) and other aircrafts throughout North, Central, and South America.

A US$32 departure tax must be paid upon departure. Depending on the airline, the full amount or part of the tax may already be included in the price of your ticket and the amount you must pay will vary from US$0 - US$32. Avianca has a customer service desk at the airport and can provide information on whether or not the tax is includes in the price of your ticket.

Other airlines that fly into El Salvador include American Airlines (from Miami and Dallas ), United (from Houston , Newark , and Washington, D.C. ), Delta (from Atlanta ), Spirit (from Fort Lauderdale ), Iberia (from Madrid ), Copa (from Panama City , Aeromexico (from Mexico City ) and Veca between selected Central American Cities.

By car [ edit ]

The Pan-American highway travels through El Salvador and is a safe route for entering the country and travelling between San Miguel in the East and San Salvador in the West

By bus [ edit ]

Numerous buses also traverse the highways of the country. Domestic bus services are typically very cheap (not more than two or three dollars for even the longest rides) and difficult to understand. The buses themselves are often very well painted and adorned with all kinds of posters and trinkets, ranging from the religious to the pop-culture. Longer bus rides may include a stop in some town where plenty of mujeres , and sometimes their children, too, will board hawking mangos, nuts, water, and even sometimes fried chicken in a box. There is no central agency that coordinates bus routes and schedules, so it is best to just ask the cobrador where the bus is going and when. Most are very friendly and helpful, but do watch out for scams on the buses.

Anyone riding the buses (visitor or local) must take caution in riding the buses and microbuses that are seen around the country. The buses are often crammed and it is very easy to be robbed. The buses are cheap and are a great way to get around, but remember that as a visitor you are at a higher risk of being robbed. If you must ride a bus take extra care of yourself and your belongings.

The following bus companies offer luxury (and safer) bus travel with meals included, between El Salvador and other Central American destinations (incl Mexico):

• Tica Bus [2] : Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica & Panama
• Pullmantur [3] : Guatemala & Honduras
• Platinum [4] : Guatemala
• Transporte Del Sol [5] : Guatemala, Nicaragua & Costa Rica

Get around [ edit ]

If driving, rental car agencies include Alamo and Hertz. Buses and taxis also provide good ways of getting around. Distances between sights make walking an unpopular option, as does the street layout in the city; San Salvador is not a square city, but has long avenues that are straight and streets that aren't. That said, in some areas walking is a great option, such as in Zona Rosa.

El Salvador now has a well developed GPS navigation system called QFind [6] that can help you move around either in urban or rural areas. This is a fully functional system with thousands of points of interest and turn by turn routing to your destination.

Another option for luxury transportation is Linea Ejecutiva [7] , they bring private transfer. If you want, you can contact the Bureau of Conventions of El Salvador to visit the country.

By train [ edit ]

All rail transport in El Salvador was suspended in October 2002.

In 2006 a pilot scheme for reviving the rail network commenced and in 2007 a service to between San Salvador and Apopa was restarted with two return trips each morning and evening aimed at commuter traffic. Whilst this will be of little use to travellers, it is hopefully a sign of future reopening of more of the extensive rail network.

By Taxi [ edit ]

The safest and most comfortable way to travel around El Salvador is by private taxi. The reason being that there is a lack of signs to guide you around, there are areas you don't want to take a bad turn into, the Salvadoreans have a very aggressive driving style. Most hotels/hostels will have their preferred private taxi companies and can organize single trips, long distance trips or day fares. These are set fares (no meter). These private companies are a safer option than the normal yellow ones, and just look like ordinary cars. Example one way fares:

• San Salvador - International Airport: USD$30-$35
• San Salvador - El Tunco Beach: USD$30
• San Salvador - El Cuco Beach/San Miguel: USD$100

Talk [ edit ]

The official language in El Salvador is Spanish, however a large population does speak English. Around 1% of people speak Izalco or Nahuat, the Pipil language.

See [ edit ]

The countryside of El Salvador is breathtaking, with volcanoes and mountains offering "green" adventurers exactly what they are looking for. Many of environmentally-oriented community-based organizations promote eco-tourism, and there are a number of beautiful and secluded beaches and forests scattered throughout the country.

A well-maintained and sparsely populated national park is found in the west at Bosque El Imposible. Additionally, there is Montecristo Cloud Forest, and a quaint fishing village with incredible local hospitality and remote coconut islands in La Isla de Méndez. Isla de Olomega in the department of San Miguel is an excellent eco-tourism destination, as are the beautiful Isla El Cajete in Sonsonate , Isla San Sebastian, Conchagua, Conchaguita, Isla Conejo, Isla Teopan, and Isla Meanguera.

One should also visit the colonial towns of Ataco , Apaneca , Juayua , Panchimalco , and Suchitoto as well as the Mayan sites of San Andrés, Joya de Cerén (The Pompeii of Central America and an UNESCO World Heritage Site), and Tazumal, whose main pyramid rises some 75 feet into the air. The on-site museum showcases artifacts from the Pipil culture (the builders of Tazumal), as well as paintings that illustrate life in pre-Hispanic El Salvador. Souvenir hunters will find some of the best artisans in San Juan el Espino and in La Palma (the artisan capital of El Salvador).

The capital, San Salvador, is a cosmopolitan city with good restaurants highlighting the country’s fresh seafood, as well as plenty of shopping, entertainment and nightlife.

San Miguel in the East offers tourists a more authentic way to see El Salvador by getting off the beaten track to see its countryside, coastline and lakes

Do [ edit ]

• Stand Up Paddleboarding at El Cuco beach
• Water skiing, Tubing, Wake boarding, Para sailing, Jet skiing in Playa El Esteron , one of the most beautiful beaches in El Salvador
• Mayan Ruins While not as tall or as famous as the great Mayan Centers in Mexico, Guatemala and Honduras, the ruins are impressive in their own right. The biggest bonus will be that on some days, you may have the ruins entirely to yourself or with very few others. The two sites, Tazumal and San Andrés are around one hour from each other (driving) in Western El Salvador. The jewel in the crown however, is Joyas de Ceren (12km from San Andres), a preserved 1400 year old Mayan village that like Pompeii, was promptly abandoned during a volcanic eruption. While excavation continues to take place, you can walk around the beautifully preserved earth homes and view artifacts and petrified beans, maize, utensils and ceramics that were left locked in time, a small but intriguing snap shot of Mayan life.
• Volcano hiking at Parque Nacional Los Volcanes . The Ilamatepec (Santa Ana Volcano) hike takes around 2 hours, guided hikes leave at 11am every morning from the Car Park at Cerro Verde. Hike through lush forest & the side of the volcano. The peak offers one of the most spectacular views in Central America - the strikingly turquoise lake in the crater, the nearby Lake Coatepeque (a volcanic caldera lake), the Izalco volcano nearby and on a clear day, the highlands on the Honduran & Guatemalan borders. Entrance fee to the park is USD $6 for foreigners or $3 for nationals (Salvadoran ID card or passport required).
• Waterfalls and hot springs Tamanique is a refreshing and beautiful waterfall close to El Tunco beach, popular with surfers and backpackers. Best to visit with a guide, which can be organised at El Tunco
• Lake Coatepeque a stunning volcanic caldera lake with natural hot springs fed from nearby volcanoes, surrounded by lush forests. A playground for El Salvador's upper classes for decades, much of it's shoreline is private property and the shore may be difficult to reach in parts. Accommodation options are very limited, however the lack of commercial development adds to the lakes' air of pristine serenity. Private holiday homes can be booked through online rental websites (such as Airbnb), along with a luxury boutique hotel Cardedeu , with rooms and suites starting from USD $400 a night. Boat tours of the lake can be arranged.
• Ruta de las Flores a route in western El Salvador famous for its coffee, that winds its way through picturesque villages nestled between lush mountains and coffee plantations. The lively villages of Juayua and Ataco are popular with Salvadorans on weekends, filled with markets, street entertainments and a weekly food fair. Nahuizalco has recently undergone improvements to its infrastructure and boasts a popular artisan market and local fresh food market with local produce, under the watchful eye of the Izalco volcano nearby. These colourful villages lend themselves splendidly to photography, and accomodation options to suit all budgets are available in the bigger towns. Tours of nearby waterfalls and coffee plantations can be arranged from Juayua and Ataco.
• La Palma is a tiny and remote, rainbow-coloured village. It is the birthplace of the country's modern art movement thanks to one of the country's most famous artists (Fernando Llort) and home to native artists and handicraft artisans. Along with the nearby town of San Ignacio , it is a focal point for tourists hiking the nearby challenging peaks around El Pital.
• El Boqueron National Park San Salvador's iconic volcano. A well maintained walk along the rim of the volcano that last erupted in 1917 is well worth a visit. A small entry fee includes entry to the information centre. The highlight is peering down the 500 metre deep crater, as well as the spectacular views of San Salvador itself. Food stalls cater to tourists.
• Parque Nacional Montecristo A cloud forest bordering Guatemala and Honduras, it offers some of the most enchanting and refreshing hikes in Central America. The forest is filled with rare animals including spider monkeys, toucans, pumas and exotic plants. Camping is the only option for accommodation, with a few different hikes available. Unless hiking as part of an organized tour group, you will need to bring your own food, water and gear. Temperatures are much cooler than the rest of the country, ranging from 10°C (50°F) to 15°C (59°F).
• Cerro El Pital A mountain popular with serious hikers, it is home to rare species of birds and animals. A great place to go camping and wildlife spotting. 12km from the town of La Palma, El Pital is the highest point in El Salvador at 2,730 Meters (8,957 Feet). The average temperature throughout the year is 10 °C (50 °F).
• Furesa Animal Refuge [8] a refuge for rare animals from around the world in beautiful surroundings. Activities include forest walks, waterfalls, camping facilities & zip lining. Animals include Toucans, Tapirs, a Bengal Tiger, grey foxes, and Pumas. Entrance from US$8.
• Jiquilisco Bay Explore this remarkable biosphere reserve, the largest mangrove estuary in El Salvador. Includes numerous bays, canals, sandy beaches, islands, forests and a freshwater lagoon complex. The bay is one of two Hawksbill Sea Turtle habitats in the Pacific. Puerto Barillas [9] lays at the heart of the reserve, popular with boat owners seeking solitude, and with accommodation and activities available.
• El Tunco An increasingly popular destination for backpackers, El Tunco was probably the only destination in the country that continued to be visited by few brave tourists during the civil war that ravaged the country, surfers in search of its famous breaks. While still popular with surfers, the lively bars, restaurants and hostels are a focal point for international backpackers visiting the country.
• El Cuco One of nicer swimming beaches in the country, small hostels and hotels abound. A slower pace than El Tunco, there is little activity in the town itself. The Equilibrio festival takes place in March each year, which includes a variety of workshops, yoga classes and dance floor revery. Held at La Tortuga Verde resort.
• Turtle Conservation at various spots along the coast, tourists can volunteer to assist in the hatch and release of baby turtles during hatching season (between June & November)

Buy [ edit ]

El Salvador's official currency is the US Dollar (since 2001) and Bitcoin (since 2021). Carry only $1, $5, $10 or $20 dollar bills. Most stores, supermarkets and department stores won't accept $50 or $100 bills. If you need to exchange to lower denominations, you can go to any bank. If you are from a country or territory with the US dollar as a official currency, you will not need to worry about understanding prices and currency transferring. Also if you are from Bermuda , Panama , or Bahamas , the official currency(ies) of the mentioned countries and territories have fixed exchange rates to the US Dollar. Meaning what price is said in El Salvador will be understood with your country's/territory's official currency. Example; $150 US Dollars will equal $150 Bermudian dollars, but you will still have to exchange currencies.

El Salvador has the largest malls in the region (MetroCentro - MetroSur), especially in San Salvador , with many upmarket international stores. Goods can also be purchased from markets, including national and international supermarkets.

San Salvador has a number of large modern shopping malls stocking the latest in international fashion, accessories & cuisine. These are generally found in the city's upscale suburbs such as Escalón, Santa Elena, and their surroundings. These malls include:

• Multiplaza [10]
• La Gran Vía [11]
• Galerías [12]
• Plaza Merliot [13]

For those shoppers interested in purchasing fairly traded crafts and organically grown produce, a local alternative market is held every other Saturday in the San José park in the San Luis area just west of the National University.

Expect to pay $30-60 for a room in a hotel, $3-5 for a simple meal, $0.25-0.35 to ride a San Salvador city bus, $1/hour to use the Internet, and $0.25 for a bag of sliced mangos. The one drawback to this is that large bills ($50 & $100) are almost unspendable. Get change wherever you can -- gas stations are always a good bet. A good idea is to visit a bank and ask for small bills and nothing larger than a $20. Take note of the prices that street vendors sell their products because at times they will take advantage of people that look or sound foreign by raising their prices dramatically.

Eat [ edit ]

The restaurant scene in El Salvador is influenced by many different cultures. Food options include Italian, Korean, Japanese, French, Chilean, American, Peruvian, Mexican, Spanish, Middle Eastern, German, Chinese, Argentinian and others. You can also easily find American fast food chains such as Burger King, McDonald's, Wendy's, KFC, Subway, Quiznos, Pizza Hut, Little Caesar's, and Domino's, in the largest cities in the country such as San Salvador, Merliot / Santa Tecla, and Santa Ana. Other franchises include Tony Romas', Bennigans and others. Some of the best restaurants are located in Zona Rosa (Paradise, Alo Nuestro, 503).

The typical Salvadoran diet includes lots of rice and beans, seafood (particularly among those who live on the coast), and the most common Salvadoran dish, the famous Pupusa , a round corn tortilla filled with cheese and other elements, usually chicharon (shredded pork meat). It's widely agreed that the best pupusas in the country can be bought in Olocuilta, which you can get to along the highway on the way to the Comalapa airport. You will find 50+ pupusa stands there, competing for business.

Also Salvadorans eat fried sliced plantains (platanos) usually with beans, sour cream, cheese and sometimes eggs, yuca con chicharron, pastelitos de carne, panes con pavo (turkey sandwiches), hand made tortillas among other very delicious Salvadoran foods.

If you are staying on the coast, make sure you try the cóctel de conchas. It is a mix of black clams, lime juice, onions, tomatoes, cilantro, and chiles in a spicy black sauce. You can find them for about $3/bowl, using freshly harvested clams. A wide range of other seafood dishes can also be found.

Many large modern supermarkets are scattered throughout the capital and in large towns, such as La Despensa de Don Juan and Super Selectos, which sell local produce and a large variety of international products. Like anywhere else in the world, these are a cheaper alternative to eating out every night.

Drink [ edit ]

Typical beverages and fruits [ edit ].

Try the most delicious Horchata (made from rice and "morro" seeds) and Cebada (a smooth and sweet pink barley refreshment). If you prefer (at your own risk) to drink natural juices, such as: guava, jocote , arrayan , chirimoya , granadilla de "moco" and marañon. Furthermore, you should try to savour the local fruit, as: jocotes, marañon japones, green mango (with salt, lime, alhuaiste (ground pumpkin seed), manzana pedorra (orig.from Los Planes de Renderos), "nance", "red or yellow almendras" salvadorenias, "hicaco", "paterna" (also try the cooked paterna seed with lime and hot pepper, and don't miss the suave and liquory aroma of "carao" .

Bars & Clubs [ edit ]

The drinking age in El Salvador is 18 .

San Salvador's night life centers around 'Las Terrazas' at Multiplaza Mall in Santa Elena, filled with restaurants, bars and dance clubs that fill up each weekend with people of all ages. The close proximity of the establishments and the secure environment are a major drawcard for young revellers that enjoy partying till the early hours. Dress is smart casual attire.

The Zona Rosa was once the buzzing and eclectic entertainment quarter of the city, until its epicentre gradually established itself at Multiplaza.

The bars & restaurants at the base of the Plaza Futura Tower in Colonia Escalon are popular with business professionals on weeknights as well as expats, attracting an older crowd than Multiplaza. Smart Casual dress attire at most venues.

New small bars and restaurants in beautiful surroundings are continuously opening up, some in older mansions around Escalon & San Benito & Circo Bar. These are popular with the well heeled of the city that prefer smaller venues away from the large crowds. These venues are the haunts of the 'beautiful & wealthy' set of the city, strict dress codes will usually apply & entry may be refused to anyone with no reason given.

Paseo El Carmen in the historic centre of Santa Tecla has undergone a renaissance of sorts in recent years, with an increasing number of cafes, bars and restaurants opening up along the colourful street. Once the capital of El Salvador and only a short drive from Santa Elena, Santa Tecla is much safer than San Salvador, and is a beacon of hope and blueprint for the efforts to restore the much larger historic quarter of San Salvador to its former glory. Relaxed casual attire is sufficient at most venues.

El Tunco Beach in La Libertad is only a 30-40 minute drive from San Salvador, with its lively bars and eateries being the focal point and main hangout of backpackers and surfers from around the world. Popular with young Salvadorans from the capital on weekends, El Tunco is a safe and fun destination for travellers, offering a different, more relaxed scene than the capital, with chilled out bohemian vibes.

Bars open to the public can also be found at the luxury hotels. Smart casual attire is necessary.

In San Miguel the famous Av. Roosevelt that hosts one of the biggest festivals in Central America in November is where you will find numerous bars and clubs for sexy nightlife.

Sleep [ edit ]

San Miguel has high end hotels on Av. Roosevelt by the Metrocentro mall and budget hotels near the bus terminal.

In San Salvador , there are excellent budget accomodations in Colonia Escalon, Santa Tecla, Antiguo Cuscatlan, and San Luis.

Work [ edit ]

Finding employment in El Salvador is difficult for both Salvadorans and extranjeros (foreigners) alike, although bilingual schools are constantly looking for English speakers, as well as other foreign language teachers. Bilingual/international schools such as Escuela Americana and Academia Britanica Cuscatleca (British Academy) offer competitive salaries for qualified foreign teachers, and in some cases, accommodation included. Current vacancies are posted on the schools' websites.

Most foreigners find themselves volunteering with one of a number of local community organizations or NGOs. Below are some organizations looking for volunteers on a regular basis:

Urban Dog Sanctuary Located on the slopes of Volcan San Salvador overlooking the city of the same name, this sanctuary is run by Salvadoran-Scott Georgi McColl and has an excellent reputation for caring for the animals. She is always looking for volunteers to help maintain and care for the many dogs she has at any one time. She also runs free veterinarian clinics for locals and their pets and is looking for help there as well. Volunteers can stay for weeks or months. Contact her for more information.

Eastern Pacific Hawksbill Initiative There are a lot of organizations claiming to care for the turtles and doing turtle releases around the country. This is one of the few doing it right, with a mind on the turtles and not on making money off of tourists. They are working hard to protect and grow the Hawksbill Turtle populations in El Salvador, which, with its 300 km of coastline, is where most of them come to nest. You can volunteer for as little as one week for a nominal fee.

Permaculture Institute of El Salvador Just outside of Suchitoto, the Permaculture Institute focuses on teaching local farmers the theory of organic gardening. It often draws on knowledge of the local indigenous and uses the farmer-to-farmer method of teaching. They are always looking for new volunteers. There is a small fee to participate, usually around $400 a month to cover costs.

Teaching You - El Salvador A volunteer program focus on Teaching English in Santa Tecla City, the program is runing from monday to thrusday, from January to November, you can apply for 2 weeks to 24 weeks, volunteers pay a fee that cover their accommodation, cooking classes, and other stuff.

Centro de Intercambio y Solidaridad is often looking to hire bi-lingual project managers and liaisons, and offers both Spanish classes and numerous volunteer and cultural opportunities.

The recent incursion of the call center business has raised the bar in the need for a bi-lingual workforce.

Stay safe [ edit ]

El Salvador has a bad reputation due to the civil war of the 1980s. The Consular sheet from the US State Department indicates that El Salvador had the highest homicide rates in the world till 2018. Crime is an issue, most of it is attributed to street gangs, though statistics from official sources do not support that claim. However crime rates felt drastically and now at days is one of the safest countries in Central America; You must use common sense and avoid entering into a zone that does not appear safe, just like you do in any country of the world. Avoid carrying fancy items such as jewelry, expensive cameras, and watches if you are walking on the public streets. Women should avoid traveling alone as they may catch the occasional cat-calling and perhaps get sexually assaulted on tightly packed buses. As a foreigner the kind of response you might get from the police is "hit or miss." If you have been pick-pocketed or otherwise robbed without harm to your person, a visit to the police station will almost certainly be an exercise in frustration. Police officers have also been known to whistle or cat-call female travelers.

It is a good idea for any person visiting El Salvador to keep only necessary forms of identification, such as a driver's license, when exploring the city or tourist locales. If you must keep your passport on you at all times, a traveler's pouch would allow you to have it safely with you. Police officers routinely ask tourists to present their passports, most can be convinced that a copy of the passport and the visa page is sufficient. Others will infrequently insist on accompanying you back to your hotel to retrieve your actual document.

In 1996 San Salvador was considered the second most dangerous city in the Western Hemisphere, according to statistics. Since the end of the civil war in 1992 El Salvador has not seen a reduction in crime rates. Today San Salvador, and El Salvador in general, experience some of the highest homicide rates in the world, it is also considered an epicenter of the gang crisis, along with Guatemala and Honduras . The homicides reported in 2006 reached up to 3,906, in 2005 3,779 were reported; 57.2 violent deaths per every 100,000 people. Crime rates in general have been steadily growing throughout the years, from 2005-2006 crime rose 7.5%. El Salvador is the most dangerous and violent country in Central America. The government tried controlling the gangs with a tactic called "Super Mano Dura" which means "Super Strong Hand", however it has not been successful.

In 2012, the Catholic Church has orchestrated a "gang truce" which has significantly reduced the number of homicides in the country - from 14 a day to 5 a day. The church (and now the government) have worked with gang leaders to procure for them work programs and other training and amenities in prison in exchange for a decrease in violence and turning in of weapons. This arrangement has sustained itself for more than a year. However, the "gang truce" failed in 2015, which spiked the murder rate by 52% with an annual number of 481 killed, with roughly 19 people being murdered each day as a result of a gang truce collapse.

The violence in the country is rarely directed at tourists, and travellers have no more to worry about than any other developing country one may visit. However, that doesn't mean you're immune from becoming a target.

Stay healthy [ edit ]

There are great private hospitals staffed by doctors trained overseas. Many speak at least a little English. Salvadorans will tell you the best hospital to go to is Hospital Diagnostico which is one of the most expensive. It does have a good reputation for cancer treatments and research. However, ex-pats living in El Salvador will often disagree and say that Hospital de la Mujer is much better, especially for minor surgeries, blood tests and anything to do with women's health. As there are more people having babies in El Salvador than cancer treatments, you may find that the nurses and doctors are in much better practice at the Hospital de la Mujer than at Diagnostico, where few Salvadorans can afford to go!

If you are not accustomed to food sold by street vendors, you might want to stay away from food sold on the streets until you acclimate. If you want to try a pupusa , you should try to find a restaurant to taste this popular dish rather than buying them from street vendors. That said, street food that you see cooked can sometimes be safer than restaurant food that you do not see cooked.

'Agua en bolsa' (water in a plastic bag) is very commonly sold in the streets and corner stores of El Salvador.

Pharmacies are easily found all over the country, and antibiotics are plentiful without the need for a prescription. Pain killers (such as Vicodin) are impossible to come by legally as the US found that a high level of painkillers being brought into the country came from El Salvador. Even morphine is unavailable in hospitals due to this crackdown by the US.

Be sure to have a first-aid kit if you travel to the countryside and to archaeological sites.

There is very little chance of catching malaria in El Salvador - a much bigger threat is Dengue Fever, for which there is no protection other than mosquito repellant. Luckily doctors and hospitals are well-versed in treating and testing for Dengue.

Ameobas and other parasites are commonly in tap and well water, so beware of where you buy your drinks and what your ice looks like. A good rule of thumb is that if the ice is molded (i.e. round cylinders with a hole in the middle, or perfect squares) it is usually purified water bought from a store and therefore safe to have in your drink. If it looks like it has been broken apart with an ice pick it's suspect. In Puerto La Libertad, many commodores (local restaurants often operating out of someone's house) get their ice from the fishing co-op on the beachfront street. When you see what else that ice comes in contact with, you will change your mind about drinks with chipped ice in them!

Respect [ edit ]

Salvadorans are known for their great hospitality. Their country is one of the best mannered countries in the world. They are among the nicest people in the world. They are friendly, industrious people always willing to help anyone. That is what has earned El Salvador the nickname of "the country with a smile". When speaking with people you don't know, it is customary to address them in a formal manner, using señor, señora/niña and/or usted.

Contact [ edit ]

The international country code for El Salvador is 503 .

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El Salvador Tours & Vacations

Good things come in small packages and nowhere more so than El Salvador.

The volcanoes, cloud forests and quaint, quiet towns will capture your imagination, while the surf coast will unleash your inner grommet.

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El Salvador at a glance

Capital city.

San Salvador (population 2.4 million)

6.4 million

(GMT-06:00) Central America

CALLING CODE

Electricity.

Type A (North American/Japanese 2-pin) Type B (American 3-pin)

Learn more about El Salvador

Best time to visit el salvador.

The coast can be hot all year round making it a haven for sun lovers. To cool down, head inland to higher altitudes where the climate is milder, but rarely cold. The dry season (November to April) is an ideal time to explore. For spectacular afternoon storms, come during the wet season (May to October).

Geography and environment

The home of the point break, El Salvador’s biggest natural attraction is its beaches. Drag yourself away from the waves of the Pacific and you’ll find volcanoes, lakes and cloud forest aplenty. El Salvador is bordered by Honduras and Guatemala .

Top 5 places in El Salvador

1. cerro verde national park.

This is volcano country. Take a hike through the cloud forest for incredible views of volcanic peaks.

2. Suchitoto

This sweet colonial town boasts colorful houses, cobbled streets and a relaxed old-world charm.

3. Lago Suchitlan

Not far from Suchitoto, this lake is a haven for thousands of migrating birds.

4. El Imposible National Park

Hike, camp and spot pumas in one of Central America’s most remote national parks.

5. Pacific Ocean

Even from the misty peaks of the north you can see the impressive breaks of the Pacific Ocean. Jump on a board or just enjoy the view from the beach.

Festivals and events

Public holidays that may impact travel include:.

• Feast of San Salvador
• Fiestas Agostinas
• Independence Day
• All Souls' Day

Please note dates of El Salvador's public holidays may vary.

Further reading

El salvador travel faqs, do i need a visa to travel to el salvador.

EL SALVADOR: Australia: Not required Belgium: Not required Canada: Not required Germany: Not required Ireland: Not required Netherlands: Not required New Zealand: Not required South Africa: Yes - in advance Switzerland: Not required United Kingdom: Not required USA: Not required

Whilst for most nationalities a visa is not required, you may be required to purchase a tourist card on arrival, costing approximately US$10. If you do require a visa, please obtain this in advance from your local embassy or consulate.

Is tipping customary in El Salvador?

A service charge will be included in restaurant bills. A small tip for hotel staff may be expected.

What is the internet access like in El Salvador?

Internet cafes are available in most places but wi-fi is only just becoming available.

Can I use my cell phone while in El Salvador?

Reception is good in most urban areas. Ensure you have global roaming activated with your carrier if you wish to use your phone.

What are the toilets like in El Salvador?

It's likely that you’ll encounter different types of toilets while traveling in El Salvador. Western-style flushable toilets are commonly found in high-end resorts, hotels and restaurants, while squat toilets are common in rural areas and homes. Be prepared by carrying your own supply of toilet paper and soap, as these aren't always provided.

Can I drink the water in El Salvador?

Drinking tap water in El Salvador isn’t recommended. For environmental reasons, try to avoid buying bottled water. Fill a reusable water bottle or canteen with filtered water. It's also advisable to avoid ice in drinks and peel fruit and vegetables before eating.

Are credit cards accepted widely in El Salvador?

Credit cards are widely accepted.

What is ATM access like in El Salvador?

There’s good access to ATMs in nearly all towns and cities.

Do I need to purchase travel insurance before traveling?

Absolutely. All passengers traveling with Intrepid are required to purchase travel insurance before the start of their trip. Your travel insurance details will be recorded by your leader on the first day of the trip. Due to the varying nature, availability and cost of health care around the world, travel insurance is very much an essential and necessary part of every journey.

For more information on insurance, please go to: Travel Insurance

How do I stay safe and healthy while traveling?

From Australia?

Go to: Smart Traveller

From Canada?

Go to:  Canada Travel Information

From the UK?

Go to:  UK Foreign Travel Advice

From New Zealand?

Go to:  Safe Travel

From the US?

Go to:  US Department of State

The World Health Organisation also provides useful health information.

Does my trip support The Intrepid Foundation?

Yes, all Intrepid trips support the Intrepid Foundation. Trips to this country directly support our global Intrepid Foundation partners, Eden Reforestation Projects and World Bicycle Relief. Intrepid will double the impact by dollar-matching all post-trip donations made to The Intrepid Foundation.

Eden Reforestation Projects

Eden Reforestation Projects are helping to mitigate climate change by restoring forests worldwide; they also hire locally and create job opportunities within vulnerable communities. Donations from our trips support restoration across planting sites in 10 countries around the globe. Find out more or make a donation World Bicycle Relief

World Bicycle Relief provides people in low-income communities with bicycles to mobilize school kids, health workers, and farmers in far-out areas – giving them access to vital education, healthcare, and income. Donations help provide Buffalo Bicycles – specifically designed to withstand the rugged terrain and harsh environment of rural regions – to those who need them most. Find out more or make a donation