Travel to El Salvador

There are many ways to see El Salvador; everything depends on your budget, the duration of your trip and what you want to see and do! There are two main ways into El Salvador: flying into San Salvador (Monsenor Oscar Arnulfo Romero Internation Airport SAL) or travelling via motor vehicle. I arrived via Guatemala border and then exited via San Salvador airport. I wasn’t planning on visiting El Salvador when I planned on backpacking Central America, but I’m so glad I did.

How to plan your trip to El Salvador

Visa: Most nationalities, including Australia, the U.S., Canada and the majority of European countries, do not need a visa if you are staying less than 90 days. But there is a requirement for a USD 12 tourist card. This is to be purchased on arrival.

Currency: The widely used currency in El Salvador is the U.S Dollar (USD). Cash is mainly used, and I would advise having lots of change and small notes as its pretty cheap, and most places struggle to have enough change for large notes. There are ATMs in supermarkets if you don’t bring enough, and cards are accepted in some areas.

Language: Spanish is, of course, the official language in El Salvador, but English is spoken in most tourist areas.

Transportation: Taxis and rideshares (über) are available along the El Tunco coast and in San Salvador but can be expensive and hard to come by. Most accommodation will have transport options available if needed. Local Buses, aka Chicken buses, are super cheap and quite efficient. I travelled a few from Santa Ana to El Tunco, and it cost me about $2 for a 4-hour trip. They are easy to use but do take a little longer than other modes of transport. Private tourist shuttles are another common mode of transportation.

Electricity: Type A and B outlets are used in El Salvador with a standard voltage of 110v.

Best time to visit El Salvador

The dry season is the ultimate time to visit El Salvador; this is from November to April every year. This time of year, the weather is sunny, warm and dry. Perfect if you want to hit the beaches and mountains.

Rainy Season is from May - October, this is the low season but also a great time for budget travellers. Mostly, the rainy hits in the afternoon/ evening so you have the rest of the morning/day to explore!

Top Destinations in El Salvador

I was so surprised at how much I loved El Salvador and that there was always something to see and do! I was only there for a week, and still so much left to explore next time!

Coastal Destinations: El Tunco Beach, El Sunzal, La Libertad and Los Cobanos are favourites among travellers in El Salvador. Known for world-class surfing and a great place for a night out El Tunco is worth the visit. El Sunzal is another popular spot for surfers with consistent waves and a chilled, laid-back atmosphere.

If you are a lover of seafood like me, La Libertad is where you want to visit. It has an iconic fish market with delicious fresh seafood and incredible beaches like Playa La Paz. Los Cobanos is an idyllic location for those who love scuba diving and snorkelling, as it has a wonderfully diverse coral reef ecosystem.

Natural & Adventures Destinations: My favourite adventure in El Salvador was hiking the Santa Ana Volcano (IIamatepec). It was my second volcano hike in Central America, and I loved the views during the hike and then also the view of the turquoise crater.

The Ruta De Las Flores is a wonderful scenic route if you have a hire car to visit towns like Juaya, Ataco and Apaneca, which are known for coffee plantations, colourful murals and plenty of food festivals. Lake Coatepeque is a beautiful spot and well-known to travellers for kayaking, swimming and relaxing. Unfortunately, when I was there, they just closed the lake to recreational activities due to poor water conditions.

If you love hiking and seeing wildlife, then visiting El Imposible National Park needs to be on the top of your list, especially for any bird enthusiasts.

Historical Sites: If you are starting your journey in San Salvador, this is the perfect destination in El Salvador for Historical and cultural landmarks. You can visit the Metropolitan Cathedral, the National Palace and the modern Monumento al Divino Salvador del Mundo.

Joya de Ceren is a UNESCO World Heritage site and is otherwise known as the “Pompeii of the Americas” This is a Mayan village that has been preserved, and it offers us now the opportunity to glimpse into ancient daily life. If you are interested in seeing another Mayan Site, the most significant one in El Salvador is Tazumal, which features a pyramid and ancient artifacts.

Food & Culture in El Salvador

El Salvador has a rich historical culture that brings together Indigenous heritage and Spanish influence. Its culture is represented through traditions, cuisine, dance and festivals. Traditional cuisine that you must try when visiting El Salvador includes:

• Pupusas: this is a national dish that is created from thick corn tortillas with various fillings (Popular ones being Cheese (Queso), beans (Frijoles) or pork (chicharron). I lived off these in El Salvador because they are everywhere and so cheap! I think the cheapest we found was for 20 cents!

• Tamales Are corn dough stuffed with meat, vegetables or sweet fillings for those of you who love sweets, then wrapped in banana leaves or corn husks.

• Pan con Pollo: My second favourite dish in El Salvador! It is a Salvadoran-style chicken sandwich that is often served during celebrations. It’s made with marinated chicken, vegetables, and a special sauce in a baguette. But I found these in the main square of Santa Ana for USD 1 each, and they were the best! Maybe helped that I hadn’t eaten in 12 hours, but hey! The most delicious food for the best prices.

Festivals and celebrations in El Salvador include:

• Fiestas Patronales: Each town has its patron saint festival with parades, music, and traditional dances.

• Semana Santa (Holy Week): Celebrated with elaborate processions and alfombras (colourful sawdust carpets). I witnessed this in Antigua, Guatemala, and it was incredible! I think anywhere that celebrates this is worth viewing at least once in your life.

• San Salvador Festival (August 1-6): Honoring the Divine Savior with cultural events, concerts, and parades.

Why you SHOULD travel to El Salvador

Just Because! No, but seriously, El Salvador blew my mind! It was never in my plans to visit during my time in Central America, mainly because I hadn’t heard many things and that it’s not so safe for Solo female Backpackers. But when a travel friend who I met in Belize suggested we go, I said yes! I am so glad I did! It was super affordable; there are so many to see and do, including Hiking Volcanos, surfing at the beaches, eating delicious cheap food, meeting the friendly locals, learning about the violent history of El Salvador and much more. It’s a destination that is a bit off the beaten path that a lot of people will never visit, but that’s what makes it so worth going!

I just know that when you go you won’t regret it and you’ll have the most amazing experience like I did!

Safety and travel advice in El Salvador

It’s no secret that El Salvador has a violent history and is known to be unsafe for travellers, I know that is what I have always heard before visiting there myself. But I can honestly say from my experience that it is such a different place to how it used to be, after chatting with the locals and how they used to be scared to leave their houses, it’s a much different place. Now, the locals can stay out in town until late at night and feel safe. They can leave their houses without being scared, and they are so excited to be able to experience this with tourists!

In saying all this, though, you still need to be careful and use common sense like in most countries where you are visiting, and there is still that language barrier. A few tips include:

• Staying in tourist areas like El Tunico, Santa Ana, Ruta de las Flores, and Suchitoto are generally safe for tourists.

• Don’t walk around at night on your own; this is a common rule when travelling, but it is such an important rule!

• Don’t display expensive objects like jewellery, watches, cameras, and large amounts of cash.

• Emergency Numbers:

  • National Emergency: 911

  • Tourist Police (POLITUR): Assist travellers. They are often stationed in key tourist areas.

• Stick to drinking bottled or filtered water and try not to consume ice cubes in rural areas.

• It is handy to have a sim card in El Salvador and stay connected for emergencies or to use maps/ rideshare apps.

Overall, El Salvador can be a very safe country to travel to if you use common sense and stay aware of your surroundings!