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Cards and cash
You can also get dollars in many ATMs in countries such as Costa Rica and Nicaragua.
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Americas · Central AmericaOutline guideCountry in Central America
Photo: Mariordo (Mario Roberto Durán Ortiz), CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
El Salvador has many natural riches, such as beautiful and secluded beaches on the Pacific coast of Central America, majestic forests in the mountains and striking volcanoes. The countryside of El Salvador is breathtaking, with volcanoes and mountains offering "green" adventurers exactly what they are looking for. Many environmentally-oriented community-based organizations promote eco-tourism.
Answers to what travellers most often look up about El Salvador.
Cards and cash
You can also get dollars in many ATMs in countries such as Costa Rica and Nicaragua.
Spanish
Spanish is the official language, though many people also speak English. In some small towns in the west, about 500 elders speak Pipil, also called Nahuat or Nawat and related to the Nahuatl language of Mexico.
Mobile networks
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 acclimatize.
Salvadorans are known for their great hospitality. They are among the nicest people in the world. They are friendly, industrious people always willing to help anyone.
Attractions, food, stays and travel essentials, with ratings, reviews, opening hours and directions.
San Salvador is the capital city of El Salvador, approximately in the center of the country in a valley near the base of the San Salvador volcano. It provides a good base for exploring the rest of the country as it's a transportation hub, with most major roads running through it due to its central location.
Surf's up in La Libertad, the most popular surfer's beach in El Salvador. It's also got a great malecon for evening strolls, with several good seafood restaurants with ocean views and spectacular sunsets.
Santa Ana is the second largest city of El Salvador and a very important one in terms of agriculture and coffee production (coffee plantations - called fincas - cover much of the land outside town and up the hills). Its historic center offers some of the best preserved architecture in El Salvador, including the Cathedral of Santa Ana, a marvel of neo-gothic architecture, the Teatro de Santa Ana, a beautifully decorated theatre of the early 1900s; and the Palacio Municipal in front of the main plaza with giant palm trees shooting out from its courtyard.
San Miguel is the third largest city in El Salvador and 67 center of agriculture and production. It is less cosmopolitan than the capital San Salvador in the West but the surrounding areas of San Miguel are very beautiful with many beaches around the city.
Acajutla is a small Pacific coast city in Western El Salvador. It is the main port for El Salvador, is a regionally important transportation hub, and is increasingly popular among tourists who come for the mellow vibe of the town and for the beautiful beaches known for calmer waters than most Pacific coast beaches in Central America.
Ahuachapán is a small city in the western highlands of El Salvador. With its scenic colonial center and range of services for the traveler, it is a popular stop on the country's Ruta de las Flores, a well-known tourism route through mountainous small towns.
Santa Tecla is the second largest city in El Salvador. It is a suburb of San Salvador.
Suchitoto is a town of about 7,700 people in El Salvador. It has become an important tourist destination partly due to its well-conserved colonial architecture and cobblestone roads that provide a sense of Spanish colonial living.
Cerro El Pital is the highest point in El Salvador at 2730 meters. It is in the country's western highlands.
Los Volcanes National Park encompasses three large active volcanoes and contiguous natural reserves in central El Salvador. The central volcano, Cerro Verde is the most accessible and the park is often referred to unofficially as Parque Nacional Cerro Verde (seemingly forgetting about the other neighboring volcanoes).
El Imposible National Park is a 5,000-hectare protected natural area in western El Salvador on the border with neighboring Guatemala. It is a beautiful national park consisting of dense, dry tropical rainforest.
Montecristo National Park is a large protected, heavily forested area in Western El Salvador. The park encompasses about 2,000 hectares of misty cloud forest.
San Diego and San Felipe Las Barras National Park is a large protected natural area in Western El Salvador near the border with Guatemala. The park boasts extensive tropical forests and part of Lago de Güija (Lake Guija), a large lake shared with Guatemala, as well as a smaller lake, Laguna de Metapan.
Playa Las Flores, Playa El Esteron, Intipuca Beach and El Cuco
Ruta de las Flores is an official tourist itinerary in El Salvador. The itinerary follows a route through the Apaneca-Ilamatepec mountain range visiting six towns that are emblematic of rural Salvadoran culture.
Places in El Salvador on the World Heritage List.
List from Wikidata (CC0). Photos from Wikimedia Commons.
Beaches, volcanoes, national parks, and archaeological sites are found throughout the western region. It is also home to the capital, San Salvador.
Beautiful beaches and sites of the FMLN resistance during the war.
Public transport and paid services in El Salvador.
By bus
Numerous buses traverse the highways of the country.
By car or Uber
Uber is inexpensive compared to the US and many other countries with rides across town rarely exceeding a few dollars. If driving, rental car agencies include Alamo and Hertz.
Apps for booking a taxi or a ride in El Salvador.
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San Salvador (San Luis Talpa) · International · SAL
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Calculated from climate averages: mild daytime highs and lower rainfall. It does not account for festivals, crowds or prices.
Average conditions in San Salvador
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg. high | 30° | 31° | 31° | 31° | 30° | 29° | 30° | 29° | 28° | 28° | 29° | 29° |
| Avg. low | 22° | 23° | 24° | 25° | 25° | 25° | 25° | 25° | 25° | 24° | 23° | 22° |
| Rainfall (mm) | 4 | 5 | 8 | 39 | 193 | 232 | 197 | 246 | 283 | 226 | 48 | 10 |
| Humidity | 65% | 63% | 61% | 65% | 74% | 79% | 76% | 78% | 82% | 81% | 75% | 70% |
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Budget
$50
Per person, per day
Mid-range
$140
Per person, per day
Luxury
$350
Per person, per day
| Budget | Mid-range | Luxury | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accommodation | $25 | $75 | $205 |
| Food and drink | $10 | $30 | $65 |
| Local transport | $5 | $15 | $30 |
| Activities | $10 | $20 | $50 |
Estimate from World Bank price levels (2025). Actual costs vary by city and season. World Bank
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We do not label countries as safe or unsafe. Below is the official advice from two governments, with the date it was last updated. Always read the full advice before you travel.
US Department of State
Level 1 of 4Exercise normal precautions
Exercise normal precautionin El Salvador. U.S. government employees working in El Salvador are allowed to travel throughout the country during daylight hours. However, due to road conditions, hilly terrain, possible landslides during the rainy season, and general lack of streetlights, U.S. government employees are prohibited from traveling between cities or departments (the Salvadoran equivalent of states) at night. Gang activity has decreased dramatically since 2022, causing a drop in violent crime and murders. There are exceptions. U.S. government employees are allowed to travel at all hours between San Salvador and: El Salvador’s international airport La Libertad department U.S. government employees are prohibited from using public buses. Review our travel guidance for El Salvador to learn how to prepare for a safe trip. State of Exception In March 2022, the Government of El Salvador declared a “State of Exception” in response to an increase in gang murders: The State of Exception allows local authorities to arrest anyone they think is involved in gang activity. It suspends several constitutional rights. This includes the normal protections of criminal procedure, such as the right to a speedy trial and access to counsel. Tens of thousands of people are currently in prison under the State of Exception, all awaiting trial. Several U.S. citizens have been detained under the State of Exception. They have yet to face trial. The State of Exception is still in place.
UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
No advice against travel. Read the full advice before you go.
Before you travel No travel can be guaranteed safe. Read all the advice in this guide. You may also find it helpful to: see general advice for women travellers read our guide on disability and travel abroad see general advice for LGBT+ travellers read about safety for solo and independent travel see advice on volunteering and adventure travel abroad Travel insurance If you choose to travel, research your destinations and get appropriate travel insurance. Insurance should cover your itinerary, planned activities and expenses in an emergency. About FCDO travel advice The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) provides advice about risks of travel to help you make informed decisions. Find out more about FCDO travel advice. Get travel advice updates Sign up to get email notifications when this travel advice is updated. Follow FCDO: travel advice on X travel advice on Facebook Travel Aware on Instagram
Stories, itineraries and practical advice for travelling in El Salvador.
Nature & adventureEl Salvador has 5 national parks conserving a wide range of plant and animal species across several types of ecosystems including Pacific beaches, coastal wetlands, mountainous rainforests, and rugged volcanic peaks.
Wikivoyage
ItinerariesRuta de las Flores is an official tourist itinerary in El Salvador. The itinerary follows a route through the Apaneca-Ilamatepec mountain range visiting six towns that are emblematic of rural Salvadoran culture.
Wikivoyage
Nature & adventureSurfing is a sport in which people stand on boards and ride waves.
Wikivoyage
ItinerariesItineraries in North America
Wikivoyage
Culture & historyThe indigenous peoples of North America are the tribes and nations whose ancestors were already on the continent when European explorers and colonizers arrived.
Wikivoyage
Travel tipsChristopher Columbus (Italian: Cristoforo Colombo; Spanish: Cristóbal Colón) made four voyages from Spain to the Caribbean from 1492 to 1503.
Wikivoyage
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