Breathtakingly lush and home to world-class surfing, dark-sand
beaches and blossom-filled villages, El Salvador may be Central
America's best-kept travel secret. Visitors are in for a treat of
sublime coffee, intriguing history, and some of the warmest
welcomes on the planet.
Interspersed between the forest, mountains, and 21 volcanoes are
the best-preserved ruins of Mayan civilisation. A highlight is the
UNESCO World Heritage Site, Joya de Cerén, which is all that
remains of a Mayan settlement buried under volcanic ash 1,400 years
ago. The San Andrés region and the ruins of Tazumal are other
vestiges of this ancient people.
Getting around the small country is easily achieved by bus or
taxi. The longest journey is between San Salvador and La Palma, and
that lasts a meagre four hours, making internal flights redundant.
San Salvador and San Sebastian are the main attractions. The latter
is a popular, picturesque beachside resort village, a town of
quaint Romanesque sights and simple beauty.
San Salvador, by contrast, is the hub of a rapidly
industrialising country. It is densely populated and crime-ridden.
Still, visitors can enjoy a wide range of sights in the city;
colonial cathedrals and buildings including the Catedral
Metropolitana, St Ignatius Loyola, and the Spanish façade. Atop San
Jacinto Mountain visitors can enjoy a panoramic vista of the city
as well as an amusement park and cable car rides.
Key Facts
Language:
Passport/Visa:
All foreign visitors to El Salvador must hold return or onward
tickets, and the required travel documentation for their next
destination. A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required to
enter El Salvador if passengers are arriving from or transiting
through any yellow fever risk area. It is highly recommended that
travellers' passport have at least six months' validity remaining
after the intended date of departure from their travel destination.
Immigration officials often apply different rules to those stated
by travel agents and official sources.
Currency:
The official currency of El Salvador is the US Dollar (USD).
It's virtually impossible to change pounds sterling anywhere in El
Salvador, so travellers should bring cash in US dollars. Smaller
bars, shops and restaurants generally won't accept $50 and $100
notes, though visitors can exchange these at banks on arrival. It's
advisable that travellers bring smaller denominations with them.
ATMs are widely available but travellers should inform their banks
that they're visiting El Salvador to avoid their cards being
blocked.
Electricity:
Electrical current in El Salvador is 120 volts, 60Hz.
American-style flat two-pin plugs and a plug with a third round
grounding pin are standard.
Travel to El Salvador
Customs in El Salvador
The people are warm, welcoming, and friendly. However, etiquette
in El Salvador can be formal in address. Visitors should always use
the formal pronoun 'usted' with strangers and acquaintances, and
use titles of respect. Greetings are common in shops and in passing
on the street, and it is considered rude not to return a greeting.
El Salvador culture is patriarchal and women traditionally show
respect to men. It is considered rude for anyone to put their feet
up on a chair or table, or to yawn without covering their
mouth.
Duty Free in El Salvador
Visitors to El Salvador may import the following goods: 200
cigarettes, 25 cigars or 250g of tobacco in any form, 12 litres of
alcoholic beverages, 6 units of perfume and gifts valued up to USD
500.
Communication in El Salvador
The international dialling code for El Salvador is +503.
Visitors can purchase local SIM cards and WiFi is available at many
cafes and restaurants, and nearly all hostels and hotels in urban
areas.
Passport/Visa Note
All foreign visitors to El Salvador must hold return or onward
tickets, and the required travel documentation for their next
destination. A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required to
enter El Salvador if passengers are arriving from or transiting
through any yellow fever risk area. It is highly recommended that
travellers' passport have at least six months' validity remaining
after the intended date of departure from their travel destination.
Immigration officials often apply different rules to those stated
by travel agents and official sources.
Entry Requirements
Entry requirements for Americans:
US citizens must have a valid passport. No visa is required for
a stay of up to three months.
Entry requirements for Canadians:
Canadian citizens must have a passport valid for six months on
arrival in El Salvador. No visa is required for a stay of up to
three months.
Entry requirements for UK nationals:
British citizens must have a passport valid for six months on
arrival. British passport holders do not require a visa for a stay
of up to three months; unless their passports are endorsed 'British
National (Overseas)', in which case a visa must be pre-arranged.
British visitors will be required to buy a Tourist Card (fee: USD
10) upon arrival if they do not have a visa.
Entry requirements for Australians:
Australian citizens must have a passport valid for six months on
arrival. No visa is required for a stay of up to three months.
Entry requirements for Irish nationals:
Irish citizens must have a passport valid for six months on
arrival. No visa is required for a stay of up to three months.
Entry requirements for New Zealanders:
New Zealand citizens must have a passport valid for six months
on arrival. No visa is required for a stay of up to three
months.
Entry requirements for South Africans:
South African citizens must have a passport valid for six months
on arrival. A visa is not required for stays of up to three
months.
Tourist Offices
Tourist Information Center, La Union:
http://www.elsalvador.travel/en
El Salvador Embassies
In the United States:
Embassy of El Salvador, Washington, D.C. United States: +1 202
595 7500
In Canada:
Consulate General of El Salvador, Toronto, Canada: +1 416 975
08152
In the United Kingdom:
El Salvador Embassy, London, United Kingdom: +44 207 224
9800
In Australia:
Consulate General of El Salvador, Melbourne, Australia: +61 3
9686 9151
In New Zealand:
Consulate General of El Salvador, Melbourne, Australia: +61 9686
9151 (also responsible for New Zealand)
Foreign Embassies in El Salvador
American Embassy
Embassy of the United States in San Salvador, El Salvador: +503
2501 2999
Canadian Embassy
Canadian Embassy in San Salvador, El Salvador: +503 2133
1100
British Embassy
British Embassy in San Salvador, El Salvador: +503 2511 5757
Australian Embassy
Australian Consulate in San Salvador, El Salvador: +503 2298
9447
Travel Advisories
Health Information for Travelers to El Salvador
Content source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Make sure you are up-to-date on routine vaccines before every trip. These vaccines include measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine, diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis vaccine, varicella (chickenpox) vaccine, polio vaccine, and your yearly flu shot.
Most travelers
Get travel vaccines and medicines because there is a risk of these diseases in the country you are visiting.
CDC recommends this vaccine because you can get hepatitis A through contaminated food or water in El Salvador, regardless of where you are eating or staying.
You can get typhoid through contaminated food or water in El Salvador. CDC recommends this vaccine for most travelers, especially if you are staying with friends or relatives, visiting smaller cities or rural areas, or if you are an adventurous eater.
Some travelers
Ask your doctor what vaccines and medicines you need based on where you are going, how long you are staying, what you will be doing, and if you are traveling from a country other than the US.
You can get hepatitis B through sexual contact, contaminated needles, and blood products, so CDC recommends this vaccine if you might have sex with a new partner, get a tattoo or piercing, or have any medical procedures.
Although the risk of malaria is low in El Salvador, you should avoid mosquito bites to prevent malaria. Some travelers to certain areas who are at higher risk for complications from malaria (such as pregnant women) may need to take extra precautions, like antimalarial medicine. Talk to your doctor about how you can prevent malaria while traveling. For more information on malaria in El Salvador, see malaria in El Salvador.
Rabies can be found in dogs, bats, and other mammals in El Salvador, so CDC recommends this vaccine for the following groups:
Travelers involved in outdoor and other activities (such as camping, hiking, biking, adventure travel, and caving) that put them at risk for animal bites.
People who will be working with or around animals (such as veterinarians, wildlife professionals, and researchers).
People who are taking long trips or moving to El Salvador
Children, because they tend to play with animals, might not report bites, and are more likely to have animal bites on their head and neck.
There is no risk of yellow fever in El Salvador. The government of El Salvador requires proof of yellow fever vaccination only if you are arriving from a country with risk of yellow fever. This does not include the US. If you are traveling from a country other than the US, check this list to see if you may be required to get the yellow fever vaccine: Countries with risk of yellow fever virus (YFV) transmission.
Make sure you are up-to-date on routine vaccines before every trip. These vaccines include measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine, diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis vaccine, varicella (chickenpox) vaccine, polio vaccine, and your yearly flu shot.
Most travelers
Get travel vaccines and medicines because there is a risk of these diseases in the country you are visiting.
CDC recommends this vaccine because you can get hepatitis A through contaminated food or water in El Salvador, regardless of where you are eating or staying.
You can get typhoid through contaminated food or water in El Salvador. CDC recommends this vaccine for most travelers, especially if you are staying with friends or relatives, visiting smaller cities or rural areas, or if you are an adventurous eater.
Some travelers
Ask your doctor what vaccines and medicines you need based on where you are going, how long you are staying, what you will be doing, and if you are traveling from a country other than the US.
You can get hepatitis B through sexual contact, contaminated needles, and blood products, so CDC recommends this vaccine if you might have sex with a new partner, get a tattoo or piercing, or have any medical procedures.
Although the risk of malaria is low in El Salvador, you should avoid mosquito bites to prevent malaria. Some travelers to certain areas who are at higher risk for complications from malaria (such as pregnant women) may need to take extra precautions, like antimalarial medicine. Talk to your doctor about how you can prevent malaria while traveling. For more information on malaria in El Salvador, see malaria in El Salvador.
Rabies can be found in dogs, bats, and other mammals in El Salvador, so CDC recommends this vaccine for the following groups:
Travelers involved in outdoor and other activities (such as camping, hiking, biking, adventure travel, and caving) that put them at risk for animal bites.
People who will be working with or around animals (such as veterinarians, wildlife professionals, and researchers).
People who are taking long trips or moving to El Salvador
Children, because they tend to play with animals, might not report bites, and are more likely to have animal bites on their head and neck.
There is no risk of yellow fever in El Salvador. The government of El Salvador requires proof of yellow fever vaccination only if you are arriving from a country with risk of yellow fever. This does not include the US. If you are traveling from a country other than the US, check this list to see if you may be required to get the yellow fever vaccine: Countries with risk of yellow fever virus (YFV) transmission.
Note: Zika is a risk in El Salvador. Zika infection during pregnancy can cause serious birth defects. Therefore, pregnant women should not travel to El Salvador. Partners of pregnant women and couples planning pregnancy should know the possible risks to pregnancy and take preventive steps (more information).
Learn actions you can take to stay healthy and safe on your trip. Vaccines cannot protect you from many diseases in El Salvador, so your behaviors are important.
Eat and drink safely
Unclean food and water can cause travelers' diarrhea and other diseases. Reduce your risk by sticking to safe food and water habits.
Eat
Food that is cooked and served hot
Hard-cooked eggs
Fruits and vegetables you have washed in clean water or peeled yourself
Pasteurized dairy products
Don't Eat
Food served at room temperature
Food from street vendors
Raw or soft-cooked (runny) eggs
Raw or undercooked (rare) meat or fish
Unwashed or unpeeled raw fruits and vegetables
Unpasteurized dairy products
”Bushmeat” (monkeys, bats, or other wild game)
Drink
Bottled water that is sealed
Water that has been disinfected
Ice made with bottled or disinfected water
Carbonated drinks
Hot coffee or tea
Pasteurized milk
Don’t Drink
Tap or well water
Ice made with tap or well water
Drinks made with tap or well water (such as reconstituted juice)
Unpasteurized milk
Take Medicine
Talk with your doctor about taking prescription or over-the-counter drugs with you on your trip in case you get sick.
Bugs (like mosquitoes, ticks, and fleas) can spread a number of diseases in El Salvador. Many of these diseases cannot be prevented with a vaccine or medicine. You can reduce your risk by taking steps to prevent bug bites.
What can I do to prevent bug bites?
Cover exposed skin by wearing long-sleeved shirts, long pants, and hats.
Use an appropriate insect repellent (see below).
Use permethrin-treated clothing and gear (such as boots, pants, socks, and tents). Do not use permethrin directly on skin.
Stay and sleep in air-conditioned or screened rooms.
Use a bed net if the area where you are sleeping is exposed to the outdoors.
What type of insect repellent should I use?
FOR PROTECTION AGAINST TICKS AND MOSQUITOES: Use a repellent that contains 20% or more DEET for protection that lasts up to several hours.
FOR PROTECTION AGAINST MOSQUITOES ONLY: Products with one of the following active ingredients can also help prevent mosquito bites. Higher percentages of active ingredient provide longer protection.
If your travel plans in El Salvador include outdoor activities, take these steps to stay safe and healthy during your trip.
Stay alert to changing weather conditions and adjust your plans if conditions become unsafe.
Prepare for activities by wearing the right clothes and packing protective items, such as bug spray, sunscreen, and a basic first aid kit.
Consider learning basic first aid and CPR before travel. Bring a travel health kit with items appropriate for your activities.
Heat-related illness, such as heat stroke, can be deadly. Eat and drink regularly, wear loose and lightweight clothing, and limit physical activity during high temperatures.
If you are outside for many hours in heat, eat salty snacks and drink water to stay hydrated and replace salt lost through sweating.
Protect yourself from UV radiation: use sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15, wear protective clothing, and seek shade during the hottest time of day (10 a.m.–4 p.m.).
Be especially careful during summer months and at high elevation. Because sunlight reflects off snow, sand, and water, sun exposure may be increased during activities like skiing, swimming, and sailing.
Very cold temperatures can be dangerous. Dress in layers and cover heads, hands, and feet properly if you are visiting a cold location.
Stay safe around water
Swim only in designated swimming areas. Obey lifeguards and warning flags on beaches.
Practice safe boating—follow all boating safety laws, do not drink alcohol if driving a boat, and always wear a life jacket.
Do not dive into shallow water.
Do not swim in freshwater in developing areas or where sanitation is poor.
Avoid swallowing water when swimming. Untreated water can carry germs that make you sick.
To prevent infections, wear shoes on beaches where there may be animal waste.
Leptospirosis, a bacterial infection that can be spread in fresh water, is found in El Salvador. Avoid swimming in fresh, unchlorinated water, such as lakes, ponds, or rivers.
Most animals avoid people, but they may attack if they feel threatened, are protecting their young or territory, or if they are injured or ill. Animal bites and scratches can lead to serious diseases such as rabies.
Follow these tips to protect yourself:
Do not touch or feed any animals you do not know.
Do not allow animals to lick open wounds, and do not get animal saliva in your eyes or mouth.
Avoid rodents and their urine and feces.
Traveling pets should be supervised closely and not allowed to come in contact with local animals.
If you wake in a room with a bat, seek medical care immediately. Bat bites may be hard to see.
All animals can pose a threat, but be extra careful around dogs, bats, monkeys, sea animals such as jellyfish, and snakes. If you are bitten or scratched by an animal, immediately:
Wash the wound with soap and clean water.
Go to a doctor right away.
Tell your doctor about your injury when you get back to the United States.
Consider buying medical evacuation insurance. Rabies is a deadly disease that must be treated quickly, and treatment may not be available in some countries.
Review your health insurance plan to determine what medical services it would cover during your trip. Consider purchasing travel health and medical evacuation insurance.
Carry a card that identifies, in the local language, your blood type, chronic conditions or serious allergies, and the generic names of any medications you take.
Some prescription drugs may be illegal in other countries. Call El Salvador’s embassy to verify that all of your prescription(s) are legal to bring with you.
Bring all the medicines (including over-the-counter medicines) you think you might need during your trip, including extra in case of travel delays. Ask your doctor to help you get prescriptions filled early if you need to.
Many foreign hospitals and clinics are accredited by the Joint Commission International. A list of accredited facilities is available at their website (www.jointcommissioninternational.org).
In some countries, medicine (prescription and over-the-counter) may be substandard or counterfeit. Bring the medicines you will need from the United States to avoid having to buy them at your destination.
Motor vehicle crashes are the #1 killer of healthy US citizens in foreign countries.
In many places cars, buses, large trucks, rickshaws, bikes, people on foot, and even animals share the same lanes of traffic, increasing the risk for crashes.
Walking
Be smart when you are traveling on foot.
Use sidewalks and marked crosswalks.
Pay attention to the traffic around you, especially in crowded areas.
Remember, people on foot do not always have the right of way in other countries.
Riding/Driving
Choose a safe vehicle.
Choose official taxis or public transportation, such as trains and buses.
Ride only in cars that have seatbelts.
Avoid overcrowded, overloaded, top-heavy buses and minivans.
Avoid riding on motorcycles or motorbikes, especially motorbike taxis. (Many crashes are caused by inexperienced motorbike drivers.)
Choose newer vehicles—they may have more safety features, such as airbags, and be more reliable.
Choose larger vehicles, which may provide more protection in crashes.
Think about the driver.
Do not drive after drinking alcohol or ride with someone who has been drinking.
Consider hiring a licensed, trained driver familiar with the area.
Arrange payment before departing.
Follow basic safety tips.
Wear a seatbelt at all times.
Sit in the back seat of cars and taxis.
When on motorbikes or bicycles, always wear a helmet. (Bring a helmet from home, if needed.)
Avoid driving at night; street lighting in certain parts of El Salvador may be poor.
Do not use a cell phone or text while driving (illegal in many countries).
Travel during daylight hours only, especially in rural areas.
If you choose to drive a vehicle in El Salvador, learn the local traffic laws and have the proper paperwork.
Get any driving permits and insurance you may need. Get an International Driving Permit (IDP). Carry the IDP and a US-issued driver's license at all times.
Check with your auto insurance policy's international coverage, and get more coverage if needed. Make sure you have liability insurance.
Flying
Avoid using local, unscheduled aircraft.
If possible, fly on larger planes (more than 30 seats); larger airplanes are more likely to have regular safety inspections.
Try to schedule flights during daylight hours and in good weather.
Medical Evacuation Insurance
If you are seriously injured, emergency care may not be available or may not meet US standards. Trauma care centers are uncommon outside urban areas. Having medical evacuation insurance can be helpful for these reasons.
Helpful Resources
Road Safety Overseas (Information from the US Department of State): Includes tips on driving in other countries, International Driving Permits, auto insurance, and other resources.
Use the Healthy Travel Packing List for El Salvador for a list of health-related items to consider packing for your trip. Talk to your doctor about which items are most important for you.
Why does CDC recommend packing these health-related items?
It’s best to be prepared to prevent and treat common illnesses and injuries. Some supplies and medicines may be difficult to find at your destination, may have different names, or may have different ingredients than what you normally use.
If you are not feeling well after your trip, you may need to see a doctor. If you need help finding a travel medicine specialist, see Find a Clinic. Be sure to tell your doctor about your travel, including where you went and what you did on your trip. Also tell your doctor if you were bitten or scratched by an animal while traveling.
If your doctor prescribed antimalarial medicine for your trip, keep taking the rest of your pills after you return home. If you stop taking your medicine too soon, you could still get sick.
Malaria is always a serious disease and may be a deadly illness. If you become ill with a fever either while traveling in a malaria-risk area or after you return home (for up to 1 year), you should seek immediate medical attention and should tell the doctor about your travel history.
Map Disclaimer - The boundaries and names shown and the designations used on maps do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. Approximate border lines for which there may not yet be full agreement are generally marked.
Currency
The official currency of El Salvador is the US Dollar (USD).
It's virtually impossible to change pounds sterling anywhere in El
Salvador, so travellers should bring cash in US dollars. Smaller
bars, shops and restaurants generally won't accept $50 and $100
notes, though visitors can exchange these at banks on arrival. It's
advisable that travellers bring smaller denominations with them.
ATMs are widely available but travellers should inform their banks
that they're visiting El Salvador to avoid their cards being
blocked.
El Salvador International Airport (SAL) Monseñor Óscar Arnulfo Romero International
Airport
Location: San Salvador The airport is located 51 miles (82km) from San Salvador
city centre.
Time: Local time is GMT -6.
Getting to the city:
Buses are available; however, they take up to an hour to make
the journey to San Salvador. Taxi Acacya offers shuttle service
into town for a fixed fare.
Car rental:
Car rental companies represented at the airport include Avis and
Alamo.
Airport Taxis:
Taxi services are available from the airport.
Facilities:
Airport facilities include ATMs, banks, a restaurant, couriers,
baggage wrapping services, a pharmacy, a library, vending machines,
photocopying services, and shops (including duty-free shops).
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