๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ป Planning a Trip to El Salvador: 12 Practical Things To Know

A woman standing outside on a pedestrian-street surrounded by bushes.

Receiving over 3 million tourists in recent years, El Salvador is a country that’s increasingly welcoming visitors and is known for surfing, volcanoes, and coffee culture.

Having spent two weeks in El Salvador, I share well-researched and firsthand travel tips that are especially useful for first-time visitors.

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๐Ÿ“Œ Planning

Popular Places l When To Visit l How Long To Visit l Entry Requirements

  • El Tunco โ€“ a small beach town on the Pacific Coast that is recognized for its world-renowned surfing and nightlife.
Sunset over a beach area with many surfers
Sunset in El Tunco
  • Ruta de Las Flores โ€“ a 22-mile long route with several charming and small towns that sells high-quality local coffee, hosts food festivals and features murals.
A woman standing next to a colorful mural that says ATACO.
Ruta de Las Flores
  • Santa Ana โ€“ the second-largest city that features colonial architecture and a rich cultural history. It’s also the gateway to Santa Ana Volcano, the largest and tallest volcano in the country, known for its crater lake, which has an otherworldly unique color.
A woman sitting on the edge with a very turquoise lake in the background
Santa Ana Volcano
  • Lake Coatepeque โ€“ a volcanic crater lake that offers water activities like kayaking.
  • San Salvador โ€“ the capital is mainly noted for its historic center featuring modern buildings like the National Library.
A woman standing in front of a sign that says El Salvador.
National Library in San Salvador

I visited all the places above except for Lake Coatepeque, which I heard didn’t have many things to do if the weather or water conditions weren’t right.

  • El Tunco โ€“ I had a blast catching waves, enjoying the warm water, and eating a ton of ice cream here. A lot of travelers I met traveled here just to enjoy the beach. While it’s a nice small town to relax in, I didn’t find El Tunco to be exceptionally beautiful as a beach (there are many other nicer beaches to visit in Central America).
  • Ruta de Las Flores โ€“ Despite the name, I didnโ€™t see many flowers along the route when I visited in November. Itโ€™s known to be a scenic route, but I wouldnโ€™t say thatโ€™s the area’s main selling point. Instead, I enjoyed exploring the small towns and particularly loved two of its main attractions, Cafe Albania and Siete Cascadas.
  • Santa Ana โ€“ Santa Ana has a cute, laid-back center, but it’s pretty small. I wasn’t impressed when I saw photos of Santa Ana Volcano’s crater lake, but it is much bigger and more impressive in real life, so I recommend the trip there.
  • San Salvador โ€“ This was my least favorite stop because there’s not much to do here as a tourist. But it’s one of the best places to visit to understand the country’s recent transition from being the “murder capital of the world” to a place where visitors like me feel safe walking around.

My El Salvador trip planner has firsthand tips for each destination.

When To Visit

  • Dry/Summer season (November-April) โ€“ a more popular time to visit. The weather is warm and sunny, and there’s very little rain. Temperatures vary between areas, but it is generally a great time to enjoy the beaches.
  • Rainy/Winter season (May-October) โ€“ a better time to visit if you want fewer crowds, lower costs, and can tolerate the frequent rainfalls in the evenings.

I visited El Salvador from late November to early December and enjoyed warm, sunny days in every place I visited. I packed a light puffer jacket when visiting places like the Santa Ana Volcano and Puerta del Diablo, and that was more than sufficient.

How Long To Visit

  • 5 days โ€“ enough time to visit 1-2 destinations
  • 1 week โ€“ enough time to visit 2-3 destinations
  • 10 days โ€“ enough time to visit 3-4 destinations

I spent 17 days in El Salvador: 7 in El Tunco, 5 in San Salvador, 2 exploring Ruta de Las Flores, and 3 in Santa Ana. I recommend spending 7-10 days in El Salvador to see the major attractions. You can spend more time there if you want to go more off-the-beaten-path, but many of the more generic activities (e.g., zip lining, beach hopping) can be found in other Central American countries.

Entry Requirements

  • not required for US citizens visiting El Salvador for up to 90 days.
  • US visitors must pay the tourist card fee of $12 upon arrival.

I entered El Salvador by bus from Guatemala, and it was straightforward for me as a US citizen. However, one of my friends with a more complicated passport/visa situation had to go to a different border entry point to get through. A US traveler who also entered by land had to pay significant extra fees ($100+) because he didn’t have an entry stamp, so make sure your documents are in order if you’re traveling by land!

Multiple people waiting in line under a sign that says MIGRACION/INMIGRATION
Crossing into El Salvador

๐Ÿ’ฐ Logistics

Money l Getting Around

Money

  • El Salvador’s economy heavily relies on cash transactions, so bring cash.
  • USD and Bitcoin are the country’s official currencies, but the latter is not widely used.

For detailed tips on money, see my El Salvador budget breakdown.

Getting Around

  • The country only has one primary international airport, Saint ร“scar Arnulfo Romero y Galdรกmez (SAL), located an hour away from San Salvador and El Tunco.
  • The main ways to get around are by shared shuttle, Uber, or public bus.

I took all the transportation above. Compared to many public buses around Central America, I recommend taking the buses in El Salvador even if you’re not a budget traveler. The bus is exceptionally cheap, and the price is posted (e.g., less than $2 between Santa Ana and San Salvador and less than $1 per ride around Ruta de Las Flores). Uber is also very cheap, so there’s no reason not to take them over taxis.

A colorful bus that says "1024" on it.
El Salvador bus

For detailed tips on getting around, see my El Salvador trip planner.

๐Ÿ’Š Safety

Health l Crime

Health

  • generally not considered safe to drink except.
  • disease-carrying mosquitoes are prevalent, so bring bug repellent (I use this repellent lotion).

I didn’t have any health-related issues in Nicaragua and recommend taking some precautions:

  • Tap water โ€“ I didn’t drink any tap water. Many accommodations, including budget ones, will provide filtered or bottled water.
  • Mosquitoes โ€“ I didn’t get bitten as much in El Salvador as I did in other places in Central America, but I still got bit. I encountered the most mosquitoes in El Tunco, where I had to wear DEET most days.

Crime

  • El Salvador has safe and unsafe areas. Sticking to well-known tourist spots is a good precaution to take.
  • Some typical scams to watch out for include overpriced/unlicensed tours (book with a reputable group), sob story begging (politely say no), and incorrect bills (check before paying).

El Salvador’s violent reputation has been drastically improving recently, and it’s notable when you visit. I felt safe visiting all the tourist areas. The only place I felt remotely unsafe was in San Salvador, but that was because there were a lot of cars and subpar pedestrian infrastructure outside the historic center. I did eat at an established food stall that tried to charge me an incorrect amount twice, even after I pointed out the error, so check your bill.

๐ŸŒ Culture

Language l Food l What To Wear

Language

  • Spanish
  • not widely spoken (only about 10% of locals speak it)

Getting around El Salvador with just English is not notably difficult or easy. I found it easier than Nicaragua, where many locals assume you speak Spanish, but it is definitely not as easy as Costa Rica, which has a much more developed tourism infrastructure. That said, getting around with just knowing basic phrases is still reasonably easy.

Food

  • pupusa (handmade corn tortilla that is stuffed with a variety of fillings)
  • yuca frita (fried or boiled cassava served with sauce) and panes con Pollo (Salvadorian sandwiches with marinated chicken or turkey)
A woman sitting outside on the street with a plate of yucca and nuegados.
Yuca fritas in Santa Ana

Be prepared to eat a lot of pupusas! You’ll find a pupuseria (places primarily serving pupusas) anywhere serving them at all hours. Salvadorians love their delicious pupusas, but you may get tired of them and want to opt for something else after a few meals.

A woman grilling round corn cakes.
Pupusas in El Salvador

My El Salvador trip planner reviews all the places I ate at and how much I spent at each one.

What To Wear

  • What to wear โ€“ El Salvador has a tropical climate. It’s almost always warm or hot year-round, so pack lightweight summer clothes. If you’re visiting during the wet season, wear quick-dry clothing. Don’t forget a swimsuit if you plan to visit a beach or waterfall, which the country has plenty of.
  • How locals dress โ€“ They typically dress casually and in non-fancy clothes. Many wear jeans, a jacket, and a T-shirt, even in the heat.

I mostly wore summer clothes in El Salvador, but the weather can get a bit colder (think light long sleeves but still shorts) at night.

Three people holding a sign that says Alianza FC at a stadium.
Summer clothes in San Salvador

๐Ÿ’ก Miscellaneous Tips

Other practical observations I made during my trip:

  • No hot showers โ€“ hot showers are not guaranteed in every part of El Salvador, so make sure your accommodation has them if that’s important to you.
  • Mondays are slow days โ€“ many restaurants and shops are closed on Mondays around the country, so expect more limited options then.

A comprehensive packing list is included in my El Salvador trip planner.

El Salvador Trip Planner 2025

Download my trip planner to make your travel preparation effortless. It features up-to-date travel information and a well-researched itinerary informed by firsthand experience. Each section is customizable so it can be as lightweight or as hyper-organized as you like.

Screenshots showing a trip planner with an itinerary, packing list, map, and budget tracker.
El Salvador trip planner preview

My trip planners are built on Notion, which I use for all my planning. I genuinely love this tool andย creating an account is free.

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