Introduction
Hiking, surfing, history - and hardly another tourist in sight. Its name still evokes images of the brutal civil war fought throughout the 1980s, but the bloodshed is long over - the volcanic landscape remains the most turbulent aspect of El Salvador. Friendly locals like to chat, diverting your gaze from the gangs and refugees to beautiful broad valleys.
El Salvador has rich forests and craggy mountains that make for great hiking. But the people of El Salvador are surely its richest resource, and the best reason to come. Direct, friendly and unjaded by mass tourism, most Salvadorans are genuinely happy to chat or help you out if you're lost.
'El Salvador is a democracy so it's not surprising that there are many voices to be heard here. Yet in my conversations with Salvadorans...I have heard a single voice.' - Dan Quale
Geography:
El Salvador is a tiny country, located on the Pacific coast of Central America. It's bordered by Guatemala to the west, Honduras to the north and east, and the Pacific Ocean to the south. For the most part, El Salvador is lush, green and surrounded by hills draped in mist. More than 25 extinct volcanoes dot the country, the largest being San Salvador, San Vicente, Santa Ana and San Miguel. In the many national parks, sharp-eyed visitors can spot, among other fauna, quetzals, toucans, monkeys, white-tailed deer and zillions of butterflies. However, El Salvador has some of the worst environmental degradation in the Americas, with less than 6% of its original forest still intact and close to one hundred endangered animal species. The land is intensively cultivated; coffee predominates in the highlands, sugar in the lowlands and cotton on the coastal plains. Many of El Salvador's river systems are polluted from industrial development or pesticide and fertilizer runoff from agricultural lands - some fear that at the current rate of contamination the country will run out of drinking water in less than 15 years. As Central America's most densely populated country, El Salvador also has a garbage problem.
Destination Facts
Capital: San Salvador
Supreme Chief of State (President): El í as Antonio Saca Gonzalez
Government: Republic
Time zone: GMT -6
Area: 21040
Population: 6700000
People: 94% mestizo, 1% indigenous, 5% other
Languages: Roman Catholic (75%), Protestant (20%), other (5%)
Currency: US Dollar (US$)
GDP: Approx. US$34150000000
Major industries: Maquila, textiles, coffee, sugar, beverages, petroleum, chemicals, fertilizer, furniture, light metals, cotton
Major Trading Partners: USA, Chile, Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Mexico, Panama, Costa Rica, Germany
Country Dialing Code: 503
Getting There
El Salvador has a tropical climate with only two seasons: verano (dry season) from November to April, and invierno (wet season) from May to October. Almost the entire annual rainfall occurs during the rainy season and at night. Temperatures are based mostly on elevation in El Salvador. The coastal areas are the hottest, averaging 22-32° C (72-90° F) throughout the year; the central areas vary dramatically year-round, from 19° C (66° F) in the coldest months to 38° C (100° F) in the warmest; and the mountainous areas are always cool, with temperatures averaging 12-23° C (54-73° F). The best time of year to visit is at the beginning or the end of the dry season, when it doesn't rain every day and the roads are in good shape. More cultural festivals take place around these times. It's advisable to avoid the holiday periods - it's busy and prices are inflated. The main holiday periods are from Christmas through mid-January; Semana Santa, a week-long festival before Easter; and during the first week of August when San Salvador holds its annual festival. Many services also shut down during these periods. In the rainy season, prices are lower, beaches are less crowded and the evenings slightly cooler after the rainstorms.
Getting there and away
El Salvador's international airport, Aeropuero Internacional Comalapa, is 44km (27mi) southeast of San Salvador. The following airlines fly to/from San Salvador: TACA, American, Continental, Copa and Delta. There's a 30.00 departure tax. It's a 45min drive to San Salvador. Catch a taxi or a colectivo van. There are three first-class international bus lines plus a number of second-class lines, but they're not as safe or comfortable. In San Salvador, they leave from Terminal Puerto Bus. There are four border crossings to Guatemala and three border crossings to Honduras, where a token departure tax is payable. Take a connecting microbus from Honduras to the Nicaraguan border. There's also a once-daily service to Costa Rica. From here, you can continue to Panama City or to the Mexican border. When driving into El Salvador, show a license (international permits are accepted) and proof you own the car. To stay longer than 30 days, leave the country and drive back in.
Getting around
There is no regular domestic air service in El Salvador. Take a boat around the Bah í a de Jiquilisco. A passenger boat and car ferry travel across Lago Suchitl á n. The intercity bus service uses old American school buses painted in wild colors - terminals are chaotic and dirty. Information is rarely posted, but other passengers can point you in the right direction. Purchase your ticket onboard. Buses run frequently and are cheap. Services begin 04:00-05:00 and end 18:00-19:00. By car, unmarked areas are frustrating. Gas can be found even in the smallest villages, but it's not cheap. Car insurance is available, but not required. There are car rental agencies in San Salvador. Drive on the right. Carjackings and theft are not common, but use common sense. Watch out for the locals' erratic driving habits and animals grazing on the road. Taxi fares are negotiable. If you're hitching, it's customary to give (or at least offer) a small payment.
Visa:
Citizens of the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Switzerland, Norway, Japan, Taiwan, Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, other Central American countries, Israel, UK and EU member countries do not need a visa. However, you must purchase a single-entry tourist card (10.00) when entering the country. The standard length of stay is 30 days, but you can request up to 90 days - do so quickly before the official stamps your passport! If you leave and return within the allotted time, you can use the same tourist card. You are technically required to have a return or onward ticket, but this is rarely checked. Note that the Salvadoran tourist card is a large sticker which takes up a full page of your passport - be sure you have plenty of free space! For those who do need a pre-arranged visa, the cost is 30.00. The new Central America-4 agreement allows for travel between the borders of Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador and Nicaragua with one entry fee and one passport stamp (in this case, be sure you ask for the 90-day option). If you are traveling overland, please note the change; you do not have to pay for another tourist card. It's possible you will have to 'remind' some border guards about the agreement. The provision is relatively new (and few tourists make use of it) so the officers may be simply unaware of the rule.
Places of Interest
Cloud forests, crater lakes and culture - this tiny nation is larger than life.
El Salvador's bustling colonial cities boast stunning cathedrals, pleasant parks and a multitude of museums embracing its rich history. The natural world is breathtaking - glimpse wildlife at the national parks, climb a grumbling volcano or spend an afternoon on one of the many beautiful beaches.
Its name still evokes images of the brutal civil war fought throughout the 1980s, but the bloodshed is long over - the volcanic landscape remains the most turbulent aspect of El Salvador. Friendly locals like to chat, diverting your gaze from the gangs and refugees to beautiful broad valleys. El Salvador has rich forests and craggy mountains that make for great hiking. But the people of El Salvador are surely its richest resource, and the best reason to come. Direct, friendly and unjaded by mass tourism, most Salvadorans are genuinely happy to chat or help you out if you're lost.
Weather
This diminutive nation bakes, with year-round temperatures surfing from around 32° C (89° F) during the day and dropping to around a cozy 19° C (66° F) at night. The coastal lowlands are the hottest region. While the dry season peaks in summer, the middle months experience quite heavy rainfall. During the rainy season, it usually only rains at night.
Warning
Roads and highways can be subject to criminal activity; travelers should exercise caution, particularly on public buses. Avoid any travel at night.Travel to regions bordering Guatemala can be risky due to local drug turf wars. While foreigners are not targeted, they may be unlucky enough to get caught up in the violence.
Hiking, surfing, history - and hardly another tourist in sight. Its name still evokes images of the brutal civil war fought throughout the 1980s, but the bloodshed is long over - the volcanic landscape remains the most turbulent aspect of El Salvador. Friendly locals like to chat, diverting your gaze from the gangs and refugees to beautiful broad valleys.
El Salvador has rich forests and craggy mountains that make for great hiking. But the people of El Salvador are surely its richest resource, and the best reason to come. Direct, friendly and unjaded by mass tourism, most Salvadorans are genuinely happy to chat or help you out if you're lost.
'El Salvador is a democracy so it's not surprising that there are many voices to be heard here. Yet in my conversations with Salvadorans...I have heard a single voice.' - Dan Quale
Geography:
El Salvador is a tiny country, located on the Pacific coast of Central America. It's bordered by Guatemala to the west, Honduras to the north and east, and the Pacific Ocean to the south. For the most part, El Salvador is lush, green and surrounded by hills draped in mist. More than 25 extinct volcanoes dot the country, the largest being San Salvador, San Vicente, Santa Ana and San Miguel. In the many national parks, sharp-eyed visitors can spot, among other fauna, quetzals, toucans, monkeys, white-tailed deer and zillions of butterflies. However, El Salvador has some of the worst environmental degradation in the Americas, with less than 6% of its original forest still intact and close to one hundred endangered animal species. The land is intensively cultivated; coffee predominates in the highlands, sugar in the lowlands and cotton on the coastal plains. Many of El Salvador's river systems are polluted from industrial development or pesticide and fertilizer runoff from agricultural lands - some fear that at the current rate of contamination the country will run out of drinking water in less than 15 years. As Central America's most densely populated country, El Salvador also has a garbage problem.
Destination Facts
Capital: San Salvador
Supreme Chief of State (President): El í as Antonio Saca Gonzalez
Government: Republic
Time zone: GMT -6
Area: 21040
Population: 6700000
People: 94% mestizo, 1% indigenous, 5% other
Languages: Roman Catholic (75%), Protestant (20%), other (5%)
Currency: US Dollar (US$)
GDP: Approx. US$34150000000
Major industries: Maquila, textiles, coffee, sugar, beverages, petroleum, chemicals, fertilizer, furniture, light metals, cotton
Major Trading Partners: USA, Chile, Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Mexico, Panama, Costa Rica, Germany
Country Dialing Code: 503
Getting There
El Salvador has a tropical climate with only two seasons: verano (dry season) from November to April, and invierno (wet season) from May to October. Almost the entire annual rainfall occurs during the rainy season and at night. Temperatures are based mostly on elevation in El Salvador. The coastal areas are the hottest, averaging 22-32° C (72-90° F) throughout the year; the central areas vary dramatically year-round, from 19° C (66° F) in the coldest months to 38° C (100° F) in the warmest; and the mountainous areas are always cool, with temperatures averaging 12-23° C (54-73° F). The best time of year to visit is at the beginning or the end of the dry season, when it doesn't rain every day and the roads are in good shape. More cultural festivals take place around these times. It's advisable to avoid the holiday periods - it's busy and prices are inflated. The main holiday periods are from Christmas through mid-January; Semana Santa, a week-long festival before Easter; and during the first week of August when San Salvador holds its annual festival. Many services also shut down during these periods. In the rainy season, prices are lower, beaches are less crowded and the evenings slightly cooler after the rainstorms.
Getting there and away
El Salvador's international airport, Aeropuero Internacional Comalapa, is 44km (27mi) southeast of San Salvador. The following airlines fly to/from San Salvador: TACA, American, Continental, Copa and Delta. There's a 30.00 departure tax. It's a 45min drive to San Salvador. Catch a taxi or a colectivo van. There are three first-class international bus lines plus a number of second-class lines, but they're not as safe or comfortable. In San Salvador, they leave from Terminal Puerto Bus. There are four border crossings to Guatemala and three border crossings to Honduras, where a token departure tax is payable. Take a connecting microbus from Honduras to the Nicaraguan border. There's also a once-daily service to Costa Rica. From here, you can continue to Panama City or to the Mexican border. When driving into El Salvador, show a license (international permits are accepted) and proof you own the car. To stay longer than 30 days, leave the country and drive back in.
Getting around
There is no regular domestic air service in El Salvador. Take a boat around the Bah í a de Jiquilisco. A passenger boat and car ferry travel across Lago Suchitl á n. The intercity bus service uses old American school buses painted in wild colors - terminals are chaotic and dirty. Information is rarely posted, but other passengers can point you in the right direction. Purchase your ticket onboard. Buses run frequently and are cheap. Services begin 04:00-05:00 and end 18:00-19:00. By car, unmarked areas are frustrating. Gas can be found even in the smallest villages, but it's not cheap. Car insurance is available, but not required. There are car rental agencies in San Salvador. Drive on the right. Carjackings and theft are not common, but use common sense. Watch out for the locals' erratic driving habits and animals grazing on the road. Taxi fares are negotiable. If you're hitching, it's customary to give (or at least offer) a small payment.
Visa:
Citizens of the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Switzerland, Norway, Japan, Taiwan, Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, other Central American countries, Israel, UK and EU member countries do not need a visa. However, you must purchase a single-entry tourist card (10.00) when entering the country. The standard length of stay is 30 days, but you can request up to 90 days - do so quickly before the official stamps your passport! If you leave and return within the allotted time, you can use the same tourist card. You are technically required to have a return or onward ticket, but this is rarely checked. Note that the Salvadoran tourist card is a large sticker which takes up a full page of your passport - be sure you have plenty of free space! For those who do need a pre-arranged visa, the cost is 30.00. The new Central America-4 agreement allows for travel between the borders of Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador and Nicaragua with one entry fee and one passport stamp (in this case, be sure you ask for the 90-day option). If you are traveling overland, please note the change; you do not have to pay for another tourist card. It's possible you will have to 'remind' some border guards about the agreement. The provision is relatively new (and few tourists make use of it) so the officers may be simply unaware of the rule.
Places of Interest
Cloud forests, crater lakes and culture - this tiny nation is larger than life.
El Salvador's bustling colonial cities boast stunning cathedrals, pleasant parks and a multitude of museums embracing its rich history. The natural world is breathtaking - glimpse wildlife at the national parks, climb a grumbling volcano or spend an afternoon on one of the many beautiful beaches.
Its name still evokes images of the brutal civil war fought throughout the 1980s, but the bloodshed is long over - the volcanic landscape remains the most turbulent aspect of El Salvador. Friendly locals like to chat, diverting your gaze from the gangs and refugees to beautiful broad valleys. El Salvador has rich forests and craggy mountains that make for great hiking. But the people of El Salvador are surely its richest resource, and the best reason to come. Direct, friendly and unjaded by mass tourism, most Salvadorans are genuinely happy to chat or help you out if you're lost.
Weather
This diminutive nation bakes, with year-round temperatures surfing from around 32° C (89° F) during the day and dropping to around a cozy 19° C (66° F) at night. The coastal lowlands are the hottest region. While the dry season peaks in summer, the middle months experience quite heavy rainfall. During the rainy season, it usually only rains at night.
Warning
Roads and highways can be subject to criminal activity; travelers should exercise caution, particularly on public buses. Avoid any travel at night.Travel to regions bordering Guatemala can be risky due to local drug turf wars. While foreigners are not targeted, they may be unlucky enough to get caught up in the violence.
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