Visa For El Salvador
Visitors for 87 countries can visit El Salvador without a visa for a period up to 90 days. Some nationalities like US nationals need to purchase a 12 usd tourist card upon arrival. Make sure that your passport is at least 6 months valid when you travel to El Salvador.
Crime in El Salvador
Central America is experiencing problems with youth gangs called the maras. In San Salvador it is advisable to avoid certain neighborhoods, such as Soyapango and Apopa and not to go out by yourself at night. Always about local safety where you are or are going and don’t get too overconfident. Get used to guards of important buildings and expensive houses having guns. El Salvador’s emergency number for the fire brigade, police and ambulance is 911. In the unlikely event that you become the victim of a robbery, do not resist the robbers and give what is asked of you without making eye contact. File a report with the police, which is necessary for the insurance.
Holidays And Festivals In El Salvador
El Salvador has many national (religious) holidays during which public offices, institutions and shops in El Salvador are closed. During these festivals you can see and join cultural activities such as traditional dance, music, sports, art markets and theater and usually you will find food stalls everywhere with traditional dishes and drinks. Important national holidays in El Salvador are Día de la Independencia on September 15 and Día de los Acuerdos de Paz on January 16.
An important national festival is the Festival El (Divino) Salvador del Mundo in the first week of August. In this joyful week, the national saint ‘El Salvador del Mundo’ (Jezus) is central with the biggest festivities in San Salvador. On the 31st of August there is the Festival in Nejapa in memory of the El Playon volcano eruption in 1658 in which the town was completely wiped away. At night fireballs are thrown, an impressive spectacle.
In addition to Christmas, Semana Santa (Easter holidays), is an important Catholic holiday and processions are held all over El Salvador. During this week carpets of colored sawdust or salt on which religious images are made on the streets. On November 12th on El dia de los muertos, the dead are commemorated and graveyards of loved ones are decorated and candles are burned.
Photography In El Salvador
In general, the Salvadorans do not mind being photographed, but it’s best to always ask for permission before you just start photographing people. Sometimes people will only want to be photographed for a fee. Avoid photographing religious events and people praying.
El Salvador Opening Times
The opening times of shops and markets are generally from 09:00 to about 13:00 and from 16:00 to 19:00. In large malls, shops are open all day. Banks are open from 8 a.m. to 4 or 5 p.m. on weekdays and in the morning on Saturdays.
San Salvador is known for its good shopping opportunities. Next to the many small shops that you will see everywhere, there are many large modern malls. The main ones are Multiplaza, Galerias, Metrocentro and La Gran Via. One of the largest supermarket chains is SuperSelectos is one of the largest supermarket chain. Ilopango market and Mercado Nacional de Artesanías are the best places for artisanal products and souvenirs.
Clothing In El Salvador
Indigenous groups in El Salvador make up less than 1 percent of the total population and you’ll see very few people wearing traditional clothing. The culture of El Salvador is generally comparable to that of other countries in Central America. Here, too, the traditional roles of men and women are still strong according to machismo. However, the traditional roles are changing somewhat. More and more women are going to work and are moving into higher positions.
Customs In El Salvador
At the first meeting, Salvadorans only shake hands. Friends and relatives address each other with first names and nicknames, but it is customary to address people as Mrs. or Mr. or even with his or her title. Salvadorans are hospitable and love to share a meal together and they are often more punctual with appointments than their neighbors.
Communication With Locals
Salvadorans are proud and love to talk about their country and even politics. They are not always very direct and certain questions or comments may arouse surprise or even insult. Keep this in mind and always make it clear that this was not your intention. Some people will often create an answer or spin around a question if it makes them uncomfortable not being able to answer.
Traditions In El Salvador
Funerals, weddings and birthdays are celebrated in El Salvador with lots of people and flowers and you’ll also see piñatas; paper mache figures filled with candy. Poetry is also very popular in El Salvador and the Chilean poet Pablo Neruda, the Uruguayan poet Mario Benedetti and the Nicaraguan poet Rubén Darió are popular.
Language In El Salvador
The main language of El Salvador is Spanish. In San Salvador quite a few people speak some English. It is useful to memorize some Spanish words and phrases for your tour through El Salvador.
El Salvador Currency
El Salvador has been using the US dollar as its official national currency since 2001. The colon was used for this. Besides the USD, Bitcoin is also a legal tender in El Salvador and you will be able to pay with Bitcoin in many places
You can use a debit card or credit car in many places in the major cities in El Salvador. It is best to take out money from an ATM in daylight. You can find ATMs in banks, the airport and major shopping centers. Visa is more frequent than Mastercard.
You can pay by credit card in more expensive hotels, restaurants and shops in El Salvador and also withdraw money with a credit card. Use small notes until 20 usd as there is often not enough change. Haggling is quite rare in El Salvador and can be considered rude. You can negotiate the price with taxi drivers (which depends on the oil price) and also at souvenir markets.
Electricity Network And Sockets In El Salvador
The electricity in El Salvador is 110 volts, with a frequency of 60 Hertz. El Salvador mainly uses US sockets which accept plugs with two rectangular prongs, so it is advisable to bring a world plug or adapter. Power cuts and blackouts are common outside the capital San Salvador, so it’s good to bring a powerbank.
Customs
You may import 200 cigarettes or 250 grams of tobacco or 50 cigars tax-free into El Salvador and one liter of alcohol. Possession of drugs is severely punished. The export of archaeological objects is strictly prohibited. There is also an export ban on souvenirs made from protected animal or plant species such as snakes, parrots, butterflies, orchids and cacti. When purchasing this type of souvenir, make sure it has a valid CITES certificate.
Weather And Climate In El Salvador
El Salvador has a tropical climate with two seasons; the dry and wet season. The dry season (verano) lasts from November to April, and the rainy season (invierno) lasts from May to October. The temperature varies little with the changing seasons, but it is considerably lower in the higher mountainous areas. Especially on the coast, the temperature is highest with an average of around 30 degrees. Almost all rain falls during the rainy season. There are often heavy, tropical rain showers in the afternoon.
The best time to visit El Salvador is at the beginning or end of the dry season.
Tipping In El Salvador
Tipping is very common in El Salvador and is an important part of the salary of waiters, tour guides and others in the service industry. In a simple restaurant or a taxi ride, it is sufficient to round up the amount. In other settings, a 10 percent tip on the bill is normal, unless service is stated in the bill, but even then a small amount is welcome. Luggage carriers, hotel staff and tour guides also expect a small tip.
A target amount for your tour guide is a minimum of 2 to 5 usd per day, depending on the level of satisfaction.
Religion In El Salvador
The majority of the Salvadoran population is Catholic. Protestantism comes second. This is partly because during the civil war the Catholics were targeted and many of them then converted to Protestantism. A growing number of evangelical churches are active in El Salvador, especially in rural areas.
Population El Salvador
El Salvador has an area of 21,041 km² (half of the Netherlands and 2/3 of Belgium) and has an estimated 7 million inhabitants. This makes it the smallest and most densely populated country in Central America.
Population Of El Salvador
About 90 percent are mestizos , followed by 9 percent of whites (mostly of European origin) and only a small group is indigenous such as the Pipil and the Lenca. Although El Salvador has suffered many problems, in the form of civil wars and natural disasters, they are a cheerful and hopeful people with faith in their country and the people of El Salvador are known for their strong survival skills.
Food And Beverages In El Salvador
Salvadoran cuisine is very similar to that of other Central American countries like Nicaragua or Guatemala. Food is often fried or prepared in a lot of oil. A traditional breakfast consists of egg with beans (sometimes mixed with eggs). Usually people eat white bread or tortillas, cream, white cheese , fried plantains or avocado with their breakfast. Lunch is the most extensive meal. People eat meat, fish or fried cheese with rice, salad, avocado and tortilla. Other meals are rellenos (stuffed green peppers) or tamales (a stuffed steamed corn dough roll in banana leaves) and pupusas. Eateries are often cheap.
Be sure to try pupusas, which are sold everywhere in El Salvador. A pupusa is a kind of filled tortilla or pancake of corn dough or rice dough filled with cheese, beans, pork (chicharrón) or a mix of all three (revuelta). This is eaten with curtido; a sauce of tomatoes, vinegar, white cabbage and chili. Try to find a stall where it’s busy.
One of the most popular drinks is Atoll, served hot or cold and made from flour (from corn, rice or oatmeal), cane sugar and a flavor such as chocolate, vanilla or cinnamon. Horchata is the same type of drink, but has seeds or nuts. Nutmeg is often added. Fresh juices and lemonades are sold everywhere as well as coffee.
Landscape Of El Salvador
El Salvador borders Guatemala and Honduras and is located in the central part of Central America. There are three areas: the tropical low coastline, the central plains with a temperate climate and the considerably colder high mountain country of the Sierra Madre in the north (1600-2700 m) along the border with Honduras. The coast of El Salvador has tropical sandy beaches, large cliffs and islands. The landscape is hilly to mountainous and there are many impressive volcanic craters and gorgeous rivers and lakes. The soil in the volcanic areas is very fertile thanks to the lava and volcanic ash and is therefore often used for growing coffee.
In the Parque De Los Volcanes you can climb two volcanoes in one day and enjoy spectacular views: Izalco and Santa Ana. The Izalco volcano is still active, Santa Ana is not. You can also climb the San Salvador Volcano with two peaks.
