The smallest of Central American countries, the adventurous El Salvador offers wonderful nature with volcanoes, mountains, untouched beaches and forests ideal for hiking. In addition, this tiny country is home to some of the best surfing opportunities in the world in its beautiful Pacific beach resorts. For those interested in history there are fascinating colonial towns and Mayan sites in El Salvador to explore. El Salvador is also a good destination for bargain shopping.
Volcanoes & ancient cities. There are several agencies organizing day trips from San Salvador to nearby sights like to El Salvador's other volcanoes and to the Lake Ilopango. The impressive Mayan ruins of Joya de Cerén, San Andrés and Tazumal with a pyramid and a museum exhibiting the ancient Pipil culture are also worth exploring while visiting El Salvador. Nature lovers will enjoy visiting Montecristo Cloud Forest, while El Salvador's many picturesque colonial towns also wait for visitors.
La Libertad is a surfing paradise and seaside town in Southwestern El Salvador by the Pacific Ocean, located only 15 kilometers from the capital San Salvador. As La Libertad gets fewer visitors than many other surfing destinations in Central America, there are many quiet and almost untouched beaches in the area. El Zonte and Sunzal are also interesting surfing locations in El Salvador.
Flights to El Salvador arrive at El Salvador's only international airport in Comalapa, 44 kilometers from the capital San Salvador. There are direct flights to El Salvador mainly from the neighboring countries. The country can also be accessed by bus or by a car from the neighboring countries through the Pan-American Highway. Domestic buses in El Salvador are very cheap, but be careful when travelling by bus, as robberies and cheating are common. There are a couple of rental car agencies in El Salvador.
Lively cities and pristine beaches in El Salvador
El Salvador's capital San Salvador is a city of contrasts with new and old buildings and rich and poor areas. The city hosts numerous museums and monuments and is ideal for sightseeing, tough many of the city's historical sights have been damaged by earthquakes. Located in a valley at the foot of the magnificent San Salvador Volcano, San Salvador offers breathtaking views as well as good restaurants, entertainment, nightlife and shopping opportunities at very reasonable prices.Volcanoes & ancient cities. There are several agencies organizing day trips from San Salvador to nearby sights like to El Salvador's other volcanoes and to the Lake Ilopango. The impressive Mayan ruins of Joya de Cerén, San Andrés and Tazumal with a pyramid and a museum exhibiting the ancient Pipil culture are also worth exploring while visiting El Salvador. Nature lovers will enjoy visiting Montecristo Cloud Forest, while El Salvador's many picturesque colonial towns also wait for visitors.
La Libertad is a surfing paradise and seaside town in Southwestern El Salvador by the Pacific Ocean, located only 15 kilometers from the capital San Salvador. As La Libertad gets fewer visitors than many other surfing destinations in Central America, there are many quiet and almost untouched beaches in the area. El Zonte and Sunzal are also interesting surfing locations in El Salvador.
Practical information for your trip to El Salvador
El Salvador is the smallest and the most densely populated country in Central America. Its landscape consists mostly of mountains and volcanic soil with a narrow Pacific coastal plain and a central plain inland. Climate in El Salvador is tropical with only two seasons: rainy season lasts from May to October and dry season from November to April. Climate is temperate in the uplands. The best time to visit El Salvador is at the beginning or at the end of the dry season when there is no rain. Many events also take place around these times.Flights to El Salvador arrive at El Salvador's only international airport in Comalapa, 44 kilometers from the capital San Salvador. There are direct flights to El Salvador mainly from the neighboring countries. The country can also be accessed by bus or by a car from the neighboring countries through the Pan-American Highway. Domestic buses in El Salvador are very cheap, but be careful when travelling by bus, as robberies and cheating are common. There are a couple of rental car agencies in El Salvador.
Photo: Rick's Pics (Montreal), used under Creative Commons License (By SA 2.0)
Safety. Violent and other crimes are common in this country that is still recovering from a long civil war, so El Salvador is suitable mainly for the more adventurous travelers. Visitors should avoid travelling nighttime or alone. Avoid also carrying any expensive items in public and keep a close eye on your belongings. Natural disasters like volcanic eruptions and earthquakes are not rare in El Salvador. Hurricanes, floods and landslides often occur in the rainy season from May to November. Avoid drinking tap water and protect yourself from mosquitoes. When visiting El Salvador follow the instructions given by the local media and officials.
History and culture of El Salvador
The original inhabitants of El Salvador were the Pipil, who inhabited the country since around 1500 BC. Conquered by the Spaniards in 1500s, El Salvador gained independence in 1821 from the Spanish rule and in 1839 from the Federal Republic of Central America. In 1859 El Salvador became republic. Since El Salvador's independence, it has suffered from frequent revolutions. During the Civil war in 1979-1991, more than 75,000 people died and the war also caused great damages to the economy of El Salvador. A treaty of peace was signed in 1992. Nowadays El Salvador is still a developing economy with problems with violent crime. The majority of the friendly inhabitants in El Salvador are mestizos, in other words mixed Native American and Spanish origin. The Roman Catholic Church has an important role in the Salvadoran culture.hint See also these nearby destinations: San Salvador, La Libertad
