Travel to El Salvador to backpack, study, intern, volunteer, work, or live as a digital nomad, expat or emigrant?

Travel in El Salvador

• El Salvador is the smallest country in Central America, but has a lot to offer: tropical rainforests, volcanoes, many animal species, Mayan ruins, nice towns and colonial villages.
• In addition, you will (still) encounter very few other tourists!
• Suchitoto: This is the former capital of El Salvador. This is a small, quiet, beautiful town, a cultural center where artists also live. It is nice to walk through and experience the atmosphere. A well-known central plaza with houses built in old continental style. Suchitoto is located in the mountains with a view of a beautiful lake.
• Perquin is a small town, between the pine forests, rivers and waterfalls. It is good walking with a cool and fresh climate. In this place you can also understand more about the civil war, in the museum of revolution.
• El Impossible National Park is the largest national park, and you can spot wildlife there. Or go to Los Volcanoes National Park, with three volcanoes next to each other in a jungle-like landscape.
• Visit the pyramid of Tazumal, the Mayans burned their victims there.
• El Salvador is also called the surfing mecca. Go to Playa El Zonte for beginners. Or go to Punta Roca with the fantastic waves. Or go to Playa Las Flores known for its stable long waves. Or try Playa El Sunzal. Enough choice!

Updates El Salvador

• More about El Salvador, updates and contributions, see the link below.

What is the best travel and departure time for El Salvador?

• El Salvador has a climate with relatively few major temperature fluctuations throughout the year.
• Precipitation is a more limiting factor for those traveling, living, studying or working through the country.
• Altitude is also an influence, with stably warm conditions on the coast and in the lowlands, cooler mountain areas and freezing temperatures at the highest elevations.

Best travel time in El Salvador

• From November to April is the dry season in El Salvador. It rains little then and the roads are in good condition.

Worst travel time in El Salvador

• In the months of March and April it can get quite warm, before the wet season starts in May (through October).

What are the customs in El Salvador regarding food?

• Although El Salvador's cuisine is often still referred to as "pretty basic," today that is partly obsolete. Many chefs have trained internationally and employ creative cooking techniques around ingredients from around the country.
• Of course, you'll still find traditional corn, beans, plantains and cheese in many dishes.
• You will also find the fried plantain, in many sub-forms, everywhere in El Salvador; certainly on buses, at bus stations and on the streets.

What are the best recipes in El Salvador?

• The "must try" national dish of El Salvador is "pupusas": a type of tortilla/arepa (corn or rice flour dough) filled with cheese and/or beans, seafood, meat and/or vegetables. You often get it served with a coleslaw mix and tomato salsa.
• Tamales, which you find all over Central America-and thus also in El Salvador. Often sold in a roadside stand or around local and regional buses. In El Salvador, tamales are pretty "standard": a cornmeal dough filled with meat, usually chicken or pork. The whole mixture is wrapped in a banana leaf and steamed for several hours, until the filling forms a soft but dense "bread.
• Yuca con chicharron: yuca is literally a "starchy root vegetable" and chicharron is fried pork belly with (tasty) bits of crispy skin. The yuca is boiled or fried, topped with pork and served with the same curtido that accompanies pupusas. It is almost always served at room temperature, which is why it is sometimes called a salad.
• Chorilonza: cross between Spanish chorizo and longiza sausages: the spicy chorilonza snack is found mostly on the "Ruta de Flores" (western part El Salvador).
• Ceviche is also widely eaten in El Salvador: raw fish, mussels, clams or shrimp that are "cooked" with acid, usually lime juice and then mixed with fresh shallots and other ingredients.

What are the best drinks in El Salvador?

• Horchata is a sweet, spiced drink in which jicaro seeds are used as a base in El Salvador. The ground seeds are mixed with cocoa, cinnamon and coriander seeds before being mixed with milk or water, vanilla and sugar. It is often served over ice cream.
• Beer from the artisanal Cadejo brewery (Zona Rosa in San Salvador or at El Tunco on the coast) holds its own internationally.
• Like Guatemala, El Salvador produces very good coffee. The rich, volcanic soil and hilly landscapes are a good base for this coffee. Visit a coffee plantation along the Ruta de las Flores and learn about the entire coffee production process.
• Ponche is a simple mixture of milk flavored with cinnamon, sugar, nutmeg and vanilla. A dash(s) of rum is added; it is a festive drink often encountered in all kinds of celebrations or special occasions.
• Salvadoran rum is inexpensive but often of high quality. The cultivation of sugar cane is important to the Salvadoran economy.
• Popular non-alcoholic drinks include "pinol," roasted ground corn mixed with water, and "tiste," a variation made with cocoa beans and corn.
• You can go anywhere in El Salvador for a fresh liquada or batida; a mix of fruit with water or milk. For health reasons, it is advisable to ask for chilled milk or water from a new, sealed bottle.

What are notable holidays and festivals in El Salvador?

• On January 16, 1992, the Salvadoran government and the FMLN guerrilla signed peace accords in Mexico, ending the brutal armed conflict. Every year on this date they celebrate the "National Day of the Victims of the Armed Conflict."
• As in many other (Catholic) Central American countries, the week around Easter is a real "celebration week" in El Salvador, with many (flower) processions ("alfombra de flores"). Many people are free and visit family or go to the beach.
• Annually on August 31, Las Bolas de Fuego (Balls of Fire) are celebrated in Nejapa, a small municipality just north of San Salvador. Las Bolas de Fuego is both one of the best and craziest festivals in El Salvador. Crowds gather along both sides of the main street and watch as the people of Nejapa hurl flaming (kerosene!) rag balls at each other for a few hours. The more than 100-year-old tradition commemorates the eruption of the volcano El Playón (1658).
• Día de Independencia (Independence Day) is celebrated in El Salvador on September 15. Independence from the Spanish is the focus of this national holiday: parades, fireworks and (lots of) food.
• A young girl's 15th birthday is considered a special date in El Salvador...and is celebrated extensively.

What are the remarkable habits in El Salvador?

• Salvadoran women often pat each other on the right forearm or shoulder, instead of shaking hands. Men shake hands with other men and women, although they mostly wait for the woman to extend her hand.
• Meals shared together with big families included extended family is a part of the culture.

Why study, do an internship, volunteer or work temporarily in El Salvador?

• because education is of increasingly better quality (reasonable to good knowledge of Spanish though required).
• because there are opportunities for studies of indigenous cultures in El Salvador.
• because your colleagues are often helpful, friendly and interested.
• because there is much to develop and research in the areas of conservation, women's rights, improving education and, of course, sustainable tourism
• because, if you make an effort, Salvadorans are very happy to help you improve your Spanish (they adapt their rate of speech).
• Because the country and the region have a lot to offer to those who stay for a longer period of time.

What should you pay attention to?

• the work culture in general is very 'mañana' (so set your own pace).
• sometimes machismo is still clearly present, although things are changing and more and more middle- and upper-class women are starting to work.
• Salvadorans live by the day and (time) agreements are flexible; but make no mistake: they too can be punctual.
• in El Salvador there is certainly still respect for hierarchical relations; handle this with care, especially in contact with 'the boss' and older workers.

How does the healthcare system work in El Salvador?

What is the quality of healthcare in El Salvador?

• The healthcare system in El Salvador consists of both public and private institutions. In general, the quality of the public healthcare system is considered to be substandard. However, many people cannot opt ​​for private healthcare due to the cost.
• Most Salvadorans are covered by the El Ministerio de Salud Pública y Asistencia Social (MSPAS) and El Instituto Salvadoreño del Seguro Social (ISSS).
• Most healthcare is provided in the larger cities.
• In recent years, El Salvador has taken positive steps in healthcare. For example, the country is now known for medical tourism in the areas of dental care and cosmetic surgery.
• Call 911 in the event of a medical emergency. Emergency care in hospitals is called “Emergencia”.

How does the public healthcare system work in El Salvador?

• The MSPAS provides free healthcare to residents of El Salvador. The system consists of three levels; from primary care in smaller health centers and secondary care in regional and national hospitals, to tertiary care in specialized hospitals.
• Foreigners with a valid visa can also use the free healthcare.
• In general, the quality of public care is not good. For example, the machines are often outdated, the staff is often not well trained and there is often a shortage of medicines.
• The health centers offer basic care such as visits to the general practitioner, dentists and internists. Care in these centers is free, but it comes with very long waiting times.
• The public health system has two regional hospitals (in addition to many smaller/departmental hospitals) that offer a higher quality of care than other hospitals. These are the Hospital San Juan de Dios in Santa Ana and in San Miguel.
• For the specialized hospitals (child care, gynecology, Covid etc.) a referral from the regional or departmental hospitals is required.
• There are also very local clinics that offer free care in rural areas. These clinics offer very limited care and are often only open a few days a week.
• Then there is also El Seguro Social (ISSS), the social health insurance system. This insurance is mandatory for everyone who works in the public sector or in a private company and offers access to certain healthcare institutions. A contribution is then made by the employee and the employer.

How does the private healthcare system work in El Salvador?

• The private sector consists of profit-making and non-profit institutions. The profit-making institutions are mainly found in the big cities, the non-profit institutions (generally NGOs and churches) in the countryside.
• The profit-making private sector generally has better facilities, but is also a lot more expensive. It is therefore mainly used by foreigners and wealthy locals.
• In the private sector, there is a greater chance that you can get by with English.

How is the general practitioner arranged in El Salvador?

• The GP in El Salvador is locally called “medico de familia” or “medico general”. The GP provides the first layer of care.
• There are both public and private GPs in medical centres. Most expats opt for private GPs.
• It can be helpful to ask other foreigners for advice on finding a good GP.

How is the dentist arranged in El Salvador?

• Dental care in El Salvador is of good quality, especially in private clinics. The costs are also relatively low, which attracts many medical tourists to the country.
• In the public sector, waiting times are often long, which is why many locals also opt for private care.
• Simply call or e-mail a clinic and make an appointment. You can also get insight into the costs via the website or by phone.

How is pregnancy care arranged in El Salvador?

• Pregnancy care and deliveries can take place in both public and private institutions. Although public care is free, foreigners generally opt for private clinics because of the state of the public system.
• In public hospitals, the father is generally not allowed to be present at the birth.
• Both types of centers offer both prenatal- and postnatal care.
• The father can be present via private care. Better care is also provided, you can choose the doctor you want and, for example, a private room. Be aware that there are costs involved and that you will probably have to pay immediately upon leaving the hospital.
• Abortion is illegal.

How safe or unsafe is a trip or stay in El Salvador?

What should you pay attention to in terms of safety in El Salvador?

• El Salvador has historically had high crime rates, mainly due to the presence of violent gangs. Recent government measures have led to a significant decrease in the number of homicides and an improvement in the general safety situation. For example, the homicide rate has dropped from a peak of 106 per 100,000 inhabitants in 2015 to significantly lower figures in recent years. However, it is still a relatively dangerous country.
• Avoid low-income neighborhoods and remote areas, especially at night. Do not wear expensive jewelry or go out after dark in downtown San Salvador.
• Be careful at ATMs. You may be followed.
• The number for the police is 911.

What should you look out for in terms of diseases in El Salvador?

• Several insect-borne diseases are prevalent in El Salvador, including dengue, chikungunya, and zika. Protect yourself from insect bites by using insect repellent and wearing protective clothing. In addition, tuberculosis is common, especially in children. It is advisable to avoid contact with stray animals due to the risk of rabies.
• Check which vaccinations are mandatory or recommended before departure.

What should you pay attention to when it comes to traffic in El Salvador?

• The infrastructure in El Salvador is developing, but road conditions can vary. In urban areas, the roads are generally good, but in rural areas they can be less well maintained. It is important to be alert to unexpected road conditions and traffic behavior.
• People are generally not very careful when driving. Traffic accidents are common because traffic rules are not always strictly followed and people drive unpredictably. Many accidents are caused by distractions while driving, careless merging and speeding.
• It is not recommended to use public transport and to hail taxis on the street. If you are traveling by car, keep the windows and doors closed, even while driving.

What work and travel insurance policies are suitable for short and long stays in El Salvador?

• Is the trip to and your return sufficiently covered? Are you sufficiently covered before, during and after your activities? Which insurance best suits your trip and your activity? Read more about insurances for abroad on JoHoinsurances.org.

What emigration and expat insurance can you take out for El Salvador if you are going to live there for a while?

• Health insurance is generally not mandatory for a stay in El Salvador and the public healthcare system offers free care. However, most expats opt for their own private insurance in order to be able to use private institutions (with shorter waiting times, better equipment, etc.) and to be covered for possible medical evacuations in situations where local care is insufficient.
• Make sure your insurance covers medical evacuation as well as coverage in neighboring countries. Read more about insurances for abroad on Expatinsurances.org.