Affectionately known as “Thumbling” by the national poet Roque Dalton, El Salvador offers fantastic landscapes, an eventful past and friendly people. On a trip through El Salvador you will encounter indigenous peoples, enjoy a cup of freshly brewed coffee in the highlands, discover the art scene while strolling across the cobblestones of Suchitoto or climb one of the majestic volcanoes.
Travel information in brief
Travel time
El Salvador has a tropical climate. Temperatures during the day are warm, but the nights can be cool – with the exception of the coastal plain. The dry season is generally from November to April with only light rainfall, the rainy season is from May to November. The rains are strongest along the coast. Inland it remains relatively dry, even in the rainy season. The year-round average temperature in San Salvador is between 22 and 24 ° C. It is a little cooler in the highlands. A sweater and a rain jacket always work well.
Currency / money
The official currency of El Salvador has been the US dollar since 2001. Usually only smaller notes are accepted. Bills over $ 20 will be difficult to exchange. The former currency, the Salvador Colón, no longer circulates, but it can happen that prices are still given in this currency. In many restaurants and shops you can pay with international credit cards (Visa and MasterCard). Smaller amounts (up to US $ 400) can also be withdrawn using the EC card with PIN and for a fee of around EUR 3.50 at the ATM.
Vaccinations
No vaccinations are required for travelers from Germany. When entering from yellow fever endemic areas, a yellow fever vaccination is mandatory. The Federal Foreign Office recommends refreshing the standard vaccinations according to the Robert Koch Institute. As a travel vaccination, it is recommended to vaccinate against hepatitis A, in the case of long-term stays also hepatitis B and, if necessary, rabies. Consult your doctor to discuss your vaccination protection.
Visa / entry
German citizens do not need a visa for a single entry and a stay of up to 90 days. To enter the country, you need a passport that is still valid for 6 months. Every traveler, including children, needs their own identification document. You will receive the residence permit for 90 days upon entry. When traveling within the so-called CA-4 areas (El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua), a tourist stay of a maximum of 90 days is permitted in the entire area.
El Salvador – the unknown country with the great landscapes
El Salvador is still practically unknown as a travel destination. Few connoisseurs appreciate the almost 21,000 square kilometers large country on the Central American Pacific coast as an interesting travel destination. The Pompeii of Central America impresses those interested in culture with the UNESCO World Heritage Site Joya de Cerén, which was actually only discovered by accident. In contrast to the other archaeological sites, you can see here how ordinary people lived during the Mayan period. Of course, there are also well-preserved Mayan temples in El Salvador, such as in Tazumal.
On several tourist routes you can meet indigenous peoples, enjoy a bag of freshly brewed coffee in the highlands and discover the art scene while strolling through the cobblestones of Suchitoto. Few people know that El Salvador is a surfer’s paradise and is an absolute hotspot among connoisseurs of the scene worldwide. Of course, not only professionals can plunge into the waves here, but beginners also try their luck on the miles of beaches on the Pacific coast. In the west lies the largest national park, El Imposible, where you can go on long hikes and admire more than 100 species of mammals, 53 reptiles and amphibians, 285 species of birds and more than 5,000 species of butterflies.
But what is most impressive is the landscapes of El Salvador, because shortly afterwards majestic volcanic cones rise from the flat coast. Almost every hill, mountain or cone in the country is a volcano and for this very reason vantage points for travelers were repeatedly built when hiking up the hills – to soak up the gigantic panoramic views that open up and keep them in memory forever.
