Hey there, fellow travelers! Today, we’re talking about what NOT to do on vacation in El Salvador. While many travel blogs will tell you the best places to visit in El Salvador, we want to be sure you know what you should NOT do when you plan a trip to El Salvador.
Don’t Think El Salvador is Too Dangerous
At one time, El Salvador was ranked as the “murder capital of the world” but things have changed and that was never something that really affected tourists to begin with. The violence in El Salvador was and still is, mostly gang violence. The tourist areas of El Salvador have been largely untouched by this. We had a great time visiting with our kids and did not worry too much about our safety once we arrived.
Don’t Take Safety LIghtly
Although dangerous crime is not a major factor for tourists visiting El Salvador, there are still some things you need to watch out for. Just use your usual travel sense and be aware of your surroundings, don’t be out alone at night, and don’t go to neighborhoods that are off the beaten path.
Our biggest concern was generally when taking buses in El Salvador. If you can’t hang on to your bags throughout your bus trip, you will need to store them below the bus. In these instances, make sure you are paying attention at every stop to make sure someone doesn’t walk away with your luggage.
While you can’t drink tap water, it’s important to stay hydrated during your vacation in El Salvador. Getting dehydrated can be dangerous and can ruin your trip, so make sure you are drinking lots of fluids.
Don’t Underestimate the Ocean Currents
El Salvador has some fantastic beaches all along the coastline. But beware when the surf gets rough. High tides and rough waves can be really dangerous so pay attention if you are swimming, especially if you have little kids with you. Don’t risk it if the waves are building up.
Don’t Just Visit El Salvador Beaches
The beaches are definitely the most popular places to visit in El Salvador, but there are tons of other cool places to visit as well. Since it’s a pretty small country, you can really see a lot in just a couple of days. Some of the best places to visit in El Salvador include:
- Mayan ruins and sites like those at Joya de Cerén, which is still being excavated from under lava from the volcano. It’s like a Mayan “Pompeii.” San Andrés, Casa Blanca, Tazumal, and Cihuatan are other popular Mayan sites in El Salvador.
- Ruta de las Flores is a scenic drive in El Salvador, connecting many colorful towns and coffee plantations.
- Hiking on the volcanoes is very popular, although we recommend hiring a guide for this activity. Make sure you have proper shoes for hiking!
- Lake Coatepeque is a huge lake inside of a volcano crater; it’s a fun destination with lots of bars and restaurants along the shoreline
- The town of Santa Ana has a gorgeous cathedral that is worth visiting.
Start planning your trip at the Official website of Central America!
Don’t Expect a Highly Developed Tourism Infrastructure
El Salvador is still off the beaten path for most travelers, so you won’t find the advanced tourism infrastructure that you would in other Central American countries. Don’t expect it to be like Costa Rica or even Panama, because there just haven’t been many tourists visiting El Salvador. For the adventurous traveler, it’s a refreshing change of pace, but it just takes a bit longer to find accommodations, guides, and such.
Things take longer, and people are not in a rush here, so bring your patience and enjoy the slower pace. Don’t be in a hurry!
Don’t Worry About Breaking the Bank
It’s super affordable to visit El Salvador. Accommodation, food, and transportation are all cheap so it’s a great destination for budget travelers. And conveniently, the official currency of El Salvador is the U.S. Dollar. So you don’t even need to worry about exchanging money or keeping an eye on exchange rates! Just make sure you have small bills as you won’t have much use for large bills.
Don’t Eat Your Pupusas the Wrong Way!
Pupusas are the most popular food in El Salvador, and you should definitely try some when you visit. However, make sure you are eating them the proper way. They are like little stuffed pancakes that come with a bunch of sides like cabbage and salsa. Rather than making a taco, you want to tear a bit of the pupusa off and then grab some of the sides with that piece. No silverware is needed!
Don’t forget to tip when eating out in El Salvador. 10% is an average tip.
Don’t Be Caught Off Guard by These El Salvador Shocks
If it’s your first vacation in El Salvador, you don’t want to be caught off guard by these surprises. Don’t be shocked if…
- The people of El Salvador are surprisingly chill. They are full of great travel tips, especially food recommendations. They are really excited to see travelers visiting their country.
- You find yourself on a yellow school bus again. Remember the old yellow school buses? Well, they also retire in Central America! Many have found a second life as transit buses in El Salvador!
- You can’t drive a hard bargain. While bargaining is a big part of many Latin cultures, it’s not the case in El Salvador, so you can expect to pay the price that you see. Don’t try to bargain with street vendors.
- You visit between May and July and everything is rained out. That’s the rainy season! Skip it and come any other time of year.
- Rather than billboards, a lot of places in El Salvador advertise by painting murals on the nearby cliffs. It’s kind of funny to see and it can be shocking at first.
- When you order drinks from the street carts, they often come in a plastic bag that’s tied around a straw. It’s not as common anymore, but kind of fun when you do get one. It’s how the locals drink!
- You will be shocked at how often you are served beans or frijoles. They come with pretty much every meal in El Salvador. Hope you like them!
- You can’t flush your toilet paper in El Salvador. The pipes can’t handle it! So, make sure you are putting your used toilet paper in the wastebasket next to the toilet. Likewise, make sure you have some toilet paper before you head into the stall. Sometimes the rolls are actually mounted outside of the toilet stall, so don’t be caught without TP!
- The bugs can be shockingly bad in El Salvador, so don’t forget your bug spray! Know what works best for you, whether it’s a spray, lotion, or those wristbands. You might want all three!
- The sun is super strong as well, so a high SPF, reapplied frequently, is a must!
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Don’t be surprised if you fall in love with El Salvador! It is truly an underrated destination in Central America! Between unspoiled beaches, low prices, and friendly locals, a vacation in El Salvador is a no-brainer.
Want more tips for traveling in Central America? Check out some of our other blog posts: