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Geography
Surrounded by Guatemala to the west and Honduras to the east, El Salvador (8,124 sq. mi.) is similar in size to New Jersey and the only Central American nation without direct access to the Caribbean. It’s coast borders the Pacific and runs east to west. El Salvador has lush forests, rugged mountains and numerous volcanoes that are part of the Pacific’s Ring of Fire. See where Casa Tortuga is located on the map.
Politics
El Salvador gained its independence from Spain in 1821. Between then and now it has seen its share of turmoil, unrest and civil war, but today it is a republic that enjoys stability, peace and, in recent years, considerable economic growth.
Tourism
The country’s tourist industry has grown markedly and accounts for nearly 5% GDP. While it has yet to be steamrolled by mass tourism, it has been a destination for eco tourists and discerning surfers. (Surfboards are allowed on local buses that serve beach communities). Other options for recreation include diving, mountain biking, hiking/backpacking, horseback riding, touring volcanoes or Mayan ruins. Read about Local Attractions.
Language & People
Spanish is the national language, but English is often understood and spoken in the larger cities. Many Salvadorans have relatives in the U.S. so they are used to American language and culture. Ask anyone who has visited El Salvador and you’ll hear that the people are the best reason to come. A few words in Spanish help make contact and locals will respond in kind, happy to chat or help a stranger find their way.
Money Matters
The U.S. dollar is the national currency and accepted everywhere. Getting cash from local ATMs is convenient. It is recommended that before your trip you tell your bank that you intend to spend time in El Salvador, so they won’t freeze your card, which has become a common practice for ATM and Credit Cards when used abroad.
Phone
Calling El Salvador from the US, the international calling code is 011503 + phone number. To call the US from El Salvador, dial 001 + area code + phone number. El Salvador has decent cell phone coverage, but check with your provider if your phone is compatible to the local networks and confirm the roaming rates. It might be cheaper to buy an international phone with a U.S. number. As a point of reference only, the call plan with Mobal Worldphone is: text messages cost $0.80, incoming calls are listed with $1.95 per minute and calls to the U.S. or Canada cost $3.95/min. See the Mobal Worldphone site for information about purchasing and renting international phones.
Prepaid cell phones can be purchased from the local provider, Claro, and call the US is just $0.10 per minute. You will need a decent command of Spanish to accomplish this.
Internet & Electronics
For those who must have Web access, there are several ways to get it in El Salvador. Note that the AC operates on 115 volts. You need an A-type plug (or converter). Phone jacks for dial-up connections are RJ11, the same as in the U.S. You can contact a provider to make arrangements ahead of time for dialup, GSM, Wi-Fi and Broadband, e.g. http://international.dialer.net/
To find free providers, see www.freedomlist.com/find.php3?country=153
Cuisine
El Salvador's national dish is the pupusa, a thick hand-made corn tortilla that is stuffed with cheese (queso), fried pork rind (chicharrón), chicken (pollo), refried beans (frijoles refritos), shrimp or ayote (squash). Also look for yuca frita, deep-fried and served with curtido (spicy coleslaw), with chicharrones (pork cracklings) or pepesquitas (fried baby sardines) on top or pan con pavo, a sandwich with marinated turkey roasted with spices. Of course, there’s coffee in El Salvador and plenty of it. Connoisseurs rave about a cup of Café Pepil, a pleasantly sweet, nutty certified organic coffee, named after an ancient Native culture. The best grade of El Salvador coffee is said to be Strictly High Grown.
Weather
El Salvador has a tropical climate with a dry season (verano) from November to April, and a wet season (invierno) from May to October. Temperatures in the coastal areas average 72-90°F (22-32°C) throughout the year, while the central inland areas range from 66°F (19°C) in the coldest months to 100°F (38°C) in the warmest. It’s coolest in the mountains with temperatures averaging 54-73°F (12-23°C).
What to pack
It’s always nice and warm, so you can pack lightly. However, during the wet season the rain can come down hard for a couple hours a day, so you may prefer light rain gear. Other recommend items are sunscreen, sun glasses, wide-brimmed hat, a basic first-aid kit, flashlight or headlamp (the beach is very dark at night) and an English-Spanish dictionary. Make sure you bring liquids in airline-approved quantities and pack them in a transparent Ziploc bag.
When to Go
The main holidays are between Christmas and mid-January; Semana Santa, the week before Easter; and the first week of August when San Salvador holds its annual festival. Many cultural festivals are scheduled around these times.
Travel tips
Read the section entitled Getting There.