El Salvador
The information below is provided by Lonely Planet readers and is not verified by Lonely Planet. For the official lowdown, contact your nearest embassy or check out our Travel Links.
Visas, Embassies & Border Crossings
I recently purchased "Central America on a Shoestring" before my trip to Honduras and El Salvador. I just wanted to let you know that it was extremely helpful and accurate but with one exception. On page 320, you mention that a tourist card needs to be purchased for 2 USD in San Miguel in order to travel from Perquin to Marcala. We later found that you don't need a tourist card. All that needs to be done is to wait in the long immigration line (30 mins to one hour) and pay 3 USD to get a stamp and a piece of paper. On arriving back in E.S., there are no further fees. The immigration officer just takes up the paper and provides you with another stamp. I would like to finish by saying that one of the many good things about E.S. is the people. Everyone was so friendly and helpful. Keep up the great work at L.P.
Danny Redo, USA Apr 2005
Any Australian planning a visit to El Salvador MUST have a visa. We were turned away at the border crossing and had to head back to Guatemala City to obtain the Visa. It costs US$30.
Belinda Minc, Australia (Apr 03)
I just want to point out that Canadians and Americans (possibly others) need Visas to enter El Salvador as of Sept. 24th, due apparently to increased security since the terrorist attacks in the States. I was turned back at the border when I tried to enter on Sept. 29th. Of course it would still be easy to enter the country without having your passport stamped, if you want to risk it.
Phil Fraikin, (Oct 01)
Travel Tips
One travel book that I recommend is called, The Full Montezuma, Around Central America and the Caribbean with the Girl Next Door, by Peter Moore. Six weeks after falling in love with his next-door neighbor, Peter suggested a romantic trip through Central America- as you do! Over the next six months they battled hurricanes, mosquitoes, uncooperative border officials and over-sexed Mexican commuters. It shines an unrelenting spotlight on the highs and lows of traveling with a partner and proves once and for all that there is a world of difference between men and women.
Hiske van Haren, Netherlands (Dec 01)
A warning about local bank machines (ATMs). Unlike banks in Europe, there are no Maestro or Switch ATMs in the whole country. Hotels will let you get money from credit cards, but chage a 14% surchage.
Ana Borges (Dec 99)
My wife and I just visited El Salvador in June '98 and found it friendly and safe if you just do a few simple things. The first thing we did was buy tee shirts that said "Viva El Salvador!" and wore them everywhere. Non English speaking natives (we're from the US) would come up to us on the streets, smile, and say "Americanos!" The natives are stoic looking, but don't mistake this for unfriendliness. Learn just a few words of Spanish, and speak first, and they'll respond with a smile and speak back. My simple Buenos Dias! brought many a friendly response.
Tom Waring - US - (Jan 99)
Moving About
The best way to reach Isla Monte Cristo by bus, without too much changing, is taking the 302 in San Salvador and get off in San Nicolas. From there pick-up [trucks] go down the road, some to La Pita. One bus goes all the way down to La Pita twice a day, no. 158 leaves San Nicolas at 5.00 am and 2.00 pm heading for La Pita and returns from there at 6.30 am and 3 pm. The road has been improved; from the coastal highway to El Porvenir the road has been fully repaired (and afterwards somewhat damaged by the big sugarcane trucks) and accessible for 'normal' cars, no four wheel necessary. From there on the road has been partly repaired, holes have been filled up, in the dry season no four wheel needed, in rainy season it does need four wheels, but isn't as bad as it used to be. In La Pita, where you take the boat to the Isla, a restaurant has been opened, part of an eco-tourism project and managed by a production organization of the SES (Social Economic System). There is food & beverage and one can spend the night in one of the two (basic) cabins (cheap) next to the restaurant (with sanitary service), one can also put up her/his tent or rent a hammock. From there on there is a boat available, next to the two boats on the island. Agreed upon prices are: La Pita to the island US$9 two way the same day and US$12 for being brought one day and being picked up the other day.
Doekle Wielinga (May 98)
Scams & Warnings
We visited Juayua, a quaint town in the coffee growing region of Western El Salvador. As sugested by LP, we took a tourist guide to visit the nearby river and natural swimming pools in a lush valley surrounding the town. Unfortunately, only 10 minutes walk from town, the guide, my husband and I were accosted by 2 teenage boys armed with a loaded pistol and rifle, and were robbed at gunpoint. They stripped us of all our valuables and the little cash we carried.
If you plan to do any tours to remote places in El Salvador, consider an armed police escort (as is offered at Cerro Verde) or else take nothing whatsoever of value, unless you don't mind losing it.
Belinda Minc, Australia (Apr 03)
Gems, Highlights & Attractions
If you are into diving, crater diving in El Salvador is a must do. There is at least one great PADI dive center where they speak english as well as spanish and made our crater dive an amazing experience.
Ana Borges (Dec 99)
This is a hidden spot that doesn't want to hide any more. This place is a municipality-owned park/reserve called Laguna de Alegria. The lagoon is beautiful, emerald green lake situated in the dormant crater of Tecapa Volcano in the department of Usulutan. The lake water is tepid, but is fed by boiling-hot water which seeps from the ground and collects in the crater. Locals say that the sulfur-rich water is medicinal. Also inside the crater is a primary growth forest teeming with wildlife including agoutis, ocelotes, coatis and an impressive number of birds. Above the forest and the lake rise 350 m cliff walls, partly covered in vegetation and partly bare rock.
The community of Alegria, situated just outside the crater, is managing the lake and forest for eco-tourism, and has frequent bus service from the Pan-American Highway 30 minutes away. There are wonderful guides available to take tourists to the lake from Alegria or to show the way along the trail around the rim of the crater. Few foreign tourists come here because it is not listed in any guidebooks and on behalf of the community of Alegria, and the US Peace Corps, I invite you to visit this beautiful site. Don't miss it.
Denise Williams - US - (Nov 98)
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