Here you will find practical information in connection with trips to El Salvador
- Language: Spanish
- Capital: San Salvador
- Residents: 6, 1 mill.
- Religion: Roman Catholic
- Currency: USD
- Surface: 21,040 km2
Worth knowing
Time difference
El Salvador is seven hours behind Sweden. When the time is 12.00 in Sweden, it is 05.00 in El Salvador.
Transport in El Salvador
Bus The
buses in El Salvador do not meet the same standards as in Europe, but we use those that are in good condition and equipped with air conditioning.
Flights
On Albatro’s trips in Central America, we usually fly the longest distances with domestic flights. The Swedish tour guide informs the tour participants about all practicalities at check-in at the airport and flight time for the current route.
Price level
It is relatively cheap to eat at a restaurant in El Salvador. A meal (both lunch and dinner) costs around SEK 100. Including drinks, you can do really well at around SEK 300 a day. Souvenirs and crafts are available in all price ranges and you will find many cheap items.
Tip
It is common to put about ten percent on the bill at restaurants and hotels. Piccolos who carry luggage also expect a small penny.
It’s good to tip, but it’s of course highly voluntary.
Currency and credit cards
El Salvador’s currency is the US dollar (USD). Remember not to bring a denomination larger than $ 20 banknotes. It is almost impossible to pay with 50- and 100-dollar bills as these are often counterfeit.
Most restaurants, hotels and larger stores accept Visa cards, which also work in ATMs. MasterCard and American Express can also be used but are not as viable as Visa.
Electricity
El Salvador uses the following power sources: 115 V AC, 60 Hz.
Telephone and internet
According to allcitycodes, El Salvador’s international country code is +503. Both incoming and outgoing calls are expensive and it is also costly to use the phone’s data traffic. Check with your mobile operator for coverage and prices.
Most hotels in El Salvador offer internet connection, but the connection is not always as fast as in Sweden.
Drinks and hygiene
You should not drink tap water. It should be boiled or sterilized before use, even if you just brush your teeth or add ice cubes to the drink. You can buy water in most places.
In El Salvador, hygiene is at a slightly lower level than in Western Europe. However, hotels and larger restaurants have modern / western toilet facilities. In public toilets and in rural areas, the standard may well be more primitive without toilet paper and the like. Feel free to bring toilet paper or a package of wet wipes and possibly. hand disinfection (available at Swedish pharmacies, among other places). Then you can do without water if there is no such thing.
Customs and traditions
Tourists are usually welcomed with open arms in El Salvador. Although the locals are used to many tourists, they are expected to respect the customs and usages of the locals. Nature conservation is most important of all. We often visit protected areas and the preservation of these often has the highest priority among authorities and local people. Always follow the instructions of the tour guide or local guides.
It is forbidden to photograph military installations. Incidentally, the golden rule of asking first also applies in El Salvador.
Food and drinks
The domestic cuisine often contains rice and beans and tortilla bread may often replace knife and fork. The long coastline provides a good income from seafood. On the street you will often find grilled corn on the cob.
Smoking
During air travel and transport, there is an absolute ban on smoking. In addition, most restaurants and hotels are non-smoking. Feel free to ask the tour guide what applies.
