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El Salvador General Tips
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El Salvador General Tips

National Anthropological Museum - San Salvador - El Salvador
National Anthropological Museum - San Salvador
by MarcG
Tips and photos for El Salvador vacations and tourism, posted by real travelers and El Salvador locals.
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El Salvador General TipsTips 1 - 10 of 41  
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Airport Taxes
  • Tip Rating:
    • Ken_Weaver
  • Updated By Ken_Weaver on February 18, 2003
  • El Salvador Page by Ken_Weaver
    • Standard Currency in El Salvador - El Salvador
    Standard Currency in El
    Salvador
    by Ken_Weaver
    When arriving in El Salvador you will pay a $10 entrance tax when you present your passport at customs. When You leave, expect to pay $25 as an exit tax! US currency is the standard in all of El Salvador. Occasionally you will find colones used in the smaller stores or in remote areas.

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    Visiting El Salvador?

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    Compact and practical
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  • Updated By MarcG on March 3, 2003
  • El Salvador Page by MarcG
    • National Anthropological Museum - San Salvador - El Salvador
    National Anthropological
    Museum - San Salvador
    by MarcG
    The good thing about El Salvador is it's compact size, this allows you to visit the country with ease since there are never great distances to travel. El Salvador hasn't been discovered by the mainstream tourist, and this gives it a particular charm and authenticity. El Salvador has been hardly hit by natural disasters and civil war, and I guess that therefore many of the reviews that we get tend to be negative. On the other hand I have loved visiting El Salvador and expect to go back, there are many places to visit. Besides salvadorans are hard working people, truly engaged in having their country make a come back. It's important to remember where you are in order to know what to expect, if you do so I'm sure that El Salvador will reward you with a wonderful experience.

    When in San Salvador don't forget to visit the National Archealogical Museum, it's a brand new building with a very interesting collection of pieces (it's actually an anthropological museum, so its an interesting starting point to learn some of the history of the country). The collection is well presented and starts with the first civilizations of El Salvador (more than 10,000 yrs. old), followed by the Mayas, Pipiles, Lencas et al. the arrival of the Spanish, religion and culture, ethnography, etc.

    I think everyone agrees that salvadoreans are very warm and friendly people. The forests, mountains, lakes, beaches, small villages all combined add to the charm and character of this sunny place.

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    El Convento de Calvario-Romero Center
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    • Ken_Weaver
  • Updated By Ken_Weaver on February 18, 2003
  • El Salvador Page by Ken_Weaver
    • Mural on Wall of El Centro de Romero in Suchitoto - El Salvador
    Mural on Wall of El Centro de
    Romero in Suchitoto
    by Ken_Weaver
    After the civil war 1980-1992, the convent was converted into a cultural and retreat center named El Centro de Romero, after the assassinated Archbishop, Oscar Alnulfo Romero. Much of the history of that time is commemorated inside the walls of this building. On the outside of the building is a mural in memory of not only Romero but also a local martyred priest by the name of Father Palacios who was assassinated on June 21, 1979 in Santa Tecla. He is now buried in the local church here in Suchitoto, Santa Lucia.

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    Roadside Attractions
  • Tip Rating:
    • Ken_Weaver
  • Updated By Ken_Weaver on February 19, 2003
  • El Salvador Page by Ken_Weaver
    • Roadside Stand on the Costa Del Sol Road - El Salvador
    Roadside Stand on the Costa
    Del Sol Road
    by Ken_Weaver
    I am always cautious about roadsite food booths but here was one that apparently was okay because I didn't get sick! I didn't try the oyster cocktail but the pupusas and ice cold beer were great and generally safe. I wouldn't eat uncooked foods at vendor booths. This booth was just outside the entrance to the Pacific Paradise Hotel on the Costa del Sol(see travelogue of same name!)

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    Montecristo Cloud Forest
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    • furioso
  • By furioso on September 27, 2002
  • El Salvador Page by furioso
    • El Salvador General Tips
    by furioso
    The area where the borders of El Salvador, Honduras and Guatemala converge receives 200cm (80in) of annual precipitation, experiences 100% humidity and rises to an elevation of 2400m (7900ft) - ideal conditions for a cloud forest. In the Montecristo cloud forest, oak and laurel trees grow to 30m (98ft), and their leaves form a canopy impenetrable to sunlight. Ferns, orchids, mushrooms and mosses coat the forest floor, and the local wildlife includes rare and protected spider monkeys, two-fingered anteaters, pumas, agoutis, toucans and striped owls.

    The cloud forest is in the Parque Nacional Montecristo-El Trifinio, northeast of sleepy Metapán and a four hour bus ride due north of San Salvador.

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    Visiting El Salvador?

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    Map of Central America
  • Tip Rating:
    • Ken_Weaver
  • Updated By Ken_Weaver on February 19, 2003
  • El Salvador Page by Ken_Weaver
    • On the Pacific Coast South of Guatemala - El Salvador
    On the Pacific Coast South of
    Guatemala
    by Ken_Weaver
    El Salvador is located on the Pacific Ocean Coast south of Guatemala and Honduras. It is the most densely populated country in Central America.

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    El Salvador is very different...
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  • By mercure101 on August 27, 2002
  • El Salvador Page by mercure101
    • El Salvador General Tips
    by mercure101
    El Salvador is very different from the rest of the Central American countries, for one not many tourists. It's an authentic place for the more adventurous travel. Nature is overwhelming and it's ideal climate make it a year round destination for the traveller.

    Discovering a country working hard for a better future, friendly faces and an authentic nature.

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    In the town of Suchitoto,...
  • Tip Rating:
    • Ken_Weaver
  • Updated By Ken_Weaver on February 19, 2003
  • El Salvador Page by Ken_Weaver
    • View from inside La Posada Restaurant looking out - El Salvador
    View from inside La Posada
    Restaurant looking out
    by Ken_Weaver
    In the town of Suchitoto, about 45 miles north of San Salvador is a restaurant and hotel called La Posada. My friend had told me that this was the most romantic place that he had ever been to. Our group kind of 'ho, hummed' when he told us that but were we amazed when we walked into this incredible place. The establishment looks likes its two hundred years old but it was build in 1996 by a Swiss National who has lived in ES for many years. The complex sits on a thousand foot cliff looking out to the north over Lago de Suchitlan. The food was superb( I am a career food service director) and incredibly cheap. The restaurant is open air but there are no insects. The wonderful latin music adds to the ambience. See my Suchitoto Page for details on Restaurant and Hotel.

    My group works with an organization called AGROS which helps the people of C.A to own property, grow crops on their own land and break the chain of poverty. We worked on a bridge project for a week. The people there are so incredibly industrious and grateful. I was very touched by their invitation to spend a night in their home with their family of five girls. They treated me like a king. Even though they owned only one fork they offered it to me at dinner. See my El Milagro Page for more details on the project and the people.

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    Map of El Salvador
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  • Updated By MarcG on March 3, 2003
  • El Salvador Page by MarcG
    • Map of El Salvador - El Salvador
    Map of El Salvador
    by MarcG
    If you make San Salvador your home base you can easily travel from one end of the country to another and always be back in your hotel for dinner!! The country is small and therefore very manageable, you can easily visit several sites in one day.

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    Nature!
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  • By MarcG on March 3, 2003
  • El Salvador Page by MarcG
    • El Salvador General Tips
    by MarcG
    When traveling to El Salvador keep in mind that this a great place for nature lovers. You'll find national parks, beaches, lakes, mountains, volcanoes and much more. The tourist infrastructure is not too developed but all this adds to the charm and authenticity of the place.

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    More El Salvador Tips
    Overview
         		Hotels and Accommodations
    Tips: 41 - Photos: 63
    Things To Do
    Tips: 109 - Photos: 185    		Nightlife
    Tips: 16 - Photos: 17
    Transportation
    Tips: 26 - Photos: 25    		Restaurants
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    Shopping
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    Tips: 38 - Photos: 43
    Tourist Traps
    Tips: 12 - Photos: 22    		Warnings or Dangers
    Tips: 25 - Photos: 15
    Local Customs
    Tips: 16 - Photos: 27    		Packing Lists
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    Tips: 7 - Photos: 7    		General Tips
    Tips: 41 - Photos: 32
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