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El Salvador travel guide

A small Central American country for short, easy-to-plan trips in December and January

Best: Jan, Dec

Photo: 15238630 / Pixabay

Capital
San Salvador
Language
Spanish
Currency
United States dollar (USD)
Time zone
UTC-06:00
Plugs
Type A, B · 115 V
Driving
On the right
Emergency
911

Why visit El Salvador

El Salvador covers just 21,041 km², so it suits a short, compact trip. You can base yourself in San Salvador, Santa Ana or San Miguel. The currency is the US dollar, which makes budgeting simple for many visitors. The best months to go are December and January. That is also the honest limitation: the best window is only 2 months long. If you plan to travel at another time, check conditions for your dates before you book.

  • A small country to cover

    El Salvador covers only 21041 km2, the smallest area in this region of Central America. Its main cities are San Salvador, Santa Ana, San Miguel and Ahuachapán, so you can see several regions on one trip.

  • Clear timing: December and January

    The best months to visit are December and January. If you can only travel at other times of year, check the weather for your dates before you book. Outside these months, conditions are less reliable.

  • Easy money and power

    The currency is the United States dollar, so travellers from the US do not need to change money. Plugs are type A and B at 115 V, which suits North American devices without an adapter.

  • Cities of different sizes

    San Salvador, the capital, has about 330543 people. Santa Ana has about 250760 and San Miguel about 232887. Ahuachapán is smaller, with about 127301. All of these main cities are inland, not on the coast.

  • Practise your Spanish

    Spanish is the official language, spoken across a country of about 6029976 people. It is a good place to use and improve your Spanish in daily life, from buses to markets.

Is El Salvador right for you?

Great for

  • Dry-season trips in January and February, with under 1 rain day and 3 mm of rain
  • Sun seekers from January to April, with 11 or more sun hours a day
  • US travellers: it uses the US dollar, 115 V power and type A and B plugs
  • Short trips taking in several places, as the country covers only 21041 km²
  • Spanish speakers, as Spanish is the only language listed

Less ideal for

  • Trips from May to October, when most months see 20 to 28 rain days
  • Heat-sensitive travellers in March and April, when daily highs top 33 °C
  • Travellers with no Spanish, since it is the only language listed

El Salvador right now: October

6.0/10
Avg high
28°C
Avg low
20°C
Rain days
24

Averages for El Salvador.

Weather by month

Based on 2015–2024 data for El Salvador (the data names no single city), December and January are best: they are dry, with 11 mm and 3 mm of rain, highs near 31°C and about 11 hours of sun a day. Avoid March to May and July to August, when highs reach 33.5°C or rain falls on 20 to 25 days a month.

Average highs and lows in El Salvador by month January: high 32°C, low 18°C , 1 rain days . February: high 33°C, low 18°C , 1 rain days . March: high 34°C, low 20°C , 4 rain days . April: high 33°C, low 21°C , 14 rain days . May: high 31°C, low 21°C , 25 rain days . June: high 28°C, low 20°C , 26 rain days . July: high 31°C, low 20°C , 20 rain days . August: high 30°C, low 20°C , 24 rain days . September: high 29°C, low 20°C , 28 rain days . October: high 28°C, low 20°C , 24 rain days . November: high 29°C, low 19°C , 12 rain days . December: high 31°C, low 18°C , 3 rain days . 32°C 18°C JAN 1d 33°C 18°C FEB 1d 34°C 20°C MAR 4d 33°C 21°C APR 14d 31°C 21°C MAY 25d 28°C 20°C JUN 26d 31°C 20°C JUL 20d 30°C 20°C AUG 24d 29°C 20°C SEP 28d 28°C 20°C OCT 24d 29°C 19°C NOV 12d 31°C 18°C DEC 3d
Best months Other months (low–high) Nd = rain days

El Salvador (country average) · averages 2015–2024

Best time to visit El Salvador: month-by-month weather →

Sample itineraries

7 days

Cities and Volcano Country in a Week

  1. Day 1–3

    San Salvador

    Settle into the capital, home to about 330,543 people. Use these days to explore the city center and adjust before heading out to the smaller towns.

  2. Day 4–5

    Santa Ana

    Take the 1-hour bus from San Salvador to Santa Ana, a city of 250,760 people. Spend two days wandering its streets and day-tripping around the western highlands.

  3. Day 6–7

    Ahuachapán

    Ride the short 1-hour bus from Santa Ana to Ahuachapán, population 127,301. Finish the trip in this smaller town before heading back out.

10 days

Four Cities of El Salvador in Ten Days

  1. Day 1–3

    San Salvador

    Start in the capital, home to 330,543 residents. Spend the first three days getting oriented in the country's largest city.

  2. Day 4–5

    San Miguel

    Take the 2-hour bus east to San Miguel, a city of 232,887 people, for two days in the eastern part of the country.

  3. Day 6–8

    Santa Ana

    From San Miguel, loop back toward San Salvador and continue on to Santa Ana (population 250,760) by bus, roughly 1 hour from the capital. Spend three days exploring this western city.

  4. Day 9–10

    Ahuachapán

    Close the trip with a 1-hour bus ride from Santa Ana to Ahuachapán, population 127,301, for two final days before departing.

Getting around El Salvador

Typical journey times and fares between the main places.

Route By Time Price
San Salvador → Santa Ana Route 201, run by TUDO (Transportes Unidos de Occidente) and SEISABUS. The Panamericana service takes about 1 hr: $0.85 regular or $1.35 especial (mostly air-conditioned, fewer stops). The old road via Santa Tecla and Coatepeque takes about 2 hr: $1 regular or $1.50 especial. No advance booking; pay on board. Fares come from a traveller wiki and may be out of date. bus 1 h 0.85–1.5 USD ↗
San Salvador → San Miguel Route 301 from Terminal Plaza Amanecer in Soyapango. The regular 'directo' leaves about every 15 min from about 3am to 5pm and takes about 2.5–3 hr ($2.78, per a traveller report). The Super Especial (A/C, toilet) costs $5 and takes about 2 hr. It runs less often and stops outside next to the gas station beside San Miguel terminal. The timetable shown is from 2017, so check it locally. bus 2 h 2.78–5 USD ↗
San Salvador → Ahuachapán Route 202 runs about every 10 min during the day and costs about $2. Ahuachapán has no central terminal. Buses to San Salvador stop on the edge of town, so take a moto-taxi (tuk-tuk) there. If route 202 is not running, take 210 to Santa Ana and then 201. The fare comes from a traveller wiki and may be out of date. bus 2 h 15 min 2 USD ↗
Santa Ana → Ahuachapán Route 210 leaves the Santa Ana bus terminal about every 15 min and takes about 1 hr–1 hr 20 min. Reported fares range from $0.48 to $1. It skips Chalchuapa town; for Tazumal ruins take bus 218. In Ahuachapán you can connect to Ruta de las Flores buses. bus 1 h 0.48–1 USD ↗

Staying connected

If your phone plan doesn't include El Salvador, an eSIM set up before you leave gives you data on arrival.

Food to try in El Salvador

Pupusas

Thick corn tortillas stuffed with cheese, beans or pork, then cooked on a griddle. They are the best-known Salvadoran dish, sold at small pupuserías across the country, often in the evening.

Curtido and salsa roja

Curtido is a lightly fermented cabbage slaw with carrot and vinegar. It is served with a thin tomato sauce next to pupusas, and you add both on top as you eat.

Yuca frita con chicharrón

Fried cassava served with crispy pork pieces, curtido and tomato sauce. It is a common street and market snack, and a filling one.

Plátanos fritos

Fried ripe plantains, usually eaten with refried beans and thick cream. You will often see them on a typical Salvadoran breakfast plate.

Tamales

Corn dough wrapped in banana leaves or corn husks and steamed. Common kinds are filled with chicken or pork, and sweet corn tamales are also popular.

Salvadoran horchata

A cold, sweet drink with a nutty, spiced taste. The Salvadoran version is based on ground morro seeds, unlike the rice-based horchata of Mexico. Look for it at markets and small restaurants.

Know before you go

  • Plugs and voltage: Sockets take type A and B plugs, the flat-pin kind used in the United States. The supply is 115 V. If your devices only work on higher voltage, bring a converter, not just an adapter.
  • Driving side: Traffic drives on the right. If you are used to driving on the left, take extra care at junctions and when you pull out onto the road.
  • Emergency number: Call 911 for emergencies. Save the number in your phone before you arrive, so you do not have to look it up when you need it.
  • Currency: El Salvador uses the United States dollar (USD). Visitors from the United States will not need to change money, and anyone else can bring dollars from home.
  • Language: Spanish is the official language. Learning a few basic phrases will help with transport, shops and asking for directions.
  • Time zone: The whole country is on UTC-06:00. Check the time difference with home before you book calls or connecting transport.
  • Calling code: The international calling code is +503. Add it before a local number when you call from a foreign phone.

El Salvador: frequently asked questions

Is El Salvador good to visit in August?

August is rated a weaker month, with a score of 3.9 out of 10. It has 23.8 rain days and 209 mm of rain, with highs around 30.1°C. Sun hours drop to 10.4, so expect frequent afternoon showers typical of the rainy season.

When is the best time to visit El Salvador?

The best months are December and January. December scores 6.9 and January scores 7, the highest of the year. Both months have low rainfall, around 3 mm with under 1 rain day, plus around 11 hours of sunshine and highs near 31–32°C.

What is the weather like in El Salvador in the rainy season?

From May to October, rain is frequent, with September seeing the most rain days (28.3) and June the most rainfall (287 mm). Temperatures stay warm, with highs between 28°C and 31°C, but sun hours fall to 9–10.5, lower than the dry season.

How do I get from San Salvador to Santa Ana?

A bus from San Salvador to Santa Ana takes about 1 hour and costs between 0.85 and 1.50 USD. It's the shortest of the main inter-city routes listed, making it an easy day trip from the capital.

What currency and plug type does El Salvador use?

El Salvador uses the United States dollar (USD) as its currency. The country runs on 115 V electricity with plug types A and B, the same as the US, so American travellers won't need an adapter.

Is October a good time to visit El Salvador?

Yes, October is rated good with a score of 6 out of 10. Rainfall is still fairly high at 204 mm over 24.4 days, but this is lower than the peak wet months of June and September, and highs sit around 28°C.

Similar destinations

Countries with a year of weather much like El Salvador.