5 Things You Need to Know Before You Travel to El Salvador

The beauty of El Salvador can be seen walking on the beaches, exploring the national parks, visiting the villages, and even hiking the volcanos.  However, many people choose to focus on the horrible press that this country has received over the years, which means that hardly anyone has had the opportunity to appreciate the best that is available in this part of the world.

You should focus on all the beauty that El Salvador has to offer, and its people. I really enjoyed my trip to El Salvador because it is different, still not yet fully discovered by the influx of tourist.  You can still see the naturalness of the country.

Given everything that is going on in the country, I still recommend it as a place to visit. It is a place for the adventurers. However,  you will need to keep a few things in mind as you are visiting.   Here are 5 tips I will give you before you travel to El Salvador:

Safety

It is still going to be necessary for you to be careful as you are exploring this country in Central America.  While the country is not as bad as it has been in the past, you never know where danger is lurking.  Don’t worry, El Salvador is not any more dangerous than many other major cities in the world, so you just need to know where you are, and who is around you, at all times.

Still Underdeveloped

El Salvador is still reasonably underdeveloped when compared to other parts of the world, but that is because hardly anyone has chosen to visit there in recent years.  As tourism increases in this country, they will begin to develop the area even more, which will give you more to appreciate when you return in the future.

Plan Ahead

El Salvador is not one of the places that you can visit and figure out your itinerary once you arrive.  Instead, you will need to plan ahead to make sure that you have everything, especially your hotel or hostel, booked for each day of your trip.  By doing this, you will ensure that you are seeing the best that the country has to offer, and you won’t miss anything.  It is also best to decide how you will travel throughout the country, as public transportation usually is best if you know what your options and where you want to go beforehand.

Get Vaccinated

Some foreign countries have a few different diseases that are not found in other parts of the world, which is why you will want to make sure that you are up to date on your vaccinations before you leave.  You will also want to check with your doctor to see which shots you do not have and may need to visit El Salvador and not become quite ill.  A few vaccinations that come to mind include hepatitis a, typhoid, malaria, and rabies.  This is a choice, but if you plan to stay mostly in the city, it may not be necessary.

Bring Small Bills for Payments

The US dollar is the currency that is used in El Salvador, but you are encouraged to bring smaller bills with you.  The reason for this is that many smaller businesses and restaurants will not accept more massive bills and some banks may limit how many they will exchange.

Also, make sure your bills are not too wrinkled and ripped because the vendors are very picky. And they may not accept them. You can also wait to get money out of one of the local ATMs, but please make sure that you notify your bank before you travel, or your card may be denied.  You will be without cash for the entire length of your trip.

These are my five things that you will want to keep in mind before you travel to El Salvador because it will make your entire trip more enjoyable and that is what vacations are all about.

I hope you enjoy your trip to El Salvador. While you are in the area, you can take a bus to either Honduras, Nicaragua or Guatemala. They are very long overnight bus rides but well worth the trip and also very a cheap way to travel.

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