Read This Before Traveling to El Salvador

I just got back from a life-changing 5 day trip to El Salvador. I thought it would be helpful to do a quick blog post on things to know before traveling here.

COVID-19 Testing and Vaccination Information

As of September 2022, El Salvador has NO testing or vaccination requirement to enter the country. Meaning, that you do not need to take a test or be fully vaccinated to enter the country.

Currency

The country of El Salvador has two currencies- the US dollar and Bitcoin. Cash is king and is pretty widely accepted but I also noticed many shops accepting Bitcoin. My advice- travel to the country with cash. ATMs work fine if you prefer to take out money when you arrive.

Transportation

The main international airport in El Salvador is SAL airport. It's not actually close to the capital, San Salvador. You can catch an uber from the airport into La Libertad or San Salvador.

We hired private transport for our entire trip. I personally didn't dabble in public transportation more than taking uber within the major cities and tourist areas. Our driver can be reached on Instagram here.

Safety

I firmly believe that safety can be a more subjective topic. I felt VERY safe traveling around the country. We personally hired a tour guide/driver to take us around the country. He stayed with us for the majority of the trip. The only time I didn't feel quite as safe was driving. It can get a little wild, so I'd be a bit hesitant to rent a car and drive around the country. But you could totally do it, just be game for a wild ride.

Language

Spanish is the widely spoken language in El Salvador. English isn't as widely spoken so I definitely suggest that you brush up on a little Spanish, or make sure you've downloaded the google translate app (Fun fact: you can download an entire language and use it offline with google translate app!)

I hope this was helpful! Look out for a blog post soon that overviews my entire itinerary for El Salvador.