El Salvador vacation and visitor guide with vacation packages, hotels and cruise deals. El Salvador has enormous natural bonanza, but its greatest treasure are the men, women and children that inhabit it. The city of San Salvador is the prosperous and cosmopolitan capital of the country, having all the modern advantages of a large metropolis and also, in contrast, the historic architecture of the old neighborhoods. With 300 kilometers of coastline, enjoying a tropical climate and sunny days by the seashore is one of the most common occupations of its inhabitants.
El Salvador is served by Comalapa International Airport (Airport Code: SAL) and is located in San Salvador. El Salvador is served by United, Delta, Continental, America West, Northwest, US Airways, Mexicana, Taca and COPA airlines. Visit our Airports & Airlines section for more airport and airline information.
During the last few years, starting with the signing of the Peace Accords in 1992 and the institutionalization of democracy, El Salvador has undertaken a process of economic and social development, placing itself in an outstanding position within the international community.
Locals and outsiders enjoy the most complete and modern tourist infrastructure in places like La Costa del Sol, where the gray sand is the ideal background to sun bathe, practice some sport or simply relax. The eastern coastal area is characterized by having perfect places to reside, and it is there where some of the most beautiful beaches of the country are located.
In the Department of Ahuachapán, the most valuable ecological patrimony of the Salvadoran territory is found. At the El Imposible forest, the diversity of its plant species goes above 350, alternating with innumerable springs of crystal clear water and unspoiled areas. It also shelters more than 350 different species of birds and 500 varieties of butterflies. This park is considered a Cultural Heritage for Humanity and constitutes the last refuge for spectacular animal species. Nancuchiname, El Jocotal Lagoon, the Misty Montecristo Woods, Deininger Park and Cerro Verde are other reserves established for the conservation of the country's flora and fauna. Visit the El Salvador Trade site for more information.
People who take the time to Learn Spanish are able to better enjoy the culture, the people and feel more comfortable traveling.
Passport, Visa & Embassy Information
U.S. citizens must present a current U.S. passport and either a Salvadoran visa or a one-entry tourist card. The tourist card may be obtained from immigration officials for a ten-dollar fee upon arrival in country. U.S. travelers who plan to remain in El Salvador for more than thirty days can apply in advance for a multiple-entry visa, issued free of charge, from the Embassy of El Salvador in Washington, D.C. or from a Salvadoran consulate in Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Las Vegas, Long Island, Los Angeles, Miami, New York City or San Francisco. Non-U.S. citizen travelers are advised to contact a Salvadoran embassy or consulate to determine the entry requirements applicable to them.
El Salvador maintains an embassy in the United States at 2308 California Street NW, Washington, DC, 20008 (tel: 202-265-9671). There are consulates in Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, and San Francisco.
The U.S. Embassy in El Salvador is located at Final Blvd. Santa Elena, Antiguo Cuscatlán, La Libertad (phone: 011-503-278-4444; fax: 011-503-278-6011).
Consular Information Sheets and Travel Warnings also are available on the Consular Affairs Internet home page: http://travel.state.gov. Consular Affairs Tips for Travelers publication series, which contain information on obtaining passports and planning a safe trip abroad, are on the Internet and hard copies can be purchased from the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, telephone: 202-512-1800; fax 202-512-2250.
Travelers can check the latest health information with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, Georgia. A hotline at 877-FYI-TRIP (877-394-8747) and a web site at http://www.cdc.gov/travel/index.htm give the most recent health advisories, immunization recommendations or requirements, and advice on food and drinking water safety for regions and countries.
U.S. citizens who are long-term visitors or traveling in dangerous areas are encouraged to register their travel via the State Department’s travel registration web site at https://travelregistration.state.gov or at the Consular section of the U.S. embassy upon arrival in a country by filling out a short form and sending in a copy of their passports. This may help family members contact you in case of an emergency.
