El Salvador
Republic of El Salvador
Central America · SLV
Editorial Snapshot
Why Go To El Salvador
El Salvador fits travelers who want a compact Central America trip built around surf towns, volcano views, and a few colonial or archaeological stops rather than a long multi-country overland route. It works best as a focused circuit from San Salvador through one highland or heritage stop and one stretch of coast, not as a rushed attempt to cover every region in a few days.
Popular For
Things To See
- San Salvador
- Ruta de las Flores
- Suchitoto
- El Tunco
- Santa Ana Volcano
- Joya de Ceren
Best Months
Know Before You Go
- November through March is the easiest broad season for first visits.
- The country is compact, so one road-based route usually works better than constant hotel changes.
- El Salvador pays off most when you mix coast and highlands instead of treating it as only a surf stop.
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Flights
Hotels & Accommodations
Compare stays across major booking options
Open hotel and accommodation options for El Salvador.
Guidebooks
📚Browse El Salvador Guidebooks on AmazonTours & Activities
Country Data
Stats At A Glance
Practical travel, safety, climate, and quality-of-life stats for El Salvador.
Quick Facts
- Capital
- San Salvador
- Population
- 6,029,976
- Area
- 21,041 km²
- Region
- Central America
Languages
- Spanish
Currency
United States dollar ($)
USD
1 USD = 1.00 USD
Cost of Living (World Bank)
42.1
Price level index (US = 100)
- Groceries
- 42.5
- Restaurants
- 34.4
- Rent
- 16.6
Safety & Peace
higher score = safer everyday environment · derived from World Bank homicide data
lower score = more peaceful · 1.0–3.5 scale
Monthly Climate Averages
These weather averages are based on data for San Salvador (13.70°N, 89.20°W).
LGBTQ+ Friendly
26/100
Traveler LGBTQ score
- Legal protections
- 20/100
- Lived safety
- 37/100
This score blends legal protections with lived-safety context so strong laws alone do not automatically push a country to the top of the ranking.
- Homosexuality legal✅
- Relationship recognitionNone
- Adoption recognition❌
- Anti-discrimination laws❌
- Employment protections❌
- Legal gender recognition❌
- Conversion therapy ban❌
Human Development Index (UNDP)
0.678
Medium human development
- 5-year change
- +0.008
- 10-year change
- +0.010
- Trend
- stable
- Data year
- 2023
- Gender Dev. Index (GDI)
- 0.983
- Gender Inequality Index (GII)
- 0.362
- Planetary-adjusted HDI (PHDI)
- 0.638
UNESCO World Heritage Sites (1)
- 🏛️
Joya de Cerén Archaeological Site
Inscribed 1993
Natural Beauty (World Bank)
- Protected land area
- 8.3%
- Forest cover
- 27.5%
Source: World Bank.
Wildlife & Birdwatching
- Threatened mammal species (IUCN)
- 6
- Threatened bird species (IUCN)
- 9
Source: World Bank / IUCN Red List. Higher counts indicate richer biodiversity, typically in tropical rainforest, island, and savannah ecosystems.
Food & Cuisine
40/100
Food and dining score
Built from two layers: dining-scene breadth and open prestige signals. We combine restaurant density, cuisine diversity, distinguished restaurants, and gastronomy-city recognitions from open data sources.
Luxury Infrastructure
81/100
Luxury & premium accommodation score
Based on OpenStreetMap luxury hotel density and World Bank international tourism receipts.
US Travel Advisory
Exercise normal precautionin Slovenia. Slovenia is generally a safe destination for travelers. Travelers should take standard precautions against petty crime, such as pickpocketing and purse snatching. These crimes are common in tourist areas, city centers, and transportation hubs. Use caution at night. Review our Travel Guidance for Slovenia to learn how to prepare for a safe trip. Exercise caution in the Julian Alps: follow local guidance, check the weather closely, dress appropriately, and never hike alone.
Read full advisory →Data current as of July 2026 and subject to change. Travel advisory information is sourced from the U.S. State Department and reflects conditions at the time of data collection, not real-time conditions. Do not rely solely on this information for travel decisions. Always check current government advisories for your nationality. Terms of Use · About our data