To me, El Salvador is a perfect place for great outdoor activities, minus the massive crowds you’ll experience elsewhere. The small El Salvador is situated in Central America and the most densely populated country in the region. A lot of people tend to miss out what El Salvador has to offer to the visitors including its natural forests, beaches and even some of the archaeological sites. I truly enjoy El Salvador and would like to preach its beauty to everyone who plans to touring Central America someday.
Accommodation and Food
The price of a shared hostel dorm room usually start at USD7 and USD20 for a private room. With USD30, you can expect for a night at a nice hotel that will get you a very comfortable bed, air-conditioning and even breakfast. Sounds good, huh? As for the meals, I chose to have simple meals which cost me about USD2-USD3, especially at the street vendors. I didn’t really enjoy any European food or fast food, although they’re available for about USD5, because I’d like to experience the local food more. Overall, food are pretty cheap in El Salvador.
Transportation and Activities
In San Salvador, the city buses usually will cost about USD0.35 and a taxi ride is around USD5 per ride. For a single journey on country wide buses, it cost me less than USD10. Unfortunately, El Salvador does not have any train service. One of the most famous activities in El Salvador includes diving, which cost me around USD75 for this. Other than that, most of the national parks would only cost me a few dollars for entrance fees.
Money Saving Tips
One of the best things about Central America is the fact that fruit is abundant and cheap there. It will only cost just pennies to snack on them. For a bag of mangos, expect to pay around USD0.50. Yes, save money and at the same time it promotes a healthy lifestyle. Even though most hostels and hotels are dirt-cheap, I still think go camping is a good option as well. For half of the cost at a hostel or hotel, I could sleep under the stars with my camping gear and save more money. Hitchhiking is an extremely popular method of getting around in El Salvador. Most locals can’t really afford the bus, therefore, hitchhiking is relatively safe in the country. Just use your common sense to stay safer.
I truly like El Salvador for its simple lifestyle. From the jungle, the good food, the beaches and the always-smiling locals, I think the country deserves more than what it has. Just like most of the other countries in Central America, El Salvador is a laid-back country, definitely a place I would want to spent a long time at. So what are you waiting for, book your flight ticket, pack your things and head to El Salvador!