Central America · UN member
El Salvador: Travel Guide & Requirements
Republic of El Salvador
El Salvador is a country in Central America with its capital in San Salvador. It has a population of 6.4 million (#112 in the world) and covers 21,041 km². The official language is Spanish. The currency is the United States dollar (USD, $).
Where is El Salvador? Map of El Salvador
Central America, bordering the North Pacific Ocean, between Guatemala and Honduras.
- Region
- Central America
- Coordinates
- 13.8333° N, 88.9167° W
- Neighbours
- 2 — see list
- Coastline
- 307 km
- El Salvador
- Neighbours
- Capital
- Largest cities
Map of El Salvador showing San Salvador (capital) and the largest cities: San Miguel, Santa Ana, Acajutla and Sensuntepeque.
Travel requirements
What you need to travel to El Salvador
- Passport
El Salvador's migration regulation (Art. 25) says every foreigner seeking to enter El Salvador must present a passport valid for more than six months, unless a treaty, convention or agreement on the matter applies or th…
- Visa or eTA
Depends on your passport: of 198 passports, 88 need no visa, 3 need an eVisa, 107 need a visa from an embassy. Check yours or see El Salvador entry requirements for every passport.
- Return or onward ticket
El Salvador's migration regulation (Art. 25) says foreigners entering as non-residents must have a return or onward ticket when travelling by commercial transport; a private aircraft must present its flight plan, and se…
- Proof of funds
El Salvador's migration regulation (Art. 25) says foreigners entering as non-residents must show documents proving solvency or economic capacity, according to the means of proof and minimum amount set by the Dirección G…
- Travel insurance
No official requirement.
- Vaccinations
The UK government says that to enter El Salvador you must have a certificate to prove you've had a yellow fever vaccination if you're coming from a country listed as a transmission risk.
- Customs allowance
The UK government says to declare cash or travellers' cheques if the value is USD 10,000 or more.
- Travel advice
Safe to visit — US and UK advice.
Entry rules: TravelRequirements.info — Entry Requirements Dataset (CC BY 4.0), each rule cited to an official government source. Always confirm with the airline and the official source before you travel.
Before you go
10 things to know before you travel to El Salvador
- Safety: Yes — El Salvador is generally safe to visit: the US State Department rates El Salvador Level 1 (“Exercise Normal Precautions”), and the UK Foreign Office has no warnings against travel there.
- Best time to go: November to March — when daytime highs in San Salvador are around 29–31°C.
- Money: the United States dollar (USD) — 1 euro is about 1.1222 USD.
- Plugs: type A and B, 115 V, 60 Hz — low-voltage country: devices made only for 220–240 V need a voltage converter. Phone and laptop chargers (100–240 V) only need a plug adapter.
- Emergency numbers: Police 911, Ambulance 132, Fire 913.
- Language: Spanish is official.
- Driving: on the right — speed limits are 50 km/h in built-up areas and 90 km/h outside built-up areas.
- Time zone: UTC-6 in San Salvador.
- Capital: San Salvador. About 6.4 million people live in El Salvador.
- Outdoors: 4 national parks.
Key facts
El Salvador at a glance
Languages spoken: Spanish (official), Nawat (among some indigenous)
Geography & history
About El Salvador
El Salvador achieved independence from Spain in 1821 and from the Central American Federation in 1839. A 12-year civil war, which cost about 75,000 lives, was brought to a close in 1992 when the government and leftist rebels signed a treaty that provided for military and political reforms. El Salvador is beset by one of the world's highest homicide rates and pervasive criminal gangs.
Location
Central America, bordering the North Pacific Ocean, between Guatemala and Honduras
Climate
tropical; rainy season (May to October); dry season (November to April); tropical on coast; temperate in uplands
Terrain
mostly mountains with narrow coastal belt and central plateau
Highest point
Cerro El Pital 2,730 m
Natural resources
hydropower, geothermal power, petroleum, arable land
Natural hazards
known as the Land of Volcanoes; frequent and sometimes destructive earthquakes and volcanic activity; extremely susceptible to hurricanes volcanism: significant volcanic activity; San Salvador (1,893 m), which last erupted in 1917, has the potential to cause …
National symbols
turquoise-browed motmot (bird)
Driving
Speed limits & road rules in El Salvador
The default speed limits in El Salvador are 50 km/h in built-up areas and 90 km/h outside built-up areas. The legal alcohol limit for drivers is 0.5‰. Posted signs always take priority over these defaults.
- 5050 km/hBuilt-up areasTowns and cities
- 9090 km/hOutside built-up areasCountry roads
- International Driving PermitNot a party to the IDP conventionsCheck with the embassy whether your licence is accepted
- Driving sideDrive on the rightOvertake on the left
- Alcohol limit0.5‰ blood alcohol (0.05% BAC)
- Seat beltsRequired by law
- Child seatsRequired by law
- Motorcycle helmetsRequired for riders
- Road deaths (2021)21.5 per 100,000 peopleHigher than most countries (median 12.4)
Speed limits: OpenStreetMap wiki — Default speed limits (CC BY-SA 2.0). Road-safety laws: WHO Global Health Observatory. Compare speed limits and alcohol limits by country. Defaults for cars; local signs, weather and vehicle type can lower them.
Safety
Is El Salvador safe to visit?
Yes — El Salvador is generally safe to visit: the US State Department rates El Salvador Level 1 (“Exercise Normal Precautions”), and the UK Foreign Office has no warnings against travel there.
US State Department
UK Foreign Office (FCDO)Latest update: Removal of information about Tropical Storm Cristina.
Updated 17 Jun 2026 · Full travel advice
Sources: US Department of State travel advisories (public domain) and UK FCDO foreign travel advice (contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0). Checked daily. Advice can change quickly — always read the official page before you travel.
Weather
Best time to visit El Salvador
The best time to visit El Salvador is November to March, when daytime highs in San Salvador are around 29–31°C. April is also a good time to go. March is the warmest month (31°C by day), January the coldest (22°C at night), and September the wettest with about 283 mm of rain.
- Jan30°C22°C
- Feb31°C23°C
- Mar31°C24°C
- Apr31°C25°C
- May30°C25°C
- Jun29°C25°C
- Jul30°C25°C
- Aug29°C25°C
- Sep28°C25°C
- Oct28°C24°C
- Nov29°C23°C
- Dec29°C22°C
Best time Good Less ideal
Before you go
Plugs, voltage & emergency numbers in El Salvador
Plugs & sockets
115 V, 60 Hz · Low-voltage country: devices made only for 220–240 V need a voltage converter. Phone and laptop chargers (100–240 V) only need a plug adapter.
Emergency numbers
Save the local numbers before you travel — 112 or 911 may not connect here. All countries →
Sources: Wikipedia — Mains electricity by country and List of emergency telephone numbers (CC BY-SA 4.0).
National parks
4 national parks in El Salvador
- 60 km² protected
- oldest from 1987
Largest: El Imposible National Park · Montecristo National Park · El Boqueron National Park
Currency · 26 October 2026
United States dollar exchange rates today
El Salvador uses the United States dollar (USD, $).
What other currencies cost in USD
Currency converter
Daily reference rates from the open-source currency-api (CC0), 26 Oct 2026. Banks and exchange offices add a margin.
World rankings
Where El Salvador ranks
How El Salvador compares with the rest of the world — open any card for the full ranking.
Airports
Airports in El Salvador
27 airports and airfields — 1 large, 1 medium and 25 small, plus 0 heliports. 2 have scheduled passenger flights.
Borders
Neighbouring countries
El Salvador borders 2 countries along 590 km of land borders. Coastline: 307 km.
Military
Salvadoran armed forces
El Salvador ranks #127 of 145 in the Global Firepower military strength ranking, with a defence budget of $490 million (2025).
People
Population & society
Religion
Largest cities: San Salvador (1.1 million)
Economy
Economy
Main industries
food processing, beverages, petroleum, chemicals, fertilizer, textiles, furniture, light metals
Export partners
USA 36%, Guatemala 17%, Honduras 15%, Nicaragua 8%, Costa Rica 5% (2023)
Top exports
garments, plastic products, electrical capacitors, raw sugar, toilet paper (2023)
Travel tools
Handy before every trip to El Salvador
Next public holiday
Day of the Dead — Monday, 2 November 2026. Then National Pupusa Festival (7 Nov).
Salvadoran passport
Ranked #76: 81 countries visa-free, 34 with visa on arrival, 4 with an eTA and 37 with an eVisa.
Salvadoran passport photo
Exact size, head position and background for El Salvador's passport and visa photos — make one free with AI checks.
Calling El Salvador
Dial +503 before the local number. Internet domain .sv.
Climate footprint
9.0 million tonnes of CO₂ in 2024 — 1.42 t per person.
Entry requirements
Visa rules for every passport visiting El Salvador: visa-free stays, eVisas, visas on arrival and documents to bring.
News
Latest travel news about El Salvador
Travellers to Haiti Face Growing Military Presence After Gang Ambush
Three flights of Salvadoran soldiers landed in Haiti on 23 October 2026, adding to 100 special forces sent earlier, as rescue teams search for soldie…
El Salvador travellers face deportation risk as TPS court challenges limited
A June 2026 Supreme Court decision means federal courts cannot review most challenges to ending Temporary Protected Status (TPS). Around 1 million pe…
Haiti travel alert: hunt on for four missing El Salvador techs after attack
El Salvador has deployed special forces to Haiti to help find four of its aviation technicians missing after a gang attack in Croix-des-Bouquets. Hai…
Frequently asked questions about El Salvador
What do I need to travel to El Salvador?
How long must my passport be valid for El Salvador?
Where is El Salvador?
What is El Salvador known for?
What is the capital of El Salvador?
What language is spoken in El Salvador?
What currency does El Salvador use?
What is the calling code of El Salvador?
Which countries border El Salvador?
How strong is the Salvadoran passport?
What is the speed limit in El Salvador?
Is El Salvador safe to visit?
When is the best time to visit El Salvador?
What plug type does El Salvador use?
How many airports does El Salvador have?
Sources: CIA World Factbook (public domain); World Bank Open Data (CC BY 4.0); names, languages and currencies: mledoze/countries (ODbL); flag: flag-icons (MIT); coat of arms: Wikimedia Commons (file page); exchange rates: Daily reference rates from the open-source currency-api (CC0); airports: OurAirports.