"4 Years, 9 Months, and 24 Days in El Salvador" Top 5 Page for this destination El Salvador by thelukey

El Salvador Travel Guide: 753 reviews and 2,204 photos

Once upon a time, roughly 3.5 years into the nearly 5 years that I spent living in El Salvador, I briefly toyed with the idea of writing a guidebook to El Salvador, since the only country-specific book available at that time was out-of-date, frequently inaccurate, and woefully incomplete. However, after a few fact-finding missions, I decided that someone else would have to come along and write the definitive El Salvador guidebook. I’ll be content to limit myself to using this page (which is still far from complete) to get the word out about some of my favorite destinations in the “Magic Corner” of Central America, places such as the popular surfer’s beach at El Sunzal, west of the port of La Libertad (pictured above).

Iglesia El Rosario, San Salvador

The El Rosario church is without a doubt my favorite place in all of San Salvador. From the outside it looks like a big, dingy gray tire set on its edge and sunk into the earth, but the light that enters through the stained glass patterns that adorn three sides of the church makes the interior a unique, mystical, enchanting respite from the noise and bus fumes outside.

What I Really Love Most About El Salvador

My wife, María Luisa.

Pros and Cons

Pros:nice beaches, extremely friendly and generous people, volcanoes, and few tourists
In a nutshell:Central America at its most authentic

Last visit to El Salvador: Aug 2010
Intro Updated May 6, 2011
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Reviews (48)

Four Legs are Better Than Two? Transportation (8)

I mounted a horse twice during the time I spent in El Salvador, and both times someone ended up on the ground. The first... more travel advice

Truly an All-Terrain Vehicle - El Salvador

Where There is No Border Crossing Transportation (8)

Nowadays, there’s a nice little bridge over the Río El Sumpúl that connects the village of Petapa (in the municipality... more travel advice

Lost and Found in El Sicahuite - El Salvador

Wandering Around Northern Chalatenango,... Off The Beaten Path (12)

Wandering around northern Chalatenango, there’s always a chance that you’ll get lost. One day my friend Liam and I... more travel advice

The Sumpúl River at Petapa - El Salvador

Wandering Around Northern Chalatenango,... Off The Beaten Path (12)

The community of Petapa, located in the municipality of El Carrizal, used to be one of those many places in Chalatenango... more travel advice

Things to Do (8)
See All Apaneca
Sports & Outdoors (1)
Liga Mayor de Fútbol
Warnings and Dangers (4)
See All Don’t Come Looking for Nature
Shopping (8)
See All Eating Flowers

Hotels (5)
See All The Cabins at El Manzano
Tourist Traps (1)
El Salvador's Archeological Sites
Restaurants (1)
The Best Meal I’ve Had In El Salvador
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Travelogues (1)

Written May 15, 2005

8 photos

Peace Corps El Salvador Travelogue

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Comments (7)

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Durfun May 11, 2010 at 10:44 AM

Fine pages here. Thanks.
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MalenaN Mar 14, 2009 at 11:20 AM

Excellent tips, they are very usful!There are many places I want to visit in El Salvador, but I will only be there for about 10 days.
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FranciscoV Sep 13, 2007 at 8:07 AM

Obviously the tamales you were used to eat were not made the right way or the people that made them did not know how to, maybe I can have my mother send you some so you will try the real ones.
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RoqueMocan Nov 19, 2006 at 1:02 AM

In your pupusas story you ask us to stop and try to name a famous salvadorean... (thinking...) What about model Christy Turlington? Ok, Ok, this is only 50% (or less) true, as only her mother is from El Salvador and she was not born here!
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hindu1936 Oct 17, 2006 at 6:28 AM

Nice to know that tourism is recognized as a money making enterprise and steps have been made to accomodate it. I don't use them, but goverment concern does promote safety. nice comments& photos, thanks for the info
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thelittlevoice Jul 10, 2005 at 4:58 AM

Nice page. I hope to get there in Oct.
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quime May 19, 2005 at 2:57 PM

Great page for El Salvador, sorry i missed the San Rosario Church.