Solo Travel in El Salvador: The Complete Guide
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El Salvador is one of my absolute favorite destinations that I have visited in Central America. To be honest, it took me a while to consider visiting due to safety concerns based on news articles about drug based crime. However, I was pleasantly surprised at how safe I felt as a solo traveler in El Salvador. Here, I share my experience in this complete guide to solo travel in El Salvador.
General information about El Salvador:
El Salvador is the smallest country in Central America. This makes traveling to different destinations within the country fairly quick. It also makes the destination perfect for a short trip, especially for travelers coming from the United States or other Central American countries.
The San Salvador airport is a major hub for the Avianca airline. This means there are many direct flights from other Central American cities and many cities in the United States.
Currency in El Salvador:
El Salvador uses US dollars as its official currency. This makes the destination ideal for US travelers as there is no need to exchange currency.
Interestingly, Bitcoin is also an official currency in El Salvador. So, if you’ve got Bitcoin, you can use that as well.
Best time of year to visit El Salvador:
El Salvador’s dry season is from December to March. If you are looking for sunny days, this is the best time to visit.
The rainy season in El Salvador lasts from May to October. Peak rainfall is seen from June to September. However, even if you visit during the rainy months, typically rain storms occur in the afternoon.
Holidays and Festivals in El Salvador:
Visiting El Salvador during different holidays and festivals can be an incredible experience. It is also smart to be mindful of when events and holidays are taking place, as accommodations will book up quickly during those times as well.
Semana Santa:
Especially if you plan on visiting beaches or popular tourist destinations in El Salvador, be sure to book your accommodations early if you plan on visiting during Semana Santa. This is the time that many El Salvadorans will also be taking their beach vacations as well.
The exact dates of Semana Santa vary each year, but it is the week from Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday.
Other holidays in El Salvador:
Other holidays and festivals in El Salvador include:
Independence Day: September 15 is the day El Salvador gained independence from Spain. Celebrations include fireworks and parades.
Fiestas Julias: This celebration in Santa Ana commemorates the town’s patron saint. Celebrations include parties and parades. The festival occurs during the last week in July.
Carnaval de San Miguel: This holiday occurs during the last week of November. During the week-long party, people celebrate with live music, parties, and lots of drinking and dancing. People visit San Miguel from all over to celebrate Carnaval.
Is Solo Travel in El Salvador Safe?
One of the biggest concerns I faced when planning to solo travel in El Salvador was safety. In recent history, El Salvador has faced many concerns with drug-based crime. When I was planning my trip, many of my friends and family expressed their concern about this with me.
However, after researching for myself I found that tourist destinations in El Salvador were very safe for tourists visiting. Of course, take the standard precautions that every solo traveler should regardless of the destination.
Overall, I found people in El Salvador were very kind, friendly, and welcoming to tourists. Tourism is beginning to take off in El Salvador which continues to benefit local communities and businesses.
Is El Salvador Safe?
Overall, I felt very safe as a solo traveler in El Salvador. I never faced any situations in which I felt unsafe.
Some precautions to take during solo travel in El Salvador:
Don’t get involved with drugs:
Most crime in El Salvador revolves around drug gangs. Purchasing drugs is illegal in El Salvador and of course will put you in potentially dangerous situations.
Don’t carry large amounts of cash or valuables:
As a solo traveler, I only ever carry the amount of cash I will need in a day with me. I keep the rest in a safe place in my accommodations. I also never carry my debit card with me except when I need to visit an ATM. This minimizes the risk of theft and losing access to your funds.
Don’t drive late at night:
Driving across El Salvador is very safe and the major highways are all very well maintained. You will find some smaller roads will be gravel or dirt roads. Though safe during the day, driving between cities late at night can be unsafe so plan your driving during daylight hours.
If your flight arrives in San Salvador in the evening or late at night, you may want to consider booking a hotel in the city and traveling to your next destination in the morning.
Solo Female Travel in El Salvador:
As a woman, I found solo travel in El Salvador very safe. I never experienced any situation that made me feel uncomfortable or unsafe. Taking the standard precautions that any female solo traveler should take will help to keep you safe in El Salvador as well.
I also rented a car and drove in El Salvador. Overall, I felt very safe driving as a solo female traveler. Driving during the day is very safe. There are a few police checkpoints throughout the country, especially as you enter larger towns.
If you are not comfortable driving by yourself, hiring a driver or taking buses between cities are also safe options.
Best Places to Visit for Solo Travel in El Salvador:
Though it is the smallest country in Central America, there is no shortage of amazing places to visit in El Salvador.
If you love hiking:
El Salvador is a great destination for hikers and outdoor adventure lovers. Have you ever hiked a volcano? Take a day trip to the Santa Ana volcano or El Boqueron and spend a morning hiking a volcano and taking in some amazing views.
If you are concerned about safety while hiking alone, rest assured that there are options to join a tour for these hikes.
For security, you must join a guide to hike the Santa Ana volcano. When I visited, there were several other travelers in the group. A guided hiking tour is a great way to meet other travelers who love the outdoors.
If you love food and culture:
Be sure to visit the Ruta de las Flores to learn more about El Salvador and see life in the small towns.
If you are a foodie, you will not want to miss the gastronomy festival that happens every weekend in the town of Juayua.
Vendors from all over the country come to set up their booths serving traditional Salvadoran dishes from pupusas, churrascos, and delicious seafood from the coast.
If you love the beach:
El Salvador is quickly becoming a popular surf destination. Whether you’re an experienced surfer, want to learn, or just want to enjoy watching the waves El Salvador’s beaches.
Best Transportation for Solo Travel in El Salvador:
Renting a car:
Renting a car makes getting around El Salvador incredibly easy. The main roads and highways are all well maintained and as the country is very small, you can easily visit multiple places within a day by driving.
For safety, you should only drive between cities or towns during the day as there is a risk of safety concerns when driving at night.
Buses:
If you prefer not to drive, buses are an affordable option to travel between cities in El Salvador. You will see brightly painted and decorated school buses all over the country. The destination of the bus is displayed on the front. Generally a bus ride between cities or towns will cost somewhere between $2-5 USD.
Taxis and Uber:
For getting around within the city, hiring a taxi is a good option as well. In San Salvador, Uber is readily available as well, though it is less common in rural areas of the country.
Best Accommodations for Solo Travel in El Salvador:
La Libertad:
Hands down, this was my absolute favorite hostel in El Salvador, and one of my favorites in all of Central America. Dorms start at $18 USD per night and there are private rooms available as well, some with outdoor showers!
The main highlights of this hostel are security, an amazing pool with a view of the ocean, a great restaurant and bar on site, and the beach is just a few steps away. The wifi is strong and if you plan on working you can also pay extra for high speed wifi as well.
LaGarza is tucked away on a quiet street in La Libertad so the beach is also very quiet and secluded.
When I visited, there were several other solo travelers, and while relaxed, was a fairly social hostel as well.
La Ruta de las Flores:
This is hands down my favorite guest house I have ever stayed in. Currently Casa Victoria is only listed on Airbnb, though the set up is more like a traditional bed and breakfast. See the host Claudia’s listings to view all available rooms in Casa Victoria. (Note: She also hosts other properties in El Salvador as well)
There are several private rooms available with one or two beds and a private ensuite bathroom. The common areas in the courtyard are perfect for relaxing.
I spent a week working from here and the wifi was more than sufficient for my work needs, including taking video calls.
The staff at Casa Victoria are so kind and provide a delicious breakfast and coffee every morning.
San Salvador:
There are not many hostels yet in San Salvador, and as I like to have a private room at the end of a trip to give myself more space, I opted to stay in a hotel as there was more selection.
Las Magnolias Hotel Boutique is located in a very safe area of the city in the San Benito neighborhood.
It is next door to a small shopping mall and many restaurants are within walking distance. If you’ve got a car, they have free onsite parking as well.
The wifi was very strong, and I was able to work and take video calls from the hotel.
Private rooms start at $54 per night and have hot water. Breakfast is included as well.
While I have not yet stayed here myself, La Zona Hostel is the top rated hostel in San Salvador. Located in the San Benito neighborhood, it is in a very safe area of the city.
Only shared dorms are available, though the beds are arranged pod style with a privacy curtain. Beds start at $16.15 USD per night.
Tours are available to book through the hostel as well. Reviews show the hostel to be very clean and quiet.
Final Thoughts on Solo Travel in El Salvador:
With its tourism industry growing, El Salvador is quickly becoming a popular travel destination in Central America. And it’s so easy to see why. I am so glad I decided to travel solo in El Salvador to see for myself and experience all this amazing Central American country has to offer.
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