El Salvador is the smallest country of Central America which is why it’s also known as the “Tom Thumb of the Americas.” There are a million things that make the country a focal point for tourism (which has been the fastest growing sector of the Salvadoran economy) so I thought it’d be good to share some of them in this article.
If you’re looking for an escape from the cold or you just enjoy tropical weather, El Salvador is a great choice. The country only has two seasons, the wet season from May to October and the dry season from November to April, but it’s temperature remains warm all year long. Many say that it has the perfect temperature because it’s not overwhelmingly hot and the breeze also provides a nice balance.
The food is out of this world. Like in many other countries, El Salvador counts with many traditional delicious restaurants that offer all kinds of food also from various parts of the world but, the local cuisine is exquisite. The base of many local dishes is corn which is used to make tamales, atole, pasties, pupusas which are the most famous dish of the country, between many other dishes. Other very commonly used ingredients are cassava, plantains and beans. On the more exotic side, some reptiles are also used in the Salvadoran kitchen such as “garrobo,” the pelibuey which is a domestic sheep is also consumed in some areas of the country. Salvadorans also have many local soups, drinks such as “horchata” and “cebada” and snacks in between meals from the local cuisine which are to die for.
The country is very well known for its beaches. Regardless of which beach you go to; they all have something different to offer. “La Costa del Sol” is one of tourist’s top choices because of it’s hospitality, variety in restaurants and entertainment. “El Tunco” is the beach that offers the best ambiance during the night time, it has various bars and restaurants that make it the perfect place to visit with some friends. El Salvador is one of the most popular surfing destinations in the world and many people including Paul Walker have visited the country simply for that reason. The intensity and elevation of the waves from the Pacific Ocean make the beaches a perfect place to practice surf and aquatic sports. El Salvador is also popular for it’s lakes, the most visited are “Lago de Coatepeque” and “Lago de Ilopango due to their richness in nature, aquatic sports and fishing.
Looking for adventure? El Salvador’s got you covered with a wide variety of extreme sports. El Salvador has many open areas in which some extreme sports that are practiced include but are not limited to rappelling, flyboarding, parapenting and parasailing. El Salvador also has many forests, mountains and volcanoes that make it amazing for hiking.
If you like history, you might want to look into visiting El Salvador. Many years ago the territory was occupied by the Olmecs, followed by the Mayans, the Toltecs, the Pipil and finally, the Spaniards, who conquered the country. So you can only imagine how many historic places there are to visit and learn from. Some of the most important archaeological sites of El Salvador and Central America are “Joya de Cerén”, “San Andres”, “Casa Blanca”, “Tazumal” and “Cihuatán”.
Other places in El Salvador which are worth visiting are, Puerta del Diablo (Devil's Door), the metropolitan cathedral, the national museum of anthropology between other museums such as the Museum of the Word and Image, the National Theatre of San Salvador, “Monumento al Divino Salvador del Mundo” which is a very popular monument, the National Palace and the churches "Basílica Sagrado Corazón de Jesús" and "Iglesia del Calvario."
Some of the most famous festivities in El Salvador are “Carnaval de San Miguel” which is a carnival that takes place every year in the city of San Miguel during the month of November; “Dia de los Farolitos” takes places in September and it is a day to celebrate the eve of the birth of Virgin Mary for which everyone places lanterns outside of their home (in different positions to create shapes sometimes) and light up the town of Concepción de Ataco and the city of Ahuachapán. “Fiestas Agostinas” are the festivities that take place in August, these celebrations are a great time to appreciate processions, parades and other unique events.
If you are a shopaholic don't worry, El Salvador has the largest mall in Central America so I'm sure you'll find some stores to shop from. There are many well known stores in the country such as Forever 21 and Zara between others but there are also flea markets that sell all kinds of traditional hand made products.
So there you have it, some aspects about El Salvador that make it worth the visit, it definitely has a lot to offer but my favorite part about it is the people. All Salvadorans are friendly and caring. They also have the most welcoming heart and they know how to turn even the dullest situations into a positive environment. So it is guaranteed that wherever you go in El Salvador, you will be welcome and you will have a great time.
