MAIN Travel Central America El Salvador

Although sometimes best remembered for civil strife during the 1980's, El Salvador today is a top tourist destination in Central America - populated by warm, friendly people with landscapes ideal for incredibly scenic outdoor adventure.

To promote national tourism, El Salvador has built 14 tourist and recreational areas located along the Pacific coast, famous for pristine beaches that are a popular favorite for surfing and diving. Sandy beaches range from white to black (and many other colors in between) due to ancient volanic activity in the high mountains, today ideal for hiking.

San Salvador is the bustling capital city filled with shopping malls, a hopping nightlife, many fine restaurants, and even a Wendy's and McDonalds. While here, be sure to tour nearby Spanish colonial architecture dating back to the 1700's as well as even more ancient Mayan ruins such as San Andres - considered to be the best preserved in El Salvador and only a short drive from the capital.

Also don't miss a day tour to La Libertad, one of the country's best beaches conveniently located in San Salvador's backyard.

Because of the billions that poured into the country during he 1980's, the American dollar is the chief currency throughout the country and, although Spanish is still the common language English is widely spoken in major tourist spots. May to November is the rainy season, so travelers up north can make of El Salvador a perfect winter travel escape.

More about El Salvador around the Web:

Welcome to El Salvador - Main tourist portal with descriptions of top travel spots & destination throughout the country, a restaurant guide, practical travel tips, event calendar, photo gallery & videos.

El Salvador Travel Guide and Travel Information - Lonely Planet - The complete picture including its history, when to go and how to get around, major attractions, typical travel costs and special looks at San Miguel, San Salvador, La Libertad, the charming little town of Santa Ana, and other popular tourist spots with maps and photos.

What You Need to Know About Living in El Salvador - A Forgotten Beauty - Insider guide by a British national living in San Salvador with tips on buying land and property, shopping, major and nearby tourist attractions, safety concerns.

El Salvador travel guide - Wikitravel - Excellent overview of El Salvador's long history along with advice on top attractions, suggested hotels & restaurants, getting around by car or bus, practical health and safety tips, photos, related resources.