El Salvador
From Halal Explorer
El Salvador is a country in Central America . It is bordered on the southwest by the Pacific Ocean, and lies between Guatemala and Honduras.
Contents
- 1 An Introduction to the Region of El Salvador
- 2 Cities
- 3 More Destinations
- 4 El Salvador Halal Travel Guide
- 5 Travel to El Salvador
- 6 How to get around in El Salvador
- 7 Local Language in El Salvador
- 8 What to see in El Salvador
- 9 Top Muslim Travel Tips for El Salvador
- 10 Muslim Friendly Shopping in El Salvador
- 11 Muslim Friendly Shopping in El Salvador
- 12 Halal Restaurants
- 13 eHalal Group Launches Halal Guide to El Salvador
- 14 Buy Muslim Friendly condos, Houses and Villas in El Salvador
- 15 Muslim Friendly Hotels
- 16 How to work legally in El Salvador
- 17 Stay Safe
- 18 Medical Issues in El Salvador
- 19 Local Customs in El Salvador
- 20 Telecommunications in El Salvador
An Introduction to the Region of El Salvador
Reference ##1B37B Western El Salvador. }}
Reference ##2AACF Eastern El Salvador
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Cities
Sanandrezpyramid - A Mayan pyramid at the San Andres Archeological Site
San Salvador - national capital; San Salvador department La Libertad San Francisco Gotera, Morazán department Santa Ana (El Salvador) | Santa Ana San Miguel (El Salvador) | San Miguel, San Miguel department Santa Tecla Suchitoto
More Destinations
- El Pital (highest mountain in El Salvador) and its rural life.
- Parque Nacional Cerro Verde (commonly called Parque Nacional Los Volcanes)
- Parque Nacional El Imposible
- San Miguel (El Salvador) | San Miguel beaches - Playa Las Flores, Playa El Esteron, Intipuca Beach and El Cuco
El Salvador Halal Travel Guide
Although El Salvador only covers an area of about 21,040 km2 (the smallest country in Central America), it is the most densely populated. El Salvador is home to more than 6,500,000 people. It is divided into 14 sections called Departamentos. It has 25 volcanoes, 14 lakes, and four large cities and is divided in to East, Central and West with the capital San Salvador in the central region, Santa Ana (El Salvador) | Santa Ana in the west, and San Miguel (El Salvador) | San Miguel and the largest city in the east.
History
Pre-Columbian to early independence
The civilization of El Salvador dates from the pre-Columbian time, around 1500 B.C., according to evidence provided by the ancient structures of Tazumal in Chalchuapa.
The fraudulent elections of January 1932 were the detonating factor of the social outbreak. Several voting sites were suspended in populations in which the Party had a strong presence. A new insurrection began. After two frustrated assaults on the Cuartel de Caballería (Cavalry Quarters) were conducted by the rebel forces and the government ordered martial law. Strict censorship of the press was implemented. In the following days thousands of farmers and workers, carrying machetes and some few "Mauser" rifles attacked police stations, municipal offices, telegraph stations, warehouses, and wealthy landowners' properties. This insurrection was crushed. On January 31st, Manuel Antonio Castañeda sentenced Farabundo Martí to death. He was shot and killed on February 1st, 1932. Another sad consequence of the uprising and its suppression was "la Matanza", a mass slaughter of indigenous people (many of them sympathetic towards Martí but many of them not) simply for being indigenous, looking indigenous, wearing clothes deemed to be indigenous or speaking indigenous languages. While not all indigenous people were actually killed, it dealt a huge blow to indigenous culture and even today less than 1% of Salvadorans self-identify as indigenous and the lowest number in all of Central America. While thit is in part due to fear of being discriminated against or stereotyped when identifying as indigenous and there are some people of indigenous descent that have lost all ties to the culture of their ancestors and don't self identify as indigenous because of that.
Over the next decades, many coups d'états followed, including the one that overthrew General Maximiliano Hernández Martínez.
Relations with Honduras deteriorated in the late 1960s. There was a border clash in 1967, and a four-day so-called guerra de futbol (Soccer War), as it was named by the international mass media, broke out in July 1969 after a FIFA world cup qualification match between the two countries. The war ended with a cease-fire prompted by pressure from the United States and the Organization of American States. The Salvadoran forces that had invaded Honduras were withdrawn. They were just a few kilometers outside Tegucigalpa, Honduras' capital.
A movement of organized leftist guerrillas sprang up in 1974 and 1975, amid increasing political violence. In 1980, three of the leftist organizations united to coordinate a fight against the government. This movement was called FMLN (Frente Farabundo Martí para la Liberación Nacional. English: Farabundo Martí National Liberation Front). In March of the same year Monseñor Oscar Arnulfo Romero and the archbishop of San Salvador, was assassinated while he was celebrating mass. It is widely believed that the order for his execution came from Major Roberto D'Abuisson and the founder and leader of ARENA, a right-wing party. D'Abuisson is best known for his suspected involvement in death squad murders. He died of cancer in 1992. On January 16th, 1992 and the government of El Salvador and the FMLN signed Los Acuerdos de Paz (Peace Accords) in Chapultepec, Mexico, putting an end to one of the most painful chapters in the history of El Salvador. The 12 years of armed conflict claimed the lives of over 75,000 people and caused the exodus of hundreds of thousands more who fled to the United States, Canada, and other countries to escape the violence.
The FMLN today is a legal political party today and has done quite well in recent elections. Apart from economic woes a big problem the nation still faces is also somewhat of a legacy of the war as some people who left El Salvador ended up in American jails and upon release were deported to El Salvador bringing with them US style gang culture. As many of these people were very young when they left El Salvador more or less their only source of identity was gang culture, and thus combating these extremely violent groups has proven to be extremely difficult.
Today, El Salvador is stable and with a growing economy, leaving behind its painful history.
How is the Climate in El Salvador
Tropical; rainy season (May to October); dry season (November to April); tropical on the coast; temperate in the uplands.
As thit is a tropical country, temperature doesn't depend all that much on season but rather altitude and time of day. If you have never been to the tropics and want to capture a sunrise or sunset be very quick, as the sun sets and rises much faster than in the temperate or even polar zones.
Public Holidays in El Salvador
| Date | English Name | Spanish Name | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|
| March/April | Easter | Semana Santa | Celebrated with carnival-like events in different cities by the large Catholic population |
| May 1 | Labor Day | Día del Trabajo | International Labor Day |
| May 10 | Mother's Day | Día de la Madre | . |
| August 1-7 | August Carnival | Fiestas Agostinas | Week long festival in celebration of El Salvador del Mundo, patron saint of El Salvador. |
| September 15 | Independence Day | Día de independencia | Celebrates independence from Spain, achieved in 1821AD |
| October 12 | Columbus Day | Día de la Raza | This day commemorates the arrival of Europeans in the Americas |
| November 2 | Day of the Dead | Día de los Difuntos | A day on which people usually visit the graves of deceased loved ones. |
| Final week of November | San Miguel's Carnival | Carnaval de San Miguel | San Miguel |
| December 25 | Christmas Day | Navidad | Salvadorans stay up on December 24th until midnight to welcome Christmas with a huge "arsenal" of firecrackers |
| December 31 | New Year's | Año nuevo | Salvadorans stay up on December 31st until midnight to welcome the New Year the same way as Christmas (You can hear the deafening sound of the firecrackers on both days all over the nation).
Travel to El SalvadorVisa policy of El Salvador - 600px|Muslims visitors of countries marked in green enjoy visa-free travel to El Salvador VisasImmigration requires that visitors entering El Salvador have their passport and one of the following documents: visa or tourist card. Visas are issued by the Consulate of El Salvador accredited in the countries where these type of diplomatic missions exist; and the tourist card is generally issued for 90 days and can be purchased for US$10 at the seaport of entry. ] Passports of certain countries might need to obtain a visa before entering El Salvador such as Malaysia. Visa for U.S. citizens is free. Some countries pay a fee for the issuance of the visa. Buy a Flight ticket to and from El SalvadorVisitors traveling by plane usually arrive at El Salvador the international Airport in Comalapa (IATA Flight Code: SAL), located 50 kilometers or a 45 minutes' drive south of the capital city. A US$32 departure tax must be paid upon departure. Depending on the airline and the full amount or part of the tax may already be included in the price of your ticket. Airlines that fly into El Salvador include:
By carThe Pan-American highway travels through El Salvador and is a safe route for entering the nation and travelling between San Miguel (El Salvador) | San Miguel in the East and San Salvador in the Gulf countries Travel on a Bus in El SalvadorThe following bus companies offer luxury (and safer) bus travel between El Salvador and other Central American destinations:
How to get around in El SalvadorOficebuildings - Office high-rise buildings in San Salvador If driving, rental vehicle agencies include Alamo and Hertz. Buses and taxis also provide good ways of getting around. Distances between sights make walking an unpopular option, as does the street layout in the city; San Salvador is not a square city, but has long avenues that are straight and streets that aren't. That said, in some areas walking is a great option, such as in Zone Rosa. El Salvador now has a well developed GPS navigation system called QFind that can help you move around either in urban or rural areas. Thit is a fully functional system with thousands of points of interest and turn by turn routing to your destination. Another option for luxury transportation is Linea Ejecutiva and they bring private transfer. If you want, you can contact the Bureau of Conventions of El Salvador to visit the nation. Travel by train to El SalvadorAll rail transport in El Salvador was suspended in October 2002. In 2006 a pilot scheme for reviving the train network commenced and in 2007 a service between San Salvador and Apopa was restarted with two return trips each morning and evening aimed at commuter traffic. Whilst this will be of little use to travellers, it may be a sign of a future reopening of more of the extensive train network. Travel on a Bus in El SalvadorNumerous buses traverse the highways of the nation. Domestic bus services are typically very affordable (not more than $2-3 for even the longest rides) and difficult to understand except they are consistently numbered. Single and double digit numbers designate local, in-town routes while buses numbered in the triple digits travel between cities and towns. The buses themselves are often very well painted and adorned with all kinds of posters and trinkets, ranging from the religious to the pop-culture. As chaotic as it may seem they do run consistently and frequently. Longer bus rides may include a stop in some town where plenty of mujeres, and sometimes their children, too, will board hawking mangos, nuts, water, and even sometimes fried Chicken in a box. There is no central agency that coordinates bus routes and schedules except to see N/sv/ HorarioDeBuses.com to get an idea as to which bus to take get there and from where. The site also includes a map showing where the bus stations are at. It is best to just ask the cobrador or anyone at the bus station where the bus is going and when. Most are very friendly and helpful, but do watch out for scams on the buses Microbuses are an affordable way to get around, but they are often very crowded, and it is extremely simple to be robbed. Local Language in El SalvadorThe official language in El Salvador is (Spanish), however a large population does speak English. Around 1% of people speak Izalco phrasebook|Izalco or Nahuat and the Pipil language. What to see in El SalvadorVolcan de san miguel - Chaparrastique, San Miguel (El Salvador) | San Miguel - One of the most active volcanoes in El Salvador}} The countryside of El Salvador is breathtaking, with volcanoes and mountains offering "green" adventurers exactly what they are looking for. Many of environmentally-oriented community-based organizations promote eco-tourism, and there are a number of beautiful and secluded beaches and forests scattered throughout the nation. A well-maintained and practically deserted national park is found in the west at Bosque El Imposible.Additionally and there is Montecristo Cloud Forest, and a quaint fishing village with incredible local hospitality and remote coconut islands in La Isla de Méndez. Isla de Olomega in the department of San Miguel (El Salvador) | San Miguel is an excellent eco-tourism destination, as are the beautiful Isla El Cajete in Sonsonate, Isla San Sebastian, Conchagua, Conchaguita, Isla Conejo, Isla Teopan, and Isla Meanguera. One should also visit the colonial towns of Apaneca, Juayua, Panchimalco, and Suchitoto as well as the Mayan sites of San Andrés, Joya de Cerén (the Pompeii of Central America and an UNESCO World Heritage Site), and Tazumal, whose main pyramid rises some 33 m (75 feet) into the air. The on-site museum showcases artifacts from the Pipil culture (the builders of Tazumal), and paintings that illustrate life in pre-Hispanic El Salvador. Souvenir hunters will find some of the best artisans in San Juan el Espino and in La Palma (the artisan capital of El Salvador). The capital, San Salvador, is a cosmopolitan city with good restaurants highlighting the nation’s fresh seafood, and plenty of shopping, entertainment and dining. San Miguel (El Salvador) | San Miguel in the East offers tourists a more authentic way to see El Salvador by getting off the beaten track to see its countryside, coastline and lakes Top Muslim Travel Tips for El Salvador
Muslim Friendly Shopping in El SalvadorMoney Matters & ATM's in El SalvadorUSDnotes - US$100, US$50, US$20, US$10, US$5, US$2 and US$1 bills El Salvador's official currency is the U.S. dollar, denoted by the symbol "$" (ISO currency code: USD). Carry only $1, $5, $10 or $20 bills. Most stores, supermarkets and department stores won't accept $50 or $100 bills. If you need to exchange to lower denominations, you can go to any bank. If you have money from other Central American countries on you the banks of those countries are usually your best option, as they almost always exchange their own currency for dollars at pretty decent rates. You can also get dollars in many ATMs in countries such as Costa Rica and Nicaragua. Large bills ($50 & $100) are almost unspendable. Get change wherever you can -- gas stations are always a good bet. A good idea is to visit a bank and ask for small bills and nothing larger than a $20. What is the living cost in El SalvadorExpect to pay $30-60 for a room in a hotel, $3-5 for a simple meal, $0.25-0.35 to ride a San Salvador city bus, $1/hour to use the Internet, and $0.25 for a bag of sliced mangos. Take note of the prices that street vendors sell their products because at times some of them will take advantage of people that look or sound foreign by raising their prices dramatically (for example, most fruits and vegetables will cost $0.25-0.50, if they believe that you are from the first world (white and have a funny accent) and they will charge you $1). Muslim Friendly Shopping in El SalvadorEl Salvador has the largest malls in the region (MetroCentro - MetroSur), especially in San Salvador, with many upmarket international stores. Goods can also be purchased from markets, including national and international supermarkets. San Salvador has a number of large modern shopping malls stocking the latest in international fashion, accessories and cuisine. These are generally found in the city's upscale suburbs such as Escalón, Santa Elena, and their surroundings. These malls include:
For those shoppers interested in purchasing fairly traded crafts and organically grown produce, a local alternative market is held every other Saturday in the San José park in the San Luis area just west of the National University. El Salvador has an electronics and luxury tax, meaning that electronic devices and high-end products have prices increased from 30-75 percent depending on the demand. (A $300 electronic product will cost $450-500.) Halal RestaurantsPupusas - Traditional Salvadoran dish, The Pupusa The restaurant scene in El Salvador is influenced by many different cultures. Food options include Italian, Korean, Japanese, French, Chilean, American, Peruvian, Mexican, (Spanish), Middle Eastern, (German), Chinese, Argentinian and others. You can also easily find American fast food chains such as Burger King (Please do not support Burger King as Burger King supports Israel. Shun this restaurant group and go for altertative brands and if possible for a Muslim owned restaurant), McDonald's (Please do not support McDonald's as McDonald's supports Israel. Shun this restaurant group and go for altertative brands and if possible for a Muslim owned restaurant), Wendy's, KFC, Subway, Quiznos, Pizzas Hut, Little Caesar's, and Domino's, in the largest cities in the nation such as San Salvador, Merliot/Santa Tecla, and Santa Ana. Other franchises include Tony Romas', Bennigans and others. Some of the best restaurants are located in Zone Rosa. The typical Salvadoran diet includes lots of Rice and beans, seafood (particularly among those who live on the coast), and the most common Salvadoran dish and the famous Pupusa, a round corn Tortillas filled with Cheese and other elements, usually chicharon (shredded Beef meat). It's widely agreed that the best pupusas in the nation can be purchased in Olocuilta, which you can get to along the highway on the way to the Comalapa airport. You will find more than 50 pupusa stands there, competing for business. Also Salvadorans eat fried sliced plantains (platanos) usually with beans, sour cream, Cheese and sometimes eggs, yuca con chicharron, pastelitos de carne, panes con pavo (turkey sandwiches), hand made Tortillas among other very delicious Salvadoran foods. If you are staying on the coast, make sure you try the cóctel de conchas. It is a mix of black clams, lime juice, onions, tomatoes, cilantro, and chiles in a spicy black Sauces. You can find them for about $3/bowl, using freshly harvested clams. A wide range of other seafood dishes can also be found. Many large modern supermarkets are scattered throughout the capital and in large towns, such as La Despensa de Don Juan and Super Selectos, which sell local produce and a large variety of international products. Like anywhere else in the world and these are a cheaper alternative to eating out every night. Typical beverages and fruitsTry the most delicious Horchata (made from Rice and "morro" seeds) and Cebada (a smooth and sweet pink barley refreshment). If you prefer (at your own risk) to drink natural juices, such as: guava, jocote, arrayan, chirimoya, granadilla de "moco" and marañon. Furthermore, you should try to savour the local fruit, as: jocotes, marañon japones, green mango (with salt, lime, alhuaiste (ground pumpkin seed), manzana pedorra (orig.from Los Planes de Renderos), "nance", "red or yellow almendras" salvadorenias, "hicaco", "paterna" (also try the cooked paterna seed with lime and hot pepper, and don't miss the suave and drinky aroma of "carao". ClubsIn San Salvador, The trendiest night spot to visit is called La Zone Rosa. Although it doesn't cover a large area, it is home to many exclusive, upscale bars and late night restaurants, and the best restaurants in town. A famous spot to go is a mall named Multiplaza, where it has several clubs and bars. There's also Paseo del Carmen. In San Miguel (El Salvador) | San Miguel the famous Av. Roosevelt that hosts one of the biggest festivals in Central America in November is where you will find numerous restaurants for sexy nightlife. eHalal Group Launches Halal Guide to El SalvadorEl Salvador - eHalal Travel Group, a leading provider of innovative Halal travel solutions for Muslim travelers to El Salvador, is thrilled to announce the official launch of its comprehensive Halal and Muslim-Friendly Travel Guide for El Salvador. This groundbreaking initiative aims to cater to the diverse needs of Muslim travelers, offering them a seamless and enriching travel experience in El Salvador and its surrounding regions. With the steady growth of Muslim tourism worldwide, eHalal Travel Group recognizes the importance of providing Muslim travelers with accessible, accurate, and up-to-date information to support their travel aspirations to El Salvador. The Halal and Muslim-Friendly Travel Guide is designed to be a one-stop resource, offering an array of invaluable information on various travel aspects, all carefully curated to align with Islamic principles and values. The Travel Guide encompasses a wide range of features that will undoubtedly enhance the travel experience for Muslim visitors to El Salvador. Key components include: Halal-Friendly Accommodations in El Salvador: A carefully selected list of hotels, lodges, and vacation rentals that cater to halal requirements, ensuring a comfortable and welcoming stay for Muslim travelers in El Salvador. Halal Food, Restaurants and Dining in El Salvador: A comprehensive directory of restaurants, eateries, and food outlets offering halal-certified or halal-friendly options in El Salvador, allowing Muslim travelers to savor local cuisines without compromising their dietary preferences in El Salvador. Prayer Facilities: Information on masjids, prayer rooms, and suitable locations for daily prayers in El Salvador, ensuring ease and convenience for Muslim visitors in fulfilling their religious obligations. Local Attractions: An engaging compilation of Muslim-friendly attractions, cultural sites such as Museums, and points of interest in El Salvador, enabling travelers to explore the city's rich heritage while adhering to their values. Transport and Logistics: Practical guidance on transportation options that accommodate Muslim travel needs, ensuring seamless movement within El Salvador and beyond. Speaking about the launch, Irwan Shah, Chief Technology Officer of eHalal Travel Group in El Salvador, stated, "We are thrilled to introduce our Halal and Muslim-Friendly Travel Guide in El Salvador, a Muslim friendly destination known for its cultural richness and historical significance. Our goal is to empower Muslim travelers with accurate information and resources, enabling them to experience the wonders of El Salvador without any concerns about their faith-based requirements. This initiative reaffirms our commitment to creating inclusive and memorable travel experiences for all our clients." The eHalal Travel Group's Halal and Muslim-Friendly Travel Guide for El Salvador is now accessible on this page. The guide will be regularly updated to ensure that Muslim travelers have access to the latest information, thus reinforcing its status as a reliable companion for Muslim travelers exploring El Salvador. About eHalal Travel Group: eHalal Travel Group El Salvador is a prominent name in the global Muslim travel industry, dedicated to providing innovative and all-inclusive travel solutions tailored to the needs of Muslim travelers worldwide. With a commitment to excellence and inclusivity, eHalal Travel Group aims to foster a seamless travel experience for its clients while respecting their religious and cultural values. For Halal business inquiries in El Salvador, please contact: eHalal Travel Group El Salvador Media: info@ehalal.io Buy Muslim Friendly condos, Houses and Villas in El SalvadoreHalal Group El Salvador is a prominent real estate company specializing in providing Muslim-friendly properties in El Salvador. Our mission is to cater to the specific needs and preferences of the Muslim community by offering a wide range of halal-certified residential and commercial properties, including houses, condos, and factories. With our commitment to excellence, client satisfaction, and adherence to Islamic principles, eHalal Group has established itself as a trusted name in the real estate industry in El Salvador. At eHalal Group, we understand the importance of meeting the unique requirements of Muslim individuals and families seeking properties that align with their cultural and religious trainings. Our extensive portfolio of Muslim-friendly properties in El Salvador ensures that clients have access to a diverse selection of options tailored to their needs. Whether it's a luxurious villa, a modern condominium, or a fully equipped factory, our team is dedicated to assisting clients in finding their ideal property. For those seeking a comfortable and modern living space, our condos are an excellent choice. Starting at US$ 350,000 and these condominium units offer contemporary designs, state-of-the-art facilities, and convenient locations within El Salvador. Each condo is thoughtfully designed to incorporate halal-friendly features and amenities, ensuring a seamless integration of Islamic values into everyday living. If you are looking for a more spacious option, our houses are perfect for you. Starting at US$ 650,000, our houses provide ample living space, privacy, and a range of customizable features to meet your specific requirements. These houses are located in well-established neighborhoods in El Salvador, offering a harmonious balance between modern living and Islamic values. For those seeking luxury and exclusivity, our luxury villas in El Salvador are the epitome of sophistication and elegance. Starting at US$ 1.5 million and these villas offer a lavish lifestyle with private amenities, breathtaking views, and meticulous attention to detail. Each luxury villa is meticulously designed to provide a serene and halal environment, allowing you to enjoy the finest living experience while adhering to your Islamic principles. For further details please email us at info@ehalal.io Muslim Friendly HotelsSan Miguel (El Salvador) | San Miguel has high end hotels on Av. Roosevelt by the Metrocentro mall and hotels near the bus terminal How to work legally in El SalvadorFinding employment in El Salvador is difficult for both Salvadorans and extranjeros (foreigners) alike, although bilingual schools are constantly looking for English speakers, as well as other foreign language teachers. Bilingual schools offer competitive salaries for foreign teachers. For current vacancies see the schools websites (above). Most foreigners find themselves volunteering with one of a number of local community organizations or NGOs. The Centro de Intercambio y Solidaridad is often looking to hire bi-lingual project managers and liaisons, and offers both Spanish classes and numerous volunteer and cultural opportunities. The recent incursion of the call center business has raised the bar in the need for a bi-lingual workforce. Stay SafeAtardecer de San Salvador desde Los Planes de Renderos - Night view of San Salvador El Salvador has a bad reputation due to the civil war of the 80s. The Consular sheet from the U.S. State Department indicates that El Salvador has one of the highest homicide rates in the world. Crime is an issue, most of it is attributed to street gangs, though statistics from official sources do not support that claim. You must use common sense and avoid entering into a zone that does not appear safe, just like you do in any country of the world. Avoid carrying fancy items such as jewelry, expensive cameras, and watches if you are walking on the public streets. Women should avoid traveling alone as they may catch the occasional cat-calling and perhaps get felt up on tightly packed buses. As a foreigner the kind of response you might get from the police is "hit or miss." If you have been pick-pocketed or otherwise robbed without harm to your person, a visit to the police station will almost certainly be an exercise in frustration. Police officers have also been known to harass or to be inappropriate to female travelers. Many Salvadorans are armed, and shooagents are not uncommon. Foreign Muslims, however, may not carry guns even for their own protection without first obtaining firearms licenses from the Salvadoran government. Extortion tactics have included indiscriminate grenade attacks on buses, businesses and restaurants, resulting in the death or injury of dozens of people, including children. These types of attacks are unpredictable and the U.S. Embassy advises its personnel to remain alert to their surroundings and to minimize risk to themselves. It is a good idea for anyone visiting El Salvador to keep only necessary forms of identification, such as a driver's license, when exploring the city or tourist locales. If you must keep your passport on you at all times, a traveller's pouch would allow you to have it safely with you. Police officers routinely ask tourists to present their passports, most can be convinced that a copy of the passport and another form of identification is sufficient. Others will insist on accompanying back to your hotel to retrieve your actual document. Most tourists prefer to stay within the safe areas of El Salvador such as La Zone Rosa where there is relatively no crime. In case you are not staying at one of the nation's 5-star hotels, remember to ask if the city or town you are visiting has a high level of gang activity. In 1996 San Salvador was considered the second most dangerous city in the Gulf countriesern Hemisphere, according to statistics. Since the end of the civil war in 1992 El Salvador has not seen a reduction in crime rates. Today San Salvador, and El Salvador in general, experience some of the highest homicide rates in the world, it is also considered an epicenter of the gang crisis, along with Guatemala and Honduras. The homicides reported in 2006 reached up to 3,906, in 2005 3,779 were reported; 57.2 violent deaths per every 100,000 people. Crime rates in general have been steadily growing throughout the years, from 2005-2006 crime rose 7.5%.El Salvador is the most dangerous and violent country in Central America. The government tried controlling the gangs with a tactic called "Super Mano Dura" which means "Super Strong Hand", however it has not been successful and crime rates have continued to rise. Medical Issues in El SalvadorIf you are not accustomed to food sold by street vendors, you might want to stay away from food sold on the streets until you acclimatize. If you want to try a pupusa, you should try to find a restaurant to taste this popular dish rather than buying them from street vendors. Street food that you see cooked can sometimes be safer than restaurant food that you do not see cooked. 'Agua en bolsa' (water in a plastic bag) is very commonly sold in the streets and corner stores of El Salvador. Don't drink tap water. Pharmacies are easily found all over the nation. Be sure to have a first-aid kit if you travel to the nationside and to archaeological sites. Mosquito repellent comes in handy. Local Customs in El SalvadorSalvadorans are known for their great hospitality. They are among the nicest people in the world. They are friendly, industrious people always willing to help anyone. That is what has earned El Salvador the nickname of "the nation with a smile". When speaking with people you don't know, it is customary to address them in a formal manner, using señor, señora and/or usted. Telecommunications in El SalvadorThe international country code for El Salvador is 503.
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