 Introduction Plenty of breathtaking sightseeing opportunities await the
traveller coming into this most lush of Central American nations.
It is one of the most volcanic places on Earth, which has ensured
fertile soil and a thriving wilderness in its small 8,124 square
miles (21,040km²). Interspersed between the forest, mountains and 21 volcanoes are
the best preserved remains of the Mayan civilisation. A highlight
is Joya de Cerén, all that remains of a Mayan site buried under
volcanic ash 1,400 years ago and today a UNESCO World Heritage
Site. The San Andrés region and the ruins of Tazumal are other
vestiges of this ancient civilisation. Getting around the small country is easily achieved by bus or
taxi. The longest journey is between San Salvador to La Palma and
lasts a meagre four hours, making internal flights redundant. San
Salvador and San Sebastian are the main attractions. The latter is
a popular picturesque beachside resort village, a town of quaint
Romanesque sights and simple beauty. San Salvador, by contrast, is
the hub of a rapidly industrialising country, it is densely
populated and crime-ridden. Still, visitors can enjoy a wide range
of sights in the city; colonial cathedrals and buildings including
the Catedral Metropolitana, St Ignatius Loyola and the Spanish
façade. Atop San Jacinto Mountain one can enjoy a panoramic vista
of the city as well as an amusement park and cable car rides.
Duty Free
Visitors to El Salvador may import the following goods: 200
cigarettes/50 cigars, two litres of alcohol, six units of perfume,
gifts valued up to US$500.
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Customs
The people are warm, welcoming and friendly, however etiquette
in El Salvador can be formal in address. Always use the formal
pronoun '
usted' with strangers and acquaintances, and use titles of
respect. Greetings are common in shops and in passing on the
street, and it is considered rude not to return a greeting. El
Salvador culture is patriarchal and women traditionally show
respect to men. It is considered rude to put your feet up on a
chair or table, or to yawn without covering your mouth.
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Exchange Rate
1 USD = CAD
Real-time currency conversion provided by webserviceX.net |
Passport
All foreign visitors to El Salvador must hold return or onward
tickets, and the required travel documentation for their next
destination. A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required to
enter El Salvador, if arriving within 10 days of leaving or
transiting through the following countries: Angola, Benin, Bolivia,
Brazil, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic,
Chad, Colombia, Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, Ecuador, Equatorial Guinea,
Ethiopia, French Guiana, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau,
Guinea Republic, Kenya, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria,
Paraguay, Peru, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Sierra
Leone, Somalia, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda and Venezuela. NOTE:
It is highly recommended that your passport has at least six months
validity remaining after your intended date of departure from your
travel destination. Immigration officials often apply different
rules to those stated by travel agents and official sources.
| Entry requirements Canadian citizens must have a passport valid for 30 days beyond
the date of their arrival in El Salvador, and are required to
purchase a Tourist Card (fee: USD 10) upon arrival in the country.
No visa is required for a stay of up to three months.
US
citizens must have a valid passport, and are required to
purchase a Tourist Card (fee: USD 10) upon arrival in El Salvador.
No visa is required for a stay of up to three months.
British
citizens must have a valid passport. British passport
holders do not require a visa; unless their passports are endorsed
'British National (Overseas)', in which case they require a stamped
visa with telex authorisation for entry into El Salvador.
Canadian
citizens must have a passport valid for 30 days beyond
the date of their arrival in El Salvador, and are required to
purchase a Tourist Card (fee: USD 10) upon arrival in the country.
No visa is required for a stay of up to three months.
Australian
citizens must have a valid passport, and are required
to purchase a Tourist Card (fee: USD 10) upon arrival in the
country. No visa is required for a stay of up to three months.
South
African citizens must have a valid passport. No visa is
required for a stay of up to three months.
Irish
citizens must have a valid passport. No visa is required
for a stay of up to three months.
New
Zealand citizens must have a valid passport. No visa is
required for a stay of up to three months.
See details for travellers from other countries |
Travel Guide powered by www.wordtravels.com, copyright © Globe Media Ltd. All rights reserved. By its very nature much of the information in this guide is subject to change at short notice and travellers are urged to verify information on which they're relying with the relevant authorities. Globe Media and UNIGLOBE Travel does not accept any responsibility for any loss or inconvenience to any person as a result of information contained above.
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