The US dollar and bitcoin are the legal tenders. It is advisable to exchange money at the Airport since other currencies are not accepted in shops within the national territory. Credit cards or cryptocurrency applications are accepted in most commercial establishments. There are ATMs throughout the national territory, especially in shopping centers, gas stations, hotels, among others.

Government: Democratic Republic.

Official language: Spanish.

Other languages: English is spoken at hotels and other tourism related service centers.

World time: GMT -06:00

Weather: Generally speaking, El Salvador has a warm or tropical weather during most of the year. The annual average temperature is 28 ° C, ranging between 25 ° C and 28 ° C. For the weather forecast, it is recommended that visitors check the weather on the official site of the Ministry of the Environment: https://www.snet.gob.sv/ver/meteorologia/pronostico/24+horas

Private banks schedule: 9:00 am – 4:00 pm. With some exceptions that still work until 5:00, 6:00 and 7:00 pm.

Power: 110w

The following is a description of some of the main traditions related to the social and culture of El Salvador, in the context of tourism:

• It is customary to shake hands between men and women. However, in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, this cultural habit has ceased and now has its variants in the form of a forearm or clenched fist greeting.

• In El Salvador, it is common for company executives and personnel related to tourism services to speak English.

• Within the Salvadoran culture, cultivating interpersonal relationships is very important and in the field of tourism it makes it easier to keep a satisfactory bond.

The local national dish of El Salvador is the “Pupusa” which is a corn or rice patty stuffed with ground beans, pork and cheese. It is advisable for foreign tourists to consider its ingredients before eating it. In addition, it is advisable to go to a pupusería or restaurant that implements biosecurity measures.

TOURISM IN EL SALVADOR 

In El Salvador, visitors can travel in a short period of time to different tourist sites, such as beaches, volcanoes, lakes, archaeological sites, cities, colonial towns, among others. 

The focal point for this issue will be the president of the Asociación Salvadoreña de Touroperadores, ASOTUR (Salvadorean Tour Operators Association), Raul Castro at his mobile +(503) 7165-7514 or the following email address [email protected] 

THE AIRLINES PROMOTION CODES FOR THE EVENT ARE THE FOLLOWING: 

https://corsatur-my.sharepoint.com/:x:/g/personal/dcamacho_corsatur_gob_sv/EVxtkXxTApBIvIttu27N0S8BaccB3LqpJRAYAD2JRbyPbg?e=1cN9FA

INDICATIONS FOR THOSE WHO CHOOSE TO TRAVEL WITH COPA AIRLINES:

• Once you make your reservation, you must contact COPA call center and make the reservation for your surfboard as sports luggage. (https://www.copaair.com/es/web/pa/equipo-deportivo ).
• A maximum of three (3) surfboards per passenger, packed in a single case, are accepted.
• A maximum of 5 cases is allowed on each flight, hence the importance of reserving the space of your case when buying your plane ticket.
• The dimensions of the surfboard must not exceed 115 inches (292 cm) in length or its weight exceeds 45 kilos (90 lbs).
• If you show up at the airport without a reservation, the transportation of the boards will be subject to availability.
• The passenger must remove the sharp edge or keel of the board and pack properly to avoid scratches to it.
• For this event, the coordinator of each delegation must send the signed waiver of responsibility https://drive.google.com/file/d/1NFpov9x6pKBuSFG7z5CJuZYV9vfpdQ8Q/view?usp=sharing to the email: [email protected]
  
  

As of November 17, 2021, the Migration Department of El Salvador eliminated the entry requirements to the country related to the presentation of negative PCR tests and vaccination cards; however,

it will be the responsibility of each participant to verify with their air or ground transportation, as well as the countries in which they transit what requirements they must meet.

• It is important that the passport of each one at the time of entry is valid and that its validity reaches the days of their stay in the country.  
• Take into account that in certain countries during the connection flight may require 6 months of validity in your passport. 
• Citizens of some countries do not require a visa to enter El Salvador for a visit that does not exceed a period of 90 days or if traveling in transit: See details 

Some visa-exempt nationalities may require a TOURIST CARD, which is acquired at the border points of entry to the country and that has a cost of USD 12.

If your country is not listed then you need to apply for a Consular Visa at one of the Diplomatic Representations of El Salvador abroad or for a Consulted Visa obtained through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of El Salvador. 

• Additionally, all migrants must take into consideration the following:  
  • a) The maximum length of stay that can be granted to a tourist is 90 days. If an extension is required, an individual may request one in a year to the Migration Department. 
  • b) The citizens of some countries of South America and Africa, as well as Panama, are required to be vaccinated against yellow fever 15 days prior to their trip to El Salvador and must carry the vaccination certificate or card since it could be required by the health authorities of El Salvador at the point of entry into the territory. 

For any consultation regarding immigration requirements prior to entry, please contact Francis (Chute) Hasbún at [email protected] or mobile phone +(503) 6998-7844 

Each visitor will be received at the International Airport by a duly identified representative of the government of El Salvador who will guide and accompany each one of the participants throughout the migration and customs procedures within the airport.

It is recommended that all visitors bring with them USD 5.00 and USD 10.00 bills to pay the luggage cart inside the airport if required according to the amount of luggage carried.

To find you inside the airport it will be necessary to send your travel information to Ana María Ochoa to [email protected] or mobile phone +(503) 7986-3410

Individuals entering the country with checked baggage must confirm with the airline that such baggage is checked to its final destination: El Salvador.

If the participant sent unaccompanied luggage (cargo), it will arrive at the International Airport Cargo Terminal. The recovery of the baggage will be coordinated and guided by another representative of the government of El Salvador. If this is the case, all participants must let this know to Ricardo Martínez to [email protected] All cargo baggage in El Salvador will be given diplomatic treatment and must be consigned as indicated:

Participant’s name / ISA EL SALVADOR 2022

The government of El Salvador will provide transportation for each team with their own car/driver from May 25 – June 6, free of charge. If a team wants to extend the use of their vehicle, they need to contact Fernando Ortiz at the email: [email protected] no later than May 10 so that he can negotiate a rate for additional days.

Other general information to consider:

• Each delegation is responsible for their transportation from and to the airport on dates before May 25th and after June 6th.
• If any participant wishes to leave on their own, it is recommended to use the taxi or Uber service that can be contacted through the reception at your hotel.
• In El Salvador taxis do not have taximeters and therefore the fare of the trip must be negotiated by the visitor before using the service.
• The UBER franchise provides service in El Salvador and can be used by downloading the application to your mobile phones.

Below recommended tourist transport companies:

Due to COVID-19 biosafety, there is a list of lodging establishments that have biosecurity certificate or that implement biosafety protocols.

The list of accommodations near the event can be found at the following link:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1zjum5oKJGyzaE5B5HYitU0oBIc594_UF/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=103481636391755043084&rtpof=true&sd=true

For rented houses, it will be necessary that the participants send the address and information in order to send the inspection of the Ministry of Health to ensure the implementation of biosecurity protocols if needed.

The contact to coordinate this verification is Mercedes Silva to the email [email protected] or mobile phone +(503) 7862-1912

If you require an antigen or PCR test to enter your travel destination, the Laboratory Max Bloch will be onsite from Friday June 3^rd till Monday June 6th, from 8:00am – noon and 1:30pm – 5:00pm. 

The location of the laboratory will be in Papayas Surf Garden Hotel, room#12 (next to the parking area).

PCR or antigen tests must be paid in cash by each participant to the private laboratory that will perform them. The costs of the tests are as follows: 

*Prices are in US Dollars. 

Delegations that prefer to take the tests on days and times different from the ones stated above, can visit one of the laboratories close to the Site. The Host will provide a list of approved laboratories for covid testing. 

Results of the COVID tests that are taken in the morning will be ready the same day around 6:00 pm. Results of the COVID tests that are taken in the afternoon will be ready the next day around 12:30 PM.

For any questions, you can contact Lya Salazar, tel. +(503) 7855-6958 or mail [email protected] 

CLICK TO SEE THE LIST OF APPROVED LABORATORIES FOR COVID TESTING