Travel Vaccines and Advice for El Salvador

Yes, some vaccines are recommended or required for El Salvador. The CDC and WHO recommend the following vaccinations for El Salvador: hepatitis A, hepatitis B, typhoid, yellow fever, rabies, meningitis, polio, measles, mumps and rubella (MMR), Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis), chickenpox, shingles, pneumonia and influenza.

COVID-19 vaccination is recommended for travel to all regions, both foreign and domestic. Check with your local Passport Health clinic if immunization is offered in your area.

Zika is a risk in El Salvador. Pregnant women should avoid traveling to El Salvador. Zika can cause severe birth defects. All travelers should prevent mosquito bites and sexual exposure to Zika. Cover exposed skin, stay inside as much as possible and sleep with a mosquito net.

Visit our vaccinations page to learn more. Travel safely with Passport Health and schedule your appointment today by calling or book online now.

A passport is required for going to El Salvador. While a visa is not needed for stays under 90 days, a $10 tourist card must be bought on arrival.

El Salvador Entry Requirements
Do I Need A…	For My Trip to El Salvador?
Passport
Tourist Visa
Business Visa
Vaccinations

Sources: Embassy of El Salvador and U.S. State Department

Due to border agreements, travelers can enter Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua if they have entered El Salvador. You are able to travel between these four countries for up to 90 days.

The climate of El Salvador is tropical and has a wet and dry season. The rainy season is from May to October with rainfall reaching over 70 inches. The dry season is from November to April. Average temperatures in El Salvador are in the low-70’s. The mountain regions are much cooler throughout the year, especially in winter.

If you’re traveling to El Salvador, it’s important to stay safe. Here are some tips to help you stay safe:

• Do some research before you go, so you know what areas are safe to visit.
• Stick to well-lit and well-traveled areas, especially at night.
• Be aware of your surroundings, and trust your instincts.
• Don’t show off your valuables, like jewelry or electronics, and try not to carry too much cash.
• Use reputable transportation services, like licensed taxis.
• Keep your important documents, like your passport, in a safe place.
• Learn some basic Spanish to help you communicate with locals.

By following these tips, you can help ensure that you have a safe and enjoyable trip to El Salvador.

Joya de Cerén Archaeological Site is a special place in El Salvador where you can see what an ancient Mayan village looked like a long time ago. The village was covered by volcanic ash almost 1,400 years ago and was preserved under the ash. This makes Joya de Cerén a unique site where you can learn about the daily life of the Mayan people from a long time ago.

People may want to visit Joya de Cerén to learn about history and culture, and because it’s a special experience. It’s an opportunity to see something that’s not found in many places in the world. Visitors can explore the ruins, see what the Mayan people used to cook with, sleep on, and use for communal activities. There are also artifacts like pottery, tools, and jewelry to see.

Guided tours are available in different languages to help people understand the site and the history of the Mayan people. The museum on the site shows artifacts and provides more information about Mayan culture and history. Visiting Joya de Cerén can be a great way to learn something new and interesting.

If you are traveling to El Salvador, you should pack appropriate clothes for the country’s warm and humid weather. Bring lightweight clothing like shorts, t-shirts, and tank tops. You should also pack sun protection items such as sunscreen with a high SPF, a hat, sunglasses, and a cover-up. Mosquitoes can be common, so don’t forget insect repellent with DEET.

Comfortable shoes are necessary for walking and hiking on El Salvador’s uneven terrain. If you plan on going to the beach, bring swimwear. El Salvador has a rainy season from May to October, so pack rain gear like a poncho or rain jacket.

In El Salvador, cash is widely used, so it is a good idea to bring small bills. Credit cards are also widely accepted in major cities. A basic first-aid kit with band-aids, antiseptic cream, and pain relievers is recommended. Spanish is the official language, so it is helpful to bring a phrasebook or download a language app.

If you are traveling from outside the Americas, you may need a travel adapter for your electronic devices.

All Americans visiting El Salvador should register online with the U.S. Department of State before departure. This will inform the office of your travel plans within the country and will allow them to reach out in the case of an emergency or evacuation.

Once in El Salvador, the information for the U.S. Embassy is:

U.S. Embassy San Salvador
Final Boulevard Santa Elena Sur,
Urbanizacion Santa Elena,
Antiguo Cuscatlan, La Libertad
San Salvador, El Salvador
Telephone: +(503) 2501-2999
Emergency After-Hours Telephone: +(503) 2501-2999
Fax: +(503) 2278-5522

Stay safe abroad with Passport Health. Call or book online now and start traveling safely today!