CENTRAL AMERICA - EL SALVADOR (also check my expenses data)    

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1) General changes and remarks

This country is probably the best place to truely meet people.
Unspoiled for the moment, as tourism suffered of the civil war, and of the awful reputation of the country about human rights, people are sometimes surprised to see a "gringo face", and might be interested in meeting you.

If you speak their language, this might turn to be one the most wonderful experience of your life : open-minded and generous, they might invite you or give you souvenirs, they'll try to know you  and will help you to enjoy your staying by any way they can, if you become friends. And you will get friends.

You will not see many "gringo faces", but a few ones in the capital working mostly for humanitarian organizations, and in La Libertad, you will see surfers from all over the world.

2) Dangers and annoyances

No more problems with the civil war, but there are now street gangs armed with military weapons, stealing sometimes violently (murder!). Salvadorian people told me that in the capital city, 40% of the population had been attacked by this kind of gangs for a wallet, a car or jewels, or just for fun.
Tourists staying for a short while will probably never see or face that kind of crime, but if so, do not resist. The only rule is to avoid going out at night (and never without a cab).
Unfortunately, petty crime is very present too, as drugs (glue sniffing,…) that destroy a big part of the youth. But in ten days of staying, I faced none of these troubles (the drug addicted people I saw did not threaten my security).

3) Specific changes and remarks

San Salvador :
Do go and ask the tourist information office for bus lists and other helpful informations. They will do their best for you, with a smiling welcome. But don't rely to much on that bus list, as some bus lines don't use the same itinerary on their way back (you may have some surprise about that).

Around San Salvador :
If you had to see only one thing in El Salvador it would be the "Puerta del Diablo". With a clear sky on sunny days, you will enjoy a 360° sight including the capital city, the volcanic blue lake "lago de Llopango", the volcanoes range, the Pacific slope and the Pacific Ocean 30 miles away : unforgettable.

La Union :
There is a new hotel in town, which is a very good choice, and really close to the bus stop, with fair prices : the Portobello Hotel, in the 4a Avenida Norte.
A bus trip in the early morning to El Tamarindo beach can be a very relaxing experience, but this area of El Salvador can be one of the warmest spots of all Central America : it gets hard to breath sometimes.
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GUATEMALA

BELIZE

EL SALVADOR

HONDURAS

NICARAGUA

COSTA RICA

PANAMA
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