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08 May 2024
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El Salvador
El Salvador is the smallest country in central America bordered by the Pacific Ocean, Guatemala, and Honduras. It is known as the "land of volcanoes ". Typical of the country are its volcanoes landscapes, villages, beaches, and mountains. It has its capital in the city of San Salvador. The country has frequent earthquakes and volcanic activity.
It has a tropical climate with pronounced wet and dry seasons. The dry season (summer) or "verano" lasts from November through to April and the rainy season (winter) or "invierno" lasts from May through to October. It is best to visit El Salvador in the dry season.
As in most Caribbean countries, "Mestizo" culture dominates in El Salvador. The mestizos are people of mixed heritage; usually European and Amerindian. The country is 70% Christian whilst about 20% do not identify with any religion or are atheist.
El Salvador's national dish is Pupusa- a handmade corn flour or rice flour tortilla that is eaten stuffed with cheese. Another favourite of the El Salvadorans is chicarron- cooked pork meat ground to a paste. They also eat re fried beans or loroco.
El Salvador has a number of fascinating locations worth visiting such as:
- Tazumal: Tazumal is an impressive Mayan ruin estimated to have been settled in around 5000 BC and abandoned in AD 1200. The site has an onsite museum to educate on Mayan culture and civilization. It is believed to have been an important centre of trade and commerce and is of huge historical importance.
- Playa El Esteron: This beach is not as popular as the other beaches in El Salvador, making it a lot quieter. Its gentle surf, ever shining sun, and consistently sparse population makes it a perfect site to escape from the rush of the city.
- Montecristo National Park: This rain forest houses a good number of rare and interesting animals such as pumas, spider monkeys, anteaters, cayotes, black shrew-mice, white-tailed deer, porcupines, and squirrels. If you're lucky, you might spot one of the rare ones!
- Santa Ana: This is the second biggest city in El Salvador. It made its wealth from the coffee industry. Its streets are neat and tree lined and boast beautiful buildings. Its Cathedral is also worth visiting.
- Barra De Santiago: Every evening from August to November, giant sea turtles travel to these shores to lay their eggs. Not many of these eggs can survive. Volunteers therefore collect the eggs and rebury them in a hatchery. After 45 days, the turtle babies are then dug out and released into the sea. This is quite a relaxing, fulfilling and therapeutic experience for visitors.
El Salvador's major exports are coffee, sugar, shrimp, and textiles. The country is the most densely populated in the Americas.
There are budget and luxury hotel accommodations in El Salvador.
