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El Salvador
El Salvador
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Customs and Culture
Customs and Culture
Cultural Attributes
Salvadorans work hard. They are very creative when it comes to finding a way to make money. They do not give up easily when things become difficult. Instead, they fight to find the way, and usually they take refuge in God.
Most of the people are Christian, being the two more predominant religions the Protestantism and the Catholicism.
Faith has been a resource that has helped the people to go through varied tough situations, making them tough as well.
The endurance of the people of El Salvador has been tested many times, the more prominent of which being the twelve years civil war, followed by the several natural disasters that have hit the region, like earthquakes and hurricanes. Unfortunately, when this is combined with the difficult social environment that Salvadorans need to face daily, plagued by economic uncertainty and the physical insecurity generated by the crimes committed by the unlawful social groups known locally as "maras", it has made the people to be mildly negative in their expectations.
Salvadorans tend to overestimate the bad things, and to minimize the good ones. Nevertheless, they never give up, and still preserve the human warmth and natural joy that characterize their people.
At first glance, citizens living in the urban areas seem to be self-centered and indifferent to others, but once the ice is broken between two strangers, by means of a natural gesture like a smile, or a casual incident like a belonging being dropped, the Salvadorans let their friendliness to emerge, and within a couple of minutes, the two strangers become acquainted, help each other, and disclose themselves a little.
In the rural areas, people tend to be more open, and show immediately a natural interest to others, to help them, to share with them their own limited resources.
Land of Volcanoes and Resilient Spirit
Get More Customs and Culture
5 more cultural topics for members
Social Customs & Etiquette · Diet · Family · Dating Customs · Recreation
Holidays
Independence Day
9/15Independence Day
Christmas
12/25Christmas
The Christmas season begins with the Feast of the Immaculate Conception followed by the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe on December 12th which celebrates the appearance of the Virgin Mary to the Indian Juan Deigo, believed to occurred in 1531. These festivities include fireworks, dances and soccer tournaments. Las Posadas (The Lodgings) is celebrated on Christmas Eve. Christmas Day activities include church services and beach activities.
Christmas trees, poinsettias, and Presbres (Nativity Scenes) are the most common decorations. Children receive gifts from Santa Claus, who places them under the Christmas tree or under the children’s beds.
Christmas Eve dinner features tamales, turkey, chicken, pork, rice, green vegetables, and assorted deserts and liquors.
Dates of Interest
- December 31st
This is the second most celebrated holiday besides Christmas Eve, and it is a holiday for students and government employees, and half-holiday for private companies. As for Christmas Eve, families get reunited to hold a special dinner, wearing new clothes. The same comments apply here regarding firecrackers and fireworks. There are also a special mass for Catholics and a special cult for Protestants in the afternoon or early at night. At midnight, everybody hog each other to celebrate the coming New Year. After midnight, party, friends visiting each other, as for Christmas Eve.
How do people greet each other in El Salvador?
Men typically shake hands with the right hand, using half-hugs or full hugs for close friends and relatives. Male-to-female greetings involve a cheek kiss in social settings or a handshake in formal ones, and women usually greet each other with a cheek-to-cheek kiss.
Do
- Shake hands with the right hand when meeting men
- Offer a cheek kiss to female friends in social settings, holding your right hand on her left shoulder
- Use a handshake for older or formal female contacts, like a professor or a coworker's wife
- Adjust verbal greetings to closeness, from formal introductions to casual 'Hey, what's up?'
Don’t
- Don't hug men you aren't very close to; use a half-hug instead
- Don't make physical contact when greeting a female child; use a short sweet phrase instead
Good to know
- Couples greet with a quick closed-mouth kiss
- Women who are close friends add a hug after the cheek kiss
What are the dining customs in El Salvador?
Salvadoran food is spicier than in many other Latin American countries, with staples like beans, thick tortillas, rice, eggs and fruit, and a typical lunch of pupusa and chilate. Guests are expected to sample every dish and compliment the host.
Do
- Try some of every dish that is served
- Leave a little food on your plate as good manners
- Compliment the host or hostess on the meal
Good to know
- Men generally stand when a woman leaves the table
- Expect black beans, refried beans, thick tortillas, rice, eggs and fruit
What etiquette should I know when visiting a home in El Salvador?
When invited to someone's home, guests customarily bring something to eat, usually a traditional dessert, and adults gather to chat over coffee and bread, often on a back or front deck.
Do
- Bring a traditional dessert like quezadilla, reposteria, brazo gitano, or fruit
- Accept the host's invitation to join a meal if the visit runs into mealtime, or politely leave
- Have a last small talk at the door before departing
Don’t
- Don't expect the hosts to eat a main meal while guests stay who won't join them
Good to know
- Hosts often give guests something to take home, different from what the guests brought
- Children are served a soft drink and go off to play together
How should I dress in El Salvador?
The tropical climate shapes clothing, with casual jeans and shirts common in urban areas, and more formal office attire like pleated pants and button-down shirts for men and working suits for women. Rural dress is more traditional.
Good to know
- Urban men wear jeans with camp, polo or T-shirts casually; pleated pants and button-down shirts for the office
- Urban women wear jeans, skirts, dresses and a variety of shoes, with working suits for the office
- Rural men wear button-down long-sleeve shirts, casual pants and half boots; women wear blouses and long skirts with rustic sandals
- Students wear uniforms during school time
What gestures should I be careful with in El Salvador?
Restraint with gestures is valued; excessive hand or head movements are considered poor manners.
Do
- Cover yawns with your hand
- Beckon only close friends with a hand wave
Don’t
- Don't use extensive hand or head gestures in conversation
- Don't point your feet or fingers at anyone
What is family life like in El Salvador?
Family structure differs between cities and rural areas, with urban families typically smaller and rural or town families more numerous. Both parents commonly work, though the mother is still seen as responsible for the children and home.
Good to know
- Urban families usually have one to three children; town and rural families have two to five
- A grandparent often lives with the family, especially in rural areas where both grandparents may live with them
- Many families have a parent working abroad, most commonly in the United States
- Daughters are increasingly taught to be independent and pursue a career in cities
What do people do for recreation in El Salvador?
Football (soccer) is by far the most popular sport and the unofficial national sport, played by kids and adults alike. Vacations are often spent at the beach, hiking, camping, or visiting family abroad.
Good to know
- Football is played daily, from neighborhood street games to national tournaments
- Video gaming is increasingly popular among kids and young adults
- Holy Week and Patron Saint's Day breaks are commonly used for the beach, hiking or camping
- Many travel abroad at year's end, mainly to visit family in the United States
Last updated: 2026-07-12 · Sources: CountryReports
Photos of El Salvador
Photos of El Salvador
Waterfall near Juayua
Street Market in San Salvador
Church dome in San Salvador
Girl in Santa Ana
Shopping district in El Salvador
Bus in El Salvador
Streetside grocery store in El Salvador
Streetside grocery store in El Salvador
Church in El Salvador
El Salvador Creche -- Figures in a Wooden Manager
El Salvador Creche -- Painted on Courbaril Seed
Local kids playing soccer on a small plaza
Travel and Tourism
Travel and Tourism
- Travel Alert Status
- Level 3: Reconsider Travel
- Currency
- US dollar (USD)
- Time Difference
- UTC-6 (1 hour behind Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
- Climate
- El Salvador's tropical climate has pronounced wet and dry seasons. The dry season, "verano" or summer, from December to April is dusty, especially in rural areas. The hottest months of the year, March and April, immediately precede the rainy season, "invierno" (winter). During the May-November rainy season, mornings are usually clear, with heavy rains in early evening and at night. Thunder and strong winds occasionally accompany the rain, and some June and September mornings are overcast. Occasional 2- to 3-day rainy spells occur. The average annual rainfall is 66 inches. The three geographic zones have distinct climatic characteristics. The narrow coastal belt is a hot tropical savanna with lush vegetation and temperatures that average 80°F. The central highlands, where San Salvador lies, are slightly cooler, with an average temperature of 73°F. San Salvador's temperatures range from 50°F to 90°F throughout the year. Incoming polar air infrequently causes cold nights and even frost. The highlands in the extreme north of El Salvador are consistently cool. Earthquakes and volcanic eruptions have littered El Salvador's history. Earthquakes ranging from 6.5 to 7.9 on the Richter Scale have struck the country at least 15 times since 1700. The most serious recent earthquakes occurred on January 13 and February 13, 2001. Although damage in San Salvador was slight, schools, hospitals, businesses, and public buildings throughout the country were damaged or destroyed. These two powerful quakes resulted in 1,300 deaths and left more than one million homeless. Infrastructure damages are estimated at $1.6 billion, or 12% of the country's GDP. Of the volcanoes located within the metropolitan area of San Salvador, Volcano San Salvador erupted last in 1917 and Volcano Ilopango in 1879. Although hurricanes do not usually threaten El Salvador directly, strong Caribbean storms can generate heavy winds and rains. Hurricane Mitch hit El Salvador in November 1998, generating extreme rainfall which caused widespread flooding.
- Airports
- 73
Read the full travel guide — health, safety, vaccinations, disease risk, sanitation, and transit details.
View full travel guideRecipes
Recipes
History
History
Historical Eras
Pre-Columbian Era
2000 BCE – 1524
El Salvador's territory was inhabited by successive Mesoamerican peoples, including the Maya and, most prominently, the Pipil, a Nahuatl-speaking group descended from the Toltec-Aztec tradition. These agricultural societies cultivated maize, cacao, and other crops across the fertile volcanic valleys. The Pipil established the region of Cuzcatlán, which formed the cultural and political core of the territory at the time of Spanish contact.
Spanish Conquest & Colony
1524 – 1821
Pedro de Alvarado led the Spanish conquest beginning in 1524, and by 1540 indigenous resistance had been crushed, integrating El Salvador into the colonial Captaincy General of Guatemala. The colonial system vested land title in the Crown, concentrating agricultural wealth among a small elite and laying the foundations for enduring inequality. The indigenous population declined sharply through disease and forced labor, gradually giving rise to a mestizo majority.
Independence & Federation
1821 – 1840
El Salvador declared independence from Spain in 1821 and joined the United Provinces of Central America in 1823, a federal experiment that proved politically unstable. Chronic rivalries between liberal and conservative factions, as well as tensions among member states, caused the federation to disintegrate. El Salvador emerged as a fully sovereign republic in 1840, though political instability and elite land dominance persisted.
Oligarchic Republic
1840 – 1932
The nineteenth and early twentieth centuries were dominated by a landed oligarchy whose wealth was built first on indigo and then, decisively, on coffee cultivation. Land consolidation into large haciendas dispossessed much of the rural population, generating deep social tensions. A rural uprising in 1833 under Anastasio Aquino was violently suppressed, foreshadowing a pattern in which elite-hired or state forces crushed agrarian dissent.
Military Rule & La Matanza
1932 – 1979
The Marxist-inspired peasant insurrection of 1932 led by Agustín Farabundo Martí was met with a brutal government massacre — la matanza — in which an estimated 10,000–30,000 Salvadorans were killed. This event entrenched military control of the state for decades, with the armed forces acting as guarantors of oligarchic power while periodically gesturing toward limited reform. A brief but costly war with Honduras in 1969 and growing guerrilla activity through the 1970s signaled the deepening crisis.
Civil War & Peace Process
1979 – 1992
The assassination of Archbishop Óscar Romero in 1980 and the formation of the FMLN guerrilla coalition that same year marked the onset of a devastating civil war that lasted twelve years and claimed approximately 75,000 lives. The conflict drew Cold War powers into a proxy struggle, with the United States backing the government and Cuba, Nicaragua, and the Soviet Union supporting the FMLN. A UN-brokered peace accord signed in January 1992 ended hostilities and mandated sweeping military and democratic reforms.
Democratic Modern Era
1992 – present
The post-war period saw El Salvador transition to multiparty democracy, with the FMLN transforming into a legitimate political party and competing in free elections. Economic reforms, dollarization in 2001, and significant emigration to the United States — generating substantial remittances — reshaped Salvadoran society. Persistent challenges including gang violence, poverty, and inequality have continued to define national life, while the country's political landscape shifted dramatically with the rise of Nayib Bukele to the presidency in 2019.
Overview
Pedro de Alvarado, Spanish conqueror of El Salvador
Timeline of Key Events
1524
Spanish adventurer Pedro de Alvarado conquers El Salvador.
Spanish adventurer Pedro de Alvarado conquers El Salvador.
1540
Indigenous resistance is crushed and El Salvador becomes a Spanish colony.
Indigenous resistance is crushed and El Salvador becomes a Spanish colony.
1823
El Salvador becomes part of the United Provinces of Central America.
El Salvador becomes part of the United Provinces of Central America, which also includes Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua.
1840
El Salvador becomes fully independent.
El Salvador becomes fully independent following the dissolution of the United Provinces of Central America.
1969
El Salvador attacks and fights a brief war with Honduras
El Salvador attacks and fights a brief war with Honduras following the eviction of thousands of Salvadoran illegal immigrants from Honduras.
1977
Jesuit priest Rutilio Grande, S.J. is assassinated by the death squad.
Jesuit priest Rutilio Grande, S.J. is assassinated by the death squad.
1977
Anti-government guerrilla activities intensif
Anti-government guerrilla activities intensify amid reports of increased human rights violations by government troops and death squads; General Carlos Romero elected president.
Read the full history profile — narrative overview, defining eras, and the complete timeline in one place.
View expanded historyInteresting Facts
Interesting Facts
When a child loses a tooth they put the tooth under their pillow. The father says that during the night a rabbit will come. It will take the tooth and leave some money.
The name El Salvador means “the savior.”
El Salvador is the most densely populated country in Central America, with an average of over 290 persons per square kilometre; by contrast, Canada's population density is less than three persons per square kilometre.
The Montecristo Nature Reserve in northern El Salvador is a breeding ground for the quetzal, a bird with brilliant plumage and a long tail.
See every fact — trivia, oddities, and curious tidbits gathered from across the country.
View all interesting factsGeography and Environment
Geography and Environment
- Terrain
- mostly mountains with narrow coastal belt and central plateau
- Climate
- El Salvador’'s tropical climate has pronounced wet and dry seasons. The dry season, *quot;verano" or summer, from December to April is dusty, especially in rural areas. The hottest months of the year, March and April, immediately precede the rainy season, "invierno" (winter). During the May–November rainy season, mornings are usually clear, with heavy rains in early evening and at night. Thunder and strong winds occasionally accompany the rain, and some June and September mornings are overcast. Occasional 2- to 3-day rainy spells occur. The average annual rainfall is 66 inches. The three geographic zones have distinct climatic characteristics. The narrow coastal belt is a hot tropical savanna with lush vegetation and temperatures that average 80ºF. The central highlands, where San Salvador lies, are slightly cooler, with an average temperature of 73ºF. San Salvador’s temperatures range from 50ºF to 90ºF throughout the year. Incoming polar air infrequently causes cold nights and even frost. The highlands in the extreme north of El Salvador are consistently cool. Earthquakes and volcanic eruptions have littered El Salvador’s history. Earthquakes ranging from 6.5 to 7.9 on the Richter Scale have struck the country at least 15 times since 1700. The most serious recent earthquakes occurred on January 13 and February 13, 2001. Although damage in San Salvador was slight, schools, hospitals, businesses, and public buildings throughout the country were damaged or destroyed. These two powerful quakes resulted in 1,300 deaths and left more than one million homeless. Infrastructure damages are estimated at $1.6 billion, or 12% of the country's GDP. Of the volcanoes located within the metropolitan area of San Salvador, Volcano San Salvador erupted last in 1917 and Volcano Ilopango in 1879. Although hurricanes do not usually threaten El Salvador directly, strong Caribbean storms can generate heavy winds and rains. Hurricane Mitch hit El Salvador in November 1998, generating extreme rainfall which caused widespread flooding.
- Natural Hazards
- known as the Land of Volcanoes; frequent and sometimes very destructive earthquakes and volcanic activity; extremely susceptible to hurricanes
- Current Environmental Issues
- deforestation; soil erosion; water pollution; contamination of soils from disposal of toxic wastes
Read the full geography and environment profile — terrain, climate, natural resources, hazards, land use, and international agreements.
View full geographyPeople & Demographics
People & Demographics
Religion
Languages Spoken
Spanish, Nahua (among some Amerindians)
- Spanish
Population
- Population
- 6,336,392
- Population: Male/Female
- male: 3,172,244 female: 3,456,458
- Population Distribution
- athough it is the smallest country in land area in Central America, El Salvador has a population that is 18 times larger than Belize; at least 20% of the population lives abroad; high population density country-wide, with particular concentration around the capital of San Salvador
- Urban Population
- urban population: 75.4% of total population rate of urbanization: 1.33% annual rate of change
- Population in Major Urban Areas
- 1.116 million SAN SALVADOR (capital)
- Nationality Noun
- noun: Salvadoran(s) adjective: Salvadoran
- Ethnic Groups
- Mestizo 86.3%, White 12.7%, Indigenous 0.2% (includes Lenca, Kakawira, Nahua-Pipil), Black 0.1%, other 0.6%
- Language Note
- Spanish (official), Nawat (among some Indigenous)
Demographic Profile
El Salvador is the smallest and most densely populated country in Central America. It is well into its demographic transition, experiencing slower population growth, a decline in its number of youths, and the gradual aging of its population. The increased use of family planning has substantially lowered El Salvador's fertility rate, from approximately 6 children per woman in the 1970s to replacement level today. A 2008 national family planning survey showed that female sterilization remained the most common contraception method in El Salvador - its sterilization rate is among the highest in Latin America and the Caribbean - but that the use of injectable contraceptives is growing. Fertility differences between rich and poor and urban and rural women are narrowing.
Salvadorans fled during the 1979 to 1992 civil war mainly to the United States but also to Canada and to neighboring Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica. Emigration to the United States increased again in the 1990s and 2000s as a result of deteriorating economic conditions, natural disasters (Hurricane Mitch in 1998 and earthquakes in 2001), and family reunification. At least 20% of El Salvador's population lives abroad. The remittances they send home account for close to 20% of GDP, are the second largest source of external income after exports, and have helped reduce poverty.
Education
- Literacy Definition
- age 15 and over can read and write
Health Information
- Life Expectancy at Birth
- total population: 71.9 years male: 68.2 years female: 75.8 years
- Major Infectious Diseases — degree of risk
- degree of risk: high food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea vectorborne diseases: dengue fever
- Alcohol consumption per capita
- total: 2.94 liters of pure alcohol beer: 1.5 liters of pure alcohol wine: 0.06 liters of pure alcohol spirits: 1.37 liters of pure alcohol other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol
- Tobacco Use
- total: 7.9% male: 14.1% female: 1.7%
- Child Marriage
- women married by age 15: 4.3% women married by age 18: 19.7%
- Infant Mortality Rate
- total: 11.7 deaths/1,000 live births male: 13.3 deaths/1,000 live births female: 10 deaths/1,000 live births
Life Expectancy
- Life Expectancy at Birth
- total population: 71.9 years male: 68.2 years female: 75.8 years
- Median Age
- total: 29.7 years male: 28.2 years female: 31.2 years
- Age Structure
- 0-14 years: 25.3% (male 855,841/female 818,642) 15-64 years: 66.3% (male 2,077,745/female 2,317,416) 65 years and over: 8.4% (male 238,658/female 320,400)
- Infant Mortality Rate
- total: 11.7 deaths/1,000 live births male: 13.3 deaths/1,000 live births female: 10 deaths/1,000 live births
Read the full people and society profile — demographics, health, education, religion, languages, and notable people.
View full people and societyGovernment & Politics
Government & Politics
Country Identity
- Country Name
- ElSalvador
- Full Country Name
- Republic of El Salvador
- Local - Long
- Republica de El Salvador
- Local - Short
- El Salvador
Government Structure
- Government Type
- republic
- Legal System
- based on civil and Roman law, with traces of common law; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
- Executive Branch
- chief of state: President Nayib BUKELE Ortez (since 1 June 2019, reelected 1 June 2024); Vice President Félix ULLOA (since 1 June 2019, reelected 1 June 2024); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Nayib BUKELE Ortez (since 1 June 2019, reelected 1 June 2024); Vice President Félix ULLOA (since 1 June 2019, reelected 1 June 2024); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government cabinet: Council of Ministers selected by the president elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket by popular vote for five-year terms; election last held 4 February 2024 (next to be held in 2029) election results: Nayib BUKELE Ortez reelected president; percent of vote - Nayib BUKELE Ortez (Nuevas Ideas) 84.7%, Manuel FLORES (FMLN) 6.0%, Joel SANCHEZ (ARENA) 4.7%, other 4.6%
- Legislative Branch
- Unicameral Legislative Assembly or Asamblea Legislativa (60 seats; members are elected by direct, popular vote to serve three-year terms) Elections: last held on 3 March 2024 (next to be held in 2027) Election results: percent of vote by party - Nuevas Ideas 70.5%, ARENA 5.5%, FMLN 3.2%, other parties the remainder; seats by party - Nuevas Ideas 54, ARENA 2, FMLN 0, other parties 4 Note: The number of seats was reduced from 84 to 60 following a constitutional reform enacted in 2021. The 2024 elections marked a continued consolidation of power by President Nayib Bukele's Nuevas Ideas party, which secured a commanding legislative supermajority.
- Judicial Branch
- Supreme Court or Corte Suprema (judges are selected by the Legislative Assembly)
- Suffrage
- 18 years of age; universal
- Constitution
- 23-Dec-83
- Independence
- 15 September 1821 (from Spain)
- National Holiday
- Independence Day, 15 September (1821)
Capital City
- Capital Name
- San Salvador
- Capital - geographic coordinate
- 13 42 N, 89 12 W
- Capital Time Difference
- UTC-6 (1 hour behind Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Spanish for "Holy Savior" (referring to Jesus Christ)
Military
Branches: Salvadoran Armed Forces (Fuerza Armada de El Salvador, FAES): Salvadoran Army (Ejercito de El Salvador, ES), Salvadoran Navy (Fuerza Naval de El Slavador, FNES), Salvadoran Air Force (Fuerza Aerea Salvadorena, FAS)
Embassy / Diplomatic Mission
U.S. Embassy San Salvador
Final Boulevard Santa Elena Sur
Urbanización Santa Elena, Antiguo Cuscatlán
La Libertad
Telephone: 503-2501-2999
Fax: 503-2278-6020
Email: ACSSanSal@state,gov
The Consular Section is open for services to U.S. citizens from 8:15 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. weekdays, excluding U.S. and Salvadoran holidays and the first Friday of each month. U.S. citizens with emergencies may come to the Embassy any weekday between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. After business hours, the Embassy can be contacted by telephone at 503-2501-2316 or 503-2501-2253.
Read the full government profile — flag symbolism, national anthem, and other national symbols.
View full government detailsEconomy
Economy
Since adopting the US dollar as its official currency in 2001, El Salvador has ceded control over monetary policy and must rely on fiscal discipline to maintain economic stability.
Snapshot
- Currency Name and Code
- US Dollar (USD)
- GDP — official exchange rate
- $16,520,000,000 (USD)
- GDP Real Growth Rate
- 2.4%
- Gini Index
- 52.5
News & Weather
News & Weather
Current Weather
Latest News
El Salvador opposition pitch former lawmaker, doctor to run against Bukele in 2027 - Reuters
Reuters · 13h ago
Venezuelan Men Wrongfully Sent to CECOT Prison in El Salvador File Lawsuit Against Two U.S. Aviation Firms - Democracy Now!
Democracy Now! · 1h ago
Run-in with ICE still plagues El Salvador star’s career nine years on - The Times
The Times · 9h ago
Archaeologists find 2,800-year-old burial of person clutching sea turtle vessel in El Salvador - Yahoo
Yahoo · 2d ago
Bitcoin Course at Risk in El Salvador? 2027 Election Rivals Challenge Nayib Bukele - Yahoo Finance
Yahoo Finance · 1h ago
US judge blocks Trump bid to strip work permits from immigrants - Al Jazeera
Al Jazeera · 5d ago
Human remains from 850 B.C. found underneath volcanic ash in El Salvador - CBS News
CBS News · 5d ago
Powerful earthquake in Mexico shakes Guatemala and El Salvador - CNN
CNN · 10d ago
News via Google News
Climate Overview
El Salvador's tropical climate has pronounced wet and dry seasons. The dry season, "verano" or summer, from December to April is dusty, especially in rural areas. The hottest months of the year, March and April, immediately precede the rainy season, "invierno" (winter). During the May-November rainy season, mornings are usually clear, with heavy rains in early evening and at night. Thunder and strong winds occasionally accompany the rain, and some June and September mornings are overcast. Occasional 2- to 3-day rainy spells occur. The average annual rainfall is 66 inches.
The three geographic zones have distinct climatic characteristics. The narrow coastal belt is a hot tropical savanna with lush vegetation and temperatures that average 80°F. The central highlands, where San Salvador lies, are slightly cooler, with an average temperature of 73°F. San Salvador's temperatures range from 50°F to 90°F throughout the year. Incoming polar air infrequently causes cold nights and even frost. The highlands in the extreme north of El Salvador are consistently cool.
Earthquakes and volcanic eruptions have littered El Salvador's history. Earthquakes ranging from 6.5 to 7.9 on the Richter Scale have struck the country at least 15 times since 1700. The most serious recent earthquakes occurred on January 13 and February 13, 2001. Although damage in San Salvador was slight, schools, hospitals, businesses, and public buildings throughout the country were damaged or destroyed. These two powerful quakes resulted in 1,300 deaths and left more than one million homeless. Infrastructure damages are estimated at $1.6 billion, or 12% of the country's GDP.
Of the volcanoes located within the metropolitan area of San Salvador, Volcano San Salvador erupted last in 1917 and Volcano Ilopango in 1879.
Although hurricanes do not usually threaten El Salvador directly, strong Caribbean storms can generate heavy winds and rains. Hurricane Mitch hit El Salvador in November 1998, generating extreme rainfall which caused widespread flooding.
Videos
Videos
1 curated YouTube videos.
Source: YouTube
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
How do people greet each other in El Salvador?
What are the dining customs in El Salvador?
What etiquette should I know when visiting a home in El Salvador?
How should I dress in El Salvador?
What gestures should I be careful with in El Salvador?
What is family life like in El Salvador?
What do people do for recreation in El Salvador?
What is the capital of El Salvador?
Where is El Salvador located?
What countries border El Salvador?
What is the predominant religion in El Salvador?
What currency is used in El Salvador?
What languages are spoken in El Salvador?
What is notable about El Salvador's geography and population density?
What is El Salvador known for?
Last reviewed 2026