El Salvador is a country with mysterious secrets and fun facts that have lured tourists for several years. It is a scenic nation with beautiful destinations that have led people to discover interesting insights about their environment. The rich culture of El Salvador has captivated its citizens to welcome visitors with open arms. Take a look at these 10 fun facts about El Salvador to help you plan your next trip with ease.
El Salvador is known as the land of volcanoes
El Salvador is called “The Land of Volcanoes” by its inhabitants. There are over 100 volcanoes in El Salvador that have provided plenty of hiking trails for its people. The active volcanoes in the Central American country haven’t erupted since 2023, making El Salvador safe for tourists in the past few months.
Santa Ana Volcano is the highest volcano in El Salvador. It is 2,381 m above sea level. You can watch large clouds slowly pass by Santa Ana Volcano throughout the day. Santa Ana Volcano has 4 calderas and volcanic craters. The moisture around the volcano and frequent spells of rain have maintained a hospitable climate for Salvadorans.
San Vincente is the second highest volcano with hot springs spread across the mountains. Many travelers who visit El Salvador also make it a point to trek the San Miguel Volcano for its lush green surroundings.
Pyramids can be found all over El Salvador
Ancient structures such as pyramids are located all around El Salvador. The Mayans who made El Salvador their home have left a deep impression of pre-Colombian culture. Tazumal is a significant archaeological site that is situated in the city of Chalchuapa. Excavations in Tazumal have revealed metal objects and artifacts scattered in pyramids.
San Andrés in El Salvador has a number of pyramids including the La Campana. People can scale the pyramids and have a grand view of indigo farms at the archeological site. The museum at San Andrés is one of the most fascinating places to visit in the Central American country.
El Salvador brews amazing coffee
Coffee is a major cash crop in El Salvador. It became the primary export of El Salvador after the decline of indigo flowers in the 19th century. Coffee is consumed by millions of people in El Salvador and is brewed fresh from the coffee beans cultivated on its lands.
The quality of coffee beans grown in El Salvador has turned coffee into a preferred beverage. Farmers spend most of their time gathering coffee beans and grinding them to get an amazing flavor. It was once the 4th largest producer of coffee in the world.
People yearn for sightings of Torogoz
Torogoz is El Salvador’s national bird. Strokes of turquoise can be seen above the eyes of Torogoz, giving it a unique appearance in the wild. It has an extended tail with 2 feathers and tufts at its edges. A majority of people in El Salvador and Central America consider Torogoz a symbol of unity.
Images and paintings of Torogoz are found throughout El Salvador. Tourists flock to El Salvador for sightings of the rare bird. It is one of more than 500 birds that are native to the region. Torogoz feeds on insects and small creatures in the forests.
Surfing is the main tourist attraction
El Salvador has a bustling coastline with abundant places to surf. Travelers regularly hit the waters of El Salvador with a surfing board to ride the waves. The Pacific Ocean provides a beautiful stretch of over 300 km across El Salvador to find a spot for surfing. Wet seasons last for a couple of months, letting people take their turn surfing near Punta Roca and Punta Mango.
El Salvador uses the US dollar as its currency
The US dollar became the official currency of El Salvador in 2001. Americans have rushed to El Salvador for their vacations after the adoption of the US dollar. Bitcoin became a legal tender in El Salvador in 2021, encouraging tourists to use the cryptocurrency for their transactions.
Digital security has been tightened in El Salvador. Large companies in finance, insurance, and casinos have implemented blockchain technology for their daily operations, providing tourists with hassle-free financial transactions for all their needs. You can spend Bitcoins in towns like El Zonte to play Baccarat, learn skateboarding, or book a guided tour.
San Salvador is the capital city
San Salvador is the capital of El Salvador. It is one of the largest and oldest cities in Central America. The San Salvador Volcano and San Jacinto Volcano are spectacular tourist destinations in the capital city.
People enjoy the taste of Pupusas
Pupusa is cherished by Salvadorans as a staple diet. It is the most famous dish of El Salvador. Pupusa is made by hand using maize, rice, cheese, and refried beans. The national dish is usually accompanied with tomato salsa.
There are magnificent churches in El Salvador
El Salvador translates to “The Savior”. The Central American country has dozens of churches that are rooted in colonial and modern architecture. You can visit the cathedrals in San Salvador and Santa Ana for their illustrious designs.
Citizens of El Salvador speak Spanish
Spanish is spoken widely by the people of El Salvador. There are funny variations of Spanish terms that are exclusively used by Salvadorans. Indigenous communities like the Aztecs in El Salvador speak to each other in a language called Nahuatl.
