Best Time to Visit El Salvador: Complete Guide 2023
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Looking for the best time to visit El Salvador? El Salvador is one of the best countries in Central America to go backpacking. But when is the best time to visit?
If you’re backpacking Central America, El Salvador is likely to come after Guatemala or Nicaragua. Both have similar weather to El Salvador and have distinct rainy and dry seasons, similar to Central America itself.
El Salvador is only a small country, so the weather in one part does not differ dramatically from another. There may be small differences (a few degrees hotter or a few more downpours), but in general, there is the dry and wet season in El Salvador.
In the following post, I discuss the best times to visit El Salvador – from the cheapest months to the driest and the warmest.
🇸🇻 Other El Salvador posts:
- El Salvador Itinerary: One Week In El Salvador
- Backpacking El Salvador: Routes, Itinerary, Safety + More!
- El Tunco El Salvador: COMPLETE Guide
- Antigua To Santa Ana El Salvador COMPLETE Guide!
- How To Get From Santa Ana To El Tunco: COMPLETE Guide
Best Time to Visit El Salvador: A Summary
It’s important to note that El Salvador really only has two seasons – the rainy season, and the dry season. It’s also worth noting that you can visit El Salvador 365 days a year, and still have a great time.
Most tourists and backpackers head to El Salvador during the dry season. This is when you can expect warm temperatures, sunny skies and more expensive accommodation prices (but not by much).
If you do want to save a few pennies, head to El Salvador in the rainy season. April – October is also the best time of year for surfers, especially in El Tunco, because of the high tide and waves.
| Best overall time to visit El Salvador | November – April |
| Cheapest time to visit El Salvador | May – November |
| Rainy season in El Salvador | May – October |
| Dry season in El Salvador | November – April |
| The coldest month in El Salvador | December |
| The hottest month in El Salvador | April |
Related post: One Week in El Salvador: Full Itinerary | El Salvador in March
Best overall time to visit El Salvador
The overall best time to visit El Salvador is during the dry season, which is from November – May. Although it is known to be the ‘busiest’ time of year for backpackers and tourists to visit, it’s when you can expect the best types of weather.
The end of November is particularly known as a good time to visit El Salvador. This is mainly due to the rain coming to an end, it is particularly quiet with tourists and the peak prices haven’t kicked in yet.
But really, the best time to visit El Salvador is down to personal preference. If you enjoy surfing or lower prices, visiting during the ‘off-season’ may be better for you, which would be between May and November.
Related post: Best and safest hostels in El Tunco, El Salvador | EPIC Things To Do In Santa Ana, El Salvador
Best time to visit El Salvador on a budget
The cheapest times to visit El Salvador are between May and November. This is because of the rainy season. However, it is only marginally cheaper, and if you can deal with a few torrential downpours, it’s an excellent time to go to El Salvador.
The last week of November is one of the cheapest and best times to visit El Salvador. This is because the rainy season has come to an end, yet the peak prices have not kicked in yet.
🤩 Related post: Backpacking El Salvador? Be sure to check out my in-depth guide on backpacking El Salvador here!
Best time to visit El Salvador for surfing
If you are looking for great surf conditions in El Salvador, head to the country around the months of March and April. Due to the coastline (such as El Tunco) facing south, the best swells are from the south and southwest. Even though it’s coming into a wetter season, the months of March and April create stronger swells hitting the shores; making excellent surfing conditions.
When we visited El Salvador in March, the beach (specifically El Tunco) was full of surfers, both beginner and advanced.
The worst time to visit El Salvador
The worst time to visit El Salvador is the first week of August. This is when most schools in El Salvador have their summer holidays, so you can expect busy and tourist-filled beaches, streets and restaurants.
Because of the influx of tourists, you can expect hotels and attractions to be fully booked, and often more expensive than the rest of the year.
August is also considered one of the wetter months in El Salvador, so you can expect a lot of rain and torrential downpour. August is the worst time of year to visit El Salvador, but still manageable if it’s the only time you can visit.
When is summer in El Salvador?
Although El Salvador technically only has two seasons (rainy and dry), its summer is from November to April. The hottest month in El Salvador is April when you can expect long, dry and sunny days.
🚗 One of the easiest and most popular ways to travel around El Salvador is by rental car. Driving in El Salvador is safe, straightforward and easy. ➡ Check car hire prices in El Salvador now!
What is the rainiest month in El Salvador?
The rainiest month in El Salvador is September, when you can expect around 358 mm of rain throughout the month. Showers in El Salvador tend to come in the afternoon and can be torrential. You can expect rainfall to be over in an hour or two.
The air during August-September is also muggy and humid. According to Weatherspark.com, the weather in these months can be oppressive and dewy at least 47% of the time.
What is the hottest month in El Salvador?
April is the hottest month in El Salvador, with daily temperatures reaching 80°F (27°C). Usually, the shortest day is in December, with over 11 hours of daylight; the longest day is in June, with nearly 13 hours of daylight.
🌈 Recommended tour in El Salvador: The Rainbow Slide! Slide down a colourful rainbow slide – a must-do for any adrenaline junkies in El Salvador! ➡ Check prices now!
National holidays in El Salvador
August is the busiest month in El Salvador in terms of festivals and events. Even though it’s one of the wettest months, the schools are on holiday and the country’s biggest events take place. Some of the El Salvadorian National holidays include:
Fiesta de San Salvador: start of August – expect street parties, parades, live music, marching bands and of course, hundreds of local food stalls!
Fiestas Agostinas: start of August – a time dedicated to the patron saint, “El Salvador del Mundo”. Another time of parties and celebrations.
Fiesta Patronales: start of August – a day dedicated to Jesus, with temporary amusement parks, celebrations, parades and more.
Balls of Fire Festival: 31 August – celebrated in the small town of Nejapa. Rags are rolled into balls and coated in gasoline to create ‘fireballs’. It is to remember the volcano that erupted in 1922, causing all residents of Nejapa to flee.
🇸🇻 EL SALVADOR TIP: The most practised religion in El Salvador is Christianity, so you can expect big traditions and festivities around the Christian calendar. This includes Christmas and Easter.
Best time of year to backpack Central America
Similar to El Salvador, Central America’s dry season is from November to March. This makes it an ideal time to go backpacking over the Christmas period and into the new year. Whilst travelling Central America ourselves, we found the best weather (sunniest, brightest, driest) to be from December to April.
📲 Don’t forget to download your eSim for El Salvador! ESIMs are easy to download and ready to use within a few minutes of purchasing, so there’s no longer a need to hunt down free Wifi! ➡ You can check out the prices and packages for eSIMs here!
Where to stay if you’re visiting El Salvador for the first time
Knowing where to stay in El Salvador is important. Although the majority of areas in El Salvador are now safe, you want to be somewhere where you feel secure and surrounded by like-minded travellers.
Below I have listed some of the best hostels in certain locations in El Salvador. These have all been personally tried by myself or another travel blogger that has recommended it.
🇸🇻 One word of advice when finding accommodation in El Salvador. Stick to the main areas. We accidentally booked somewhere away from one of the main tourist areas and didn’t enjoy it. We felt unsafe and it ruined part of our experience. We ended up leaving halfway through to move to a more touristic area. Do your research, and stick to the busy areas.
Best hostel in Santa Ana: Casa Verde
Best hostel in El Tunco: Canuck’s Guest House or Papaya Lodge
Best hostel on Lake Coatepeque: Captain Morgan
View all El Salavor hostels now!
Related post: Best and safest hostels and hotels in El Tunco, El Salvador
Bucket list tours in El Salvador
Looking to book a tour in El Salvador? Tours are one of the best and safest ways to see the hidden gems of El Salvador. If you’re travelling during peak season, I highly recommend pre-booking your tours to ensure you don’t miss out!
When travelling, we use this company to book our tours. Tours include skip-the-line tickets to the world’s most iconic attractions, walking tours by top local experts, immersive food and beverage tours, cooking and craft classes, bucket list experiences, and niche offerings you won’t find anywhere else!
Some of the best tours in El Salvador include:
- Santa Ana Volcano, Full Day Tour 🌋 ➡ check prices here!
- Rainbow Slide Experience 🌈 ➡ check prices here!
- Tamanique Waterfalls and El Tunco Beaches ➡ check prices here!
- Day trip to Honduras, Copan Ruins 🇭🇳 ➡ check prices here
- Half-Day San Salvador City Tour ➡ check prices here!
➡ Check out more tours for your trip here!
Related post: EPIC Things To Do In Santa Ana, El Salvador
Best time to visit El Salvador: FAQs
1) What is the cheapest time of year to travel to El Salvador?
May-November is the cheapest time to visit El Salvador, due to it being rainy season. However, it is only fractionally cheaper than visiting during the dry season. Look at flights, accommodation and activity prices to decide the best time to visit El Salvador according to your budget.
🤩 Related post: Backpacking El Salvador: Complete Guide
2) Is El Salvador cheap to visit?
Backpacking in El Salvador is relatively cheap, and you can live off around £30-40 ($35-45) per day. This includes eating street food such as pupusas, staying in shared dorm rooms and walking as the main mode of transport. Days on the beach in El Salvador can be free, and even if you want to take a surfing lesson, it’s cheaper than some other locations in Central America.
If you’re a mid-range backpacker (like us), and would like to stay in private rooms and apartments, budget around £50-60 per night for accommodation. Then add money on top for food, drink and activities (roughly £30/$35 a day).
3) Do I need a SIM card to travel around El Salvador?
Yes, I highly recommend downloading an eSIM on your phone to ensure you can use it for directions and safety in El Salvador. We found most of the cities to be chaotic and difficult to find local SIM cards.
ESIMs are easy to download and ready to use within a few minutes of purchasing, so there’s no longer a need to hunt down free Wifi! ➡ You can check out the prices and packages for eSIMs here!
4) How do I get around El Salvador?
You can travel around El Salvador in multiple ways, depending on how much time you have, your budget and where you want to visit. The most common way for backpackers to travel around El Salvador is via rental car or shuttle.
🚗 GETTING AROUND EL SALVADOR BY CAR
One of the easiest and most popular way to travel around El Salvador is by rental car. Driving in El Salvador is safe, straightforward and easy. Driving in between towns like El Tunco and Santa Ana will save a lot of time on shuttles. You can also drive the Rutas De Flores at your own pace if you have your own car.
➡ Check car hire prices in El Salvador now!
🚖 GETTING AROUND EL SALVADOR BY A PRIVATE DRIVER
Hiring a private driver to get around El Salvador is one of the most popular and safest ways to see the country. Private drivers can be hired for different amounts of time.
➡ Check prices and bookings for your own private driver in El Salvador here.
🚌 GETTING AROUND EL SALVADOR BY SHUTTLE BUS
If you aren’t hiring a car in El Salvador, you can travel via shuttle bus. This is another easy and safe way to travel around El Salvador. Shuttles in El Salvador will be with other backpackers, and can either be booked online or via your hostel. I recommend pre-booking your shuttles in advance.
➡ Check shuttles in El Salvador now!
5) Is El Salvador safe for backpackers?
Yes, El Salvador is safe for backpackers, but I would advise sticking to the tourist-focused and busy areas. Whilst most trips will be trouble-free, there are still violence and crime areas, and some feel less safe than others. However, the main backpacker locations (Santa Ana, El Tunco) are safe. To add extra safety precautions, stay in the main backpacker hostels in these areas.
As a reminder, these are:
Best hostel in Santa Ana: Casa Verde or Velvet Hostal
Best hostel in El Tunco: Canuck’s Guest House or Papaya Lodge
Best hostel on Lake Coatepeque: Captain Morgan
🫣 Check out my honest opinion on safety in El Salvador here.
Best time to visit El Salvador: In a Nutshell
So, there you have it! Everything you need to know about the best time to visit El Salvador. When you’re planning a trip to El Salvador, make sure you let me know over on Instagram or in the comments below!
If you haven’t seen my blog before, I write posts aimed at first-time backpackers on a budget. I’m currently travelling around the world with my boyfriend (read more here!), creating guides and itineraries for you to follow in our footsteps!
Keep an eye out for more El Salvador content, all written from a personal and realistic point of view. You can sign up for my newsletter and juicy travel updates here!
As always, thanks for reading and supporting the blog!
Happy travelling 🙂
Jennie x
🇸🇻 Where to next?
- El Salvador Itinerary: One Week In El Salvador
- Backpacking El Salvador: Routes, Itinerary, Safety + More!
- BEST & Safest Hostels In El Tunco, El Salvador
- El Tunco El Salvador: COMPLETE Guide
- Antigua To Santa Ana El Salvador COMPLETE Guide!
- How To Get From Santa Ana To El Tunco: COMPLETE Guide
MEET THE AUTHOR!
Hi! I'm Jennie! As a part-time travel blogger based in London, I'm using my 10+ years of travel expertise to encourage & inspire you to step out of your comfort zone through sustainable, mindful and purposeful travel.
If I'm not writing, I'm either reading, drinking coffee or taking a wild swim (all at the same time if I'm feeling impressive).
