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21 EPIC Things To Do In Santa Ana, El Salvador 2023

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Looking for the best things to do in Santa Ana El Salvador? You’re in thr right place! Santa Ana was the first location we visited in El Salvador, and we were just blown away by the friendly locals and the amount there was to do there!

Santa Ana is the perfect location to start your backpacking trip in El Salvador. It’s close to the Guatemalan border and has a number of adventurous and thrill-seeking activities to do nearby. Most backpackers use Santa Ana as a ‘base’, as it has some great hostels and accommodations to stay in.

In the following post, I delve into all of the best things to do in Santa Ana. Some of the activities are in town, whilst some may require booking a tour, hiring a car or using public transport. So, let’s get started!

Did you know I’ve written an in-depth guide about backpacking El Salvador? Check it out for what to do, public transport, where to stay, what to eat, how to stay safe and everything in between! ➡️ View the backpacking El Salvador guide now!

🇸🇻 Other El Salvador posts:

Santa Ana To El Tunco
Santa Ana, El Salvador

Things to do in Santa Ana: A Summary

Contents

Santa Ana in El Salvador is the second biggest city in the country. It is known for its abundance of street vendors, lively street markets, and beautiful cathedral, and as a place for backpackers to ‘base’ themselves whilst completing some of the best adventure tours nearby.

Whilst Santa Ana isn’t the prettiest city, it has a lot of soul to it. We found the locals to be exceptionally friendly and welcoming and loved trying some new dishes that we hadn’t seen before. We enjoyed the atmosphere of the main square and loved walking around the small markets in the centre of town.

If you’re visiting Santa Ana for the first time, I recommend staying for 3-4 nights. This gives you enough time to see all of the major sites, do some of the day trips (such as the volcano hike) and take a trip along the Ruta de las Flores.

Need help with planning your El Salvador trip? Check out my complete one week itinerary here!

Things to do in Santa Ana
Santa Ana Church

Where to stay in Santa Ana, El Salvador

Unfortunately, there aren’t many accommodations for tourists in Santa Ana (yet). We found finding accommodation here quite hard! It’s also a large city, and some areas are nicer than others, so be sure to check out the following hostels and hotels in some of the best areas.

If you are a backpacker in Santa Ana, I recommend checking out the following hostels:

  • Casa Verde: for all kinds of backpackers in Santa Ana
  • Casa Vieja Guest House: a family-run guest house that also runs tours all over Santa Ana
  • Hostel Velvet is also a great place for backpackers or digital nomads to stay in Santa Ana.

Related post: Backpacking El Salvador: A Complete Guide

Things to do in Santa Ana
Things to do in Santa Ana

Top 21 Things to Do in Santa Ana

1. Hike the Santa Ana Volcano in Cerro Verde National Park

🥾 Best guided tour: Santa Ana Volcano Hike Full Day Tour

One of the best things to do in Santa Ana is to visit the Cerro Verde National Park and hike the Ilamatepec volcano (aka Santa Ana Volcano). Ilamatepec is the highest volcano in El Salvador and reaches a height of 2381 metres (7812ft) above sea level.

You’ll hike for a couple of hours until you reach the summit, with incredible views of a bright blue lake inside the crater. If it’s a clear day, you can even see some of the surrounding mountains and valleys, as well as the neighbouring active Izalco Volcano!

The best thing about this volcano hike in Santa Ana is it’s suitable for all. It’s a fairly moderately challenging hike, and isn’t anything like hiking Acatenango in Guatemala!

Note that you must hike the Santa Ana volcano with a guide. Guides can either be pre-booked here or organised when you pay your entrance fees.

How to get from Santa Ana to Antigua?
Santa Ana volcano

2. Visit Lake Coatepeque

🥾 Best guided tour: Full Day Lake + Volcano Tour

Lake Coatepeque (Lago de Coatepeque) is a large crater lake around 2 hours from Santa Ana. It’s one of the best locations in El Salvador to visit and is a great day or overnight trip from Santa Ana.

There are plenty of activities to choose from when visiting Lake Coatepeque, from swimming, kayaking, paddleboarding and even tubing!

Even if you don’t feel like jumping in the water, you can admire the views from the sideline, and drink a beer in the famous Captain Morgan lakeside bar.

🚎 -TOP TIP: You can take a bus from Santa Ana to Lake Coatepeque. From Santa Ana, you will need to board the 209 or 220 bus. Just be sure to tell the driver that you are going to Lago de Coatepeque.

Things to do in Santa Ana
Lake Coatepeque

3. Drive along the Ruta de las Flores

🥾 Best guided tour: Ruta de las Flores: Hot Springs + Coffee Tour + Nahuizalco and Ataco Towns

The Ruta de las Flores is a scenic road connecting the towns of Juayua, Apaneca, Nahuizalco, Salcoatitán and Concepción de Ataco. It is the perfect day trip from Santa Ana, especially if you are hiring a car.

If you visit during the right season (November – February), you are likely to see colourful flowers lining the streets; hence the name ‘route of flowers’.

As well as spotting the beautiful flowers along the roads, you can stop off in the local towns and learn more about El Salvadorian culture. From coffee tours to hot springs, food markets and traditional Salvadorian dancing, the towns are a great way to experience some of the local cultures.

How to get from Santa Ana to Antigua?
Things to do in Santa Ana

4. Visit the small towns of Concepción de Ataco and Apaneca

Two of the prettiest towns on the Ruta de las Flores are Concepción de Ataco and Apaneca, and visiting them makes for the perfect morning trip from Santa Ana. Again, to do this, I recommend hiring a car.

Apaneca is known for its pretty architecture, with colonial buildings and a charming atmosphere. The town itself is 1486m above sea level and is surrounded by scenic mountain views. It’s one of the best places in El Salvador to take a coffee tour.

Concepción de Ataco is another colourful town along the Ruta de las Flores, with cobbled streets, bright street art and murals, arts and crafts markets and incredible local street food. It is also 1260 metres above sea level, so you will have some excellent views of the surrounding scenery.

5. Slide down the famous Rainbow Slide at Cafe Albania

🌈 Best guided tour: Rainbow Slide Tour

Fancy sliding down a 35m high rainbow slide, overlooking the El Salvadorian mountains and jungle? It may sound hard to believe – but there is a giant rainbow slide near Santa Ana that can be enjoyed by adrenaline junkies.

Located in Cafe Albania, this is an adventure park for those who want to do something a little different in Santa Ana. You can either drive to the adventure park yourself, or book a local tour to experience it!

6. Try the local foods at the Santa Ana Street markets

One of the best things about Santa Ana is the amount of street food available. It’s cheap, delicious and gives you a real insight into the culture of El Salvador. Some of the best street food from the markets in Santa Ana include:

  • Pupusas: thick corn tortillas stuffed with either meat, cheese, vegetables or a sweet filling like chocolate
  • Elote loco: crazy corn on the cob! Expect your corn to be served with lashings of sauce and cheese.
  • Yuca con chicharron: Fried yuca with chunks of pork belly and pickled cabbage slaw. In Santa Ana, the yuca comes from the nearby town of Chalchuapa, which is well-known by the locals as being some of the best in Latin America!
  • Tortas: a frilled hot dog and bun filled with ketchup and mustard.

Related post: La Paz – A Hidden Beach Close to El Tunco

Things to do in Santa Ana
Pupusas in El Salvador

7. Visit the Santa Ana Cathedral

🇸🇻 Best guided tour: Romantic Santa Ana Tour

If you’d prefer to stay in Santa Ana itself, a trip to the cathedral is a great option. You can view the cathedral from both the outside and inside, and even climb to the top for views over the whole city!

The Santa Ana Cathedral was built in the 16th century, making it over 400 years old. However, most of the building was destroyed by a lightning strike in the 19th century and was rebuilt over a hundred years later. Now, it is one of the most well-known buildings in El Salvador and attracts tourists every day.

It’s a great activity to do if you’re in Santa Ana, and it’s right next to some of the city’s best restaurants for a treat afterwards!

Things to do in Santa Ana
Santa Ana Cathedral

8. Zipline over the jungle at Cafe Albania

🫣 Best guided tour: Zipline Santa Ana

If you’re visiting Cafe Albania for the rainbow slide, you can also push yourself to zip line over the jungle whilst you’re there. Note you’ll have to pay an additional fee, but it’s worth it!

9. Enjoy the atmosphere of Santa Ana’s main square

🇸🇻 Best guided tour: Romantic Santa Ana Tour

Near the Santa Ana Cathedral and theatre is the Santa Ana main square. We found the Santa Ana square to really come alive at dusk, where you’ll find street performers, local music and street food. It’s a great experience if you’re spending time in Santa Ana.

The main square is also near to some of Santa Ana’s best restaurants, so you can enjoy a cocktail or two whilst enjoying the atmosphere!

Things to do in Santa Ana
Santa Ana main square

10. Eat pizza and drink cocktails at Simmer Down

If you’ve eaten enough street food in Central America, you can visit one of the best restaurants in Santa Ana – Simmer Down. With a menu full of pizza, pasta, seafood and desserts, it’s the perfect place to have some comfort food.

It also has an upstairs, where you can drink a cocktail and overlook the Santa Ana main square! Oh, and expect loud music, a lively atmosphere and DJs in the evenings!

Things to do in Santa Ana
Simmer Down restaurant, Santa Ana

11. Watch a show at the Santa Ana theatre

Fancy watching a show in the Santa Ana theatre to improve your Spanish? Tickets are available right up until showtime and can be as little as £3 ($4) a show. It’s a unique experience to have in Santa Ana El Salvador, that’s for sure! You can find the Santa Ana theatre close to the cathedral and main square.

Things to do in Santa Ana
Santa Ana theatre

12. Do a coffee tour

☕️ Best guided tour: Coffee Farm tour

El Salvador is world-famous for its coffee, so what better place to do a coffee tour? There are plenty of coffee tours which start in Santa Ana, and some even include trips along the Ruta de las Flores.

If you’re looking for the best coffee tour from Santa Ana, I highly recommend this one! You’ll travel up into the Apaneca Mountains, discover Indigenous villages, and visit the coffee plantations.

13. Visit the weekly food festival in Juayua

If you are doing the Ruta de las Flores on the weekend, make sure you stop at Juayua! Every weekend (and sometimes even Friday night), the main streets of Juayua transform into an open-air food festival.

There are street food vendors serving Salvadorian foods throughout the day, and the atmosphere is lively, fun and welcoming. It was one of the highlights of our Santa Ana trip!

14. Take an overnight trip to Suchitoto

🇸🇻 Best guided tour: Suchitoto Full-Day Tours

Suchitoto is known for its beautiful colonial architecture. It is a great day or overnight trip from Santa Ana if you have enough time on your El Salvador itinerary. It is a lot calmer than the bigger cities like Santa Ana and San Salvador, so it’s the perfect place to visit if you need a slower pace!

From museums to waterfalls, lake views and colourful streets, Suchitoto is a beautiful and vibrant city to visit in El Salvador.

Things to do in Santa Ana
Suchitoto

15. Do the seven waterfall hike

🥾 Best guided tour: Waterfall tour and hike

As well as the Ruta de las Flores being home to some of the prettiest villages in El Salvador, it is also home to the seven waterfall hike. Located in the town of Juayua, it’s not a hike for the faint-hearted, as it will involve some scrambling up high and slippery rocks, trekking through thick jungle and uneven, rocky paths.

However, the waterfalls make it worth it, with Chorros de la Calera being the most striking. It’s an adventurous day out, and one you won’t forget for a while!

🤔 Need more information on the seven waterfalls hike? Check out the AllTrails website here!

Things to do in Santa Ana
Things to do in Santa Ana

16. Go shopping in the Metrocentre

If you’re in need of some shopping whilst in Santa Ana, head to the Metrocentre. It’s one of the only modern shopping centres in the area and has high street stores, electrical shops and American food outlets such as Mcdonalds.

It’s a fun day out in Santa Ana, especially if you love shopping as much as I do! You can find the Santa Ana Metrocentre here.

17. Take a dip in the Santa Teresa/El Salto hot springs

💧 Best guided tour: Thermal Tour : Café Albania + Hot Springs + Ataco + Lunch

A visit to the hot springs is one of the best things to do in Santa Ana El Salvador. You can expect beautiful waterfalls, warm, water to swim in and tropical surroundings. If you’re seeking a little more adventure, you can also jump from the cliff edges and rock faces around the hot springs. An adventurous day out from Santa Ana!

18. Hike in the Cerro Verde National Park

🥾 Best guided tour: Cerro Verde National Park Tours

If you’d like to do some hiking whilst in Santa Ana El Salvador, head to the Cerro Verde National Park. As well as being home to the Santa Ana volcano, the park is full of hikes, trails and walks to enjoy some of the El Salvador countryside.

There are plenty of walks to choose from, where you can observe the beautiful volcanoes in the distance, spot rare flora and fauna and look out for wildlife. It’s a great thing to do whilst in Santa Ana!

Things to do in Santa Ana
Cerro Verde National Park

19. Visit the Joya de Ceren archaeological site

🥾 Best guided tour: Joya de Ceren archaeological site tour

The Joya de Ceren archaeological site was previously a large farming area. Around 600 AD, a volcanic eruption swallowed the community whole, and it was buried in the rubble, similar to the Pompeii devastation in Italy.

You can now visit the archaeological site as a day trip from Santa Ana, and learn more about the prehispanic community and the events that took place thousands of years ago.

20. Take photos in the art school ruins

A different type of activity to do in Santa Ana is to visit an abandoned art school which was built in 1855. The art school is now a mysterious building of ruins, making it the perfect day out for curious, dark tourists (as well as budding photographers). The art ruins are open throughout the day and can be visited for free.

21. Take an overnight trip to the Captain Morgan hostel on Lake Coatepeque

Finally, if you have the time whilst visiting El Salvador, I recommend spending the evening at the Captain Morgan hostel. As the lake is around 2 hours from Santa Ana, one option is to stay overnight to enjoy it properly. This specific hostel overlooks Lake Coatepeque and is known for being one of the best backpacker hostels in the country!

Sip on a cocktail overlooking the lake, jump in with your new hostel friends, swing on the hammocks and relax or hire a paddleboard to see the lake even closer.

You can book your stay at the Captain Morgan backpacker hostel here.

Things to do in Santa Ana
Santa Ana Volcano

Where to eat and drink in Santa Ana

If you are visiting El Salvador for the first time, eating in the local pupuserias is a must. Pupusas are the national dish of El Salvador and are pancake-like tortillas, stuffed with either a savoury or sweet filling.

Pupusas can be bought all over Santa Ana, and usually taste the best when ordered from the small street food stalls or the hole-in-the-wall venues. They’re also perfect for backpackers on a budget – one pupusa only costs 80p ($1!)

Other than pupusas, you can also buy ‘elote loco‘ all over Santa Ana. This is translated as ‘crazy corn’, and again, can be bought all over the city.

Essentially, it’s corn on the cob layered with sauces such as ketchup, mayonnaise, Worcester sauce, mustard, hot sauce and thick, melted cheese. Oh, and they call Worcester sauce ‘salsa Inglesa’ here. Yes, we were just as shocked to see this as you will be!

There are also cheap El Salvadorian burgers and hotdogs sold in some of the small street food stalls.

Looking for something other than local food? Check out Simmer Down, a popular pizza and pasta food restaurant near the Santa Ana main square. There’s also Cafe Tejas, which serves salads, pasta and cerviche.

Transport around Santa Ana

If you are already staying in Santa Ana, the easiest way to get around is by walking. Most of the city centre attractions are close together and can be accessed on foot.

However, there are also Ubers available and yellow public taxis. Just be sure to check the taxi you get into in Santa Ana is licensed. If you need to travel out of the city, public buses are widely available and run frequently throughout the day.

Things to do in Santa Ana
Taxis in Santa Ana

Getting to and from Santa Ana

Getting to Santa Ana from the airport

El Salvador airport is around a 2-hour drive from Santa Ana. To travel between the two, you can either rent a car, hire a private driver or take a public bus.

If you are taking the bus, you will need to travel from the airport to San Salvador first. From San Salvador to Santa Ana, it is the 210 bus from Terminal de Occident all of the way.

Things to do in Santa Ana
Things to do in Santa Ana

Getting to Santa Ana from Antigua, Guatemala

Most backpackers, when travelling from Guatemala to El Salvador, depart from Antigua and enter El Salvador at Santa Ana. There are three ways to get from Antigua to Santa Ana:

  • Shuttle (most common backpacker way)
  • Public bus (cheapest option but with the longest duration)
  • Private transfer (most expensive but the quickest option)

If you’re backpacking El Salvador, the most common, safest and easiest way to travel between Santa Ana and Antigua is by shuttleThe shuttles hold around 16 people and are full of other backpackers.

➡️ For a detailed guide on how to travel from Antigua (Guatemala) to Santa Ana, check out my post here.

Guatemala to El Salvador border
Guatemala to El Salvador border

Getting to Santa Ana from El Tunco

If you’re backpacking El Salvador, the most common, safest and easiest way to travel between Santa Ana and El Tunco is by shuttleThe shuttles hold around 16 people and are full of other backpackers.

Shuttles in El Salvador can either be pre-booked online or booked by a travel agent. There are many travel agents all over Santa Ana where you can book your shuttle. Alternatively, your Santa Ana hostel should have options to book shuttles to El Tunco.

🚎 If you’d rather get the public bus from El Tunco to Santa Ana, check out my detailed guide on travelling between the two places here.

Things to do in Santa Ana
Things to do in Santa Ana, El Salvador

Getting 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!

Public buses in El Salvador: Are they safe?

Public buses in El Salvador are similar to the chicken buses in Guatemala (just with less decoration!). They are an easy and common way to get around the country, mainly because they are so frequent and cost-effective.

As a backpacker in El Salvador, it is important to stick to buses that take safe and well-known routes. It is still common for buses in El Salvador to be targeted by criminals in unsafe neighbourhoods.

Policing isn’t common on buses, so there is also the issue of reckless bus drivers and speeding on roads in bad conditions.

Again, most of the time, public buses in El Salvador are safe. But to be even safer, make sure you are taking a well-known route, keep your belongings close to you and use common sense.

⚠️ For more information about safety and staying safe in El Salvador, particularly on public buses, please read the following UK Government advice.

🚗 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!

Backpacking El Salvador
Public buses in El Salvador are similar to those in Guatemala

Is Santa Ana, El Salvador safe?

In general, Santa Ana in El Salvador is safe. However, I advise sticking to the tourist-focused and busy areas. Most trips to El Salvador will be trouble-free, but it’s important to know that there are still violent areas, and some cities are less safe than others.

However, the main backpacker locations in Santa Ana are safe. To add extra safety precautions, stay in the main backpacker hostels in these areas. As a reminder, these are Casa Verde, Casa Vieja Guest House or Velvet Hostal.

⚠️ For more information about safety and staying safe in El Salvador, please read the following UK Government advice.

Check out my honest opinion about safety in El Salvador here 🫣 | Is El Salvador Safe? Solo Female Travellers Advice

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: 

➡ Check out more tours for your trip here!

Things to do in Santa Ana
Things to do in Santa Ana

Where to go after Santa Ana

After visiting El Salvador, most backpackers do one of the following.

☀️ Travel south to the coast and to the beach town of El Tunco. For details on how to travel to El Tunco from Santa Ana, check out my detailed guide here.

🇬🇹 Travel NORTH to Guatemala. You can easily get to Antigua (Guatemala) from Santa Ana (El Salvador). ➡️ For a full guide on travelling from Santa Ana to Anitgua, click here.

🇭🇳 Travel EAST to Honduras. You can travel to Honduras easily from El Salvador. Most backpackers visit the Copan Ruins and Utila in Honduras.

🇳🇮 Travel SOUTH to Nicaragua. Another option is to travel to Leon, south of El Salvador. There are direct shuttles from El Tunco to Leon, Nicaragua. Bear in mind – this takes around 19-20 hours!

✈️ Fly out of the country to another destination. There is an international airport in El Salvador, around 2 hours from Santa Ana. ➡️ Check flight prices now.

Related post: Travelling from Santa Ana to El Tunco Beach

El Tunco El Salvador
I recommend visiting El Tunco after Santa Ana!

Things to do in Santa Ana: FAQs

1) What is Santa Ana El Salvador known for?

Santa Ana El Salvador is known for being the second biggest city in El Salvador. It is also known for being in close proximity to the Cerro Verde National Park, which is home to the Santa Ana volcano.

It is a great place for backpackers in El Salvador to base themselves whilst enjoying some of the best adrenaline-fuelled activities in the country.

Related post: El Tunco Beach, A Complete Guide

Things to do in Santa Ana
Things to do in Santa Ana, El Salvador

2) Why should I visit Santa Ana El Salvador?

Santa Ana is El Salvador’s second-largest city, after the capital of San Salvador. It’s a traditional Salvadorian city, with bustling streets, busy market stands, smells of local foods and a true insight into what local life looks like.

Whilst it isn’t one of the prettiest of cities in the world, it’s an excellent base to have when exploring some of the other parts of the country, including the Santa Ana volcano, Suchitoto, the Rutas de las Flores and Lake Coatepeque.

3) What is the most visited place in El Salvador?

El Tunco is the most visited location in El Salvador. It is on the southern Pacific coast and attracts both tourists and locals due to its fun nightlife, incredible surfing spots and beautiful sunsets.

Related post: El Tunco Beach, A Complete Guide To El Salvador’s Liveliest Beach | Best + Safest Hostels in El Tunco, El Salvador

El Tunco El Salvador
El Tunco El Salvador

4) Is El Salvador good for tourists?

Yes! El Salvador is great for tourists, especially if you would like to do some of the adventurous activities the country has to offer. For example, hiking the Santa Ana volcano, sliding down the famous Rainbow Slide, swimming in Lake Coatapeque and jumping in waterfalls at Tamanique

🤩 Related post: Backpacking El Salvador? Be sure to check out my in-depth guide on backpacking El Salvador here!

5) Do I need a car to travel around El Salvador?

This is down to personal preference. We found El Salvador easy enough to travel around via buses and shuttles, but one of the preferred modes of most backpackers is hiring a car. 

You can hire a car and drive around the entire country at your own pace. Driving in El Salvador is safe and straightforward. Some of the main towns and cities are a distance away from each other, so to maximise your time in the country, you may want to hire a car

🇸🇻 If you’re looking to hire a car in El Salvador, we rent our cars from this company. They’re reliable, cheap and have car rentals all over the world!  ➡ You can check out the prices for car hire in El Salvador now!

El Tunco El Salvador
Sunsets on El Tunco El Salvador

6) How many days is enough for El Salvador?

If you are backpacking El Salvador for the first time, visit for a minimum of 7 days. This will give you enough time to experience the culture in Santa Ana, hike the volcano, do some activities and head down to the beaches in El Tunco. El Tunco is also a great place for a crazy night out, so you may want to budget in a hangover day!

Related post: 7-Day Itinerary for El Salvador

7) 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!

Related post: La Paz – A Hidden Beach Close to El Tunco | Is El Salvador Safe? Solo Female Travellers Advice

Things to do in Santa Ana
Things to do in Santa Ana

Best backpacker travel insurance for Central America

If you’re visiting Central America as a backpacker, or even for a short vacation, it is so important to have travel insurance. And if you ended up on a post that’s called ‘epic party tips’, you know (just as well as I do) that you definitely need travel insurance.

Personally, I recommend SafetyWingAs a digital nomad and world traveller myself, I can confirm it is the best travel insurance out there. And one of the cheapest – they have deals that start at just $42 USD per month.

I know, I know, you’re thinking ‘but I can’t afford that!’. I was the same! It’s tough to fork out $42 a month on something ‘you might not need’. But what if something DOES happen? That extra Mezcal shot results in you falling down the stairs, or you eat something dodgy from a street food van.

If you need medical help at any point whilst in Central America, you need travel insurance.

With SafetyWing, you’re covered on travel emergencies, basic medical costs and medical expenses throughout your trip, so you can travel without worry (at a backpacker’s price!)

Don’t even think twice about getting travel insurance for Central America. Trust me, I have heard enough horror stories about backpackers who haven’t had insurance and have ended up in a lot of debt. Don’t be that person!

If you’ve been putting the job off because it takes a lot of time and effort to research the best travel insurance companies, I understand. That’s why I’ve done the hard work for you. Sign up for SafetyWing, and the job is done!

Safety wing
SafetyWing

Things to do in Santa Ana, El Salvador: In a Nutshell

So, there you have it! Everything you need to know about things to do in Santa Ana, 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!

And don’t forget I’ve written a comprehensive, easy-to-read guide about backpacking El Salvador, so be sure to check it out before you visit!

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

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MEET THE AUTHOR!

Jennie Wanders Avatar

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).

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