El Salvador Country & Tourist Information

Location
Central America.

Area
21,040 sq km (8,124 sq miles).

Population
6.9 million (2005 estimate).

Population Density
328 per sq km.

Capital
San Salvador.
Population: 2.2 million.

Government
Republic.

Language
The official language is Spanish. English is widely spoken.

Religion
The majority are Roman Catholic; a small percentage Protestant.

Time
GMT - 6.

Electricity
115 volts AC, 60Hz. Plugs used are American-style (with two parallel flat blades with or without a circular grounding pin).

Head of State
President Elias Antonio Saca since 2004.

Recent History
Broadcaster-turned-politician Tony Saca won a five-year term after presidential elections in 2004. It was the fourth successive victory for the right-wing Arena party. Saca pledged to crack down on criminal gangs, to strive for transparency in government and to strengthen bonds with the USA. Saca has rejected calls to scrap amnesty laws, which protect former officials from prosecution. He owns a radio network and backs the free-market policies of his predecessor Francisco Flores.

Telephone
Country code: 503.

Mobile Telephone
Roaming agreements exist with some international mobile phone companies. Coverage is variable.

Internet
Internet access is readily available in San Salvador and the main tourist destinations.

Media
Press freedom is guaranteed under El Salvador’s constitution. Most radio and TV stations are privately run. There are some 70 radio stations in the capital alone. Cable TV is available across much of the country and carries a wide range of international channels.

Post
Airmail to Europe takes up to two weeks. The main branch is in Centro de Gobierno.

Post office hours: Mon-Fri 0830-1600.

Press
• Among the daily newspapers published in San Salvador are El Diario de Hoy, El Mundo and La Prensa Gráfica.
• There are several provincial papers.

Radio
• Radio El Salvador is state run.
• Radio YSKL, FM Globo, Femenina 102.5 and Radio Cadena Central are commercial stations.

Below are listed Public Holidays for the January 2009-December 2010 period.

2009
1 Jan New Year's Day. 
10-13 Apr Easter.
1 May Labor Day.
3 Aug Fiesta de San Salvador.
4-6 Aug Fiestas Patronales.
15 Sep Independence Day.
12 Oct Día de la Raza.
2 Nov All Souls' Day.
24-25 Dec Christmas Day.
31 Dec New Year's Eve.

2010
1 Jan New Year's Day.
2-5 Apr Easter.
1 May Labor Day.
3 Aug Fiesta de San Salvador.
4-6 Aug Fiestas Patronales.
15 Sep Independence Day.
11 Oct Día de la Raza.
2 Nov All Souls' Day.
24-25 Dec Christmas Day.
31 Dec New Year's Eve.

Contact Information:

Corporacion Salvadoreña de Turismo (CORSATUR) (Salvadorian Tourism Corporation)
Edificio Carbonel 1, Colonia Roma, Alameda Dr Manuel Enrique Araujo y Pasaje Carbonel, San Salvador, El Salvador
Tel: 2243 7835.
Website: www.elsalvadorturismo.gob.sv
Promotes El Salvador abroad.

Instituto Salvadoreño de Turismo (ISTU) (Salvadorian Institute of Tourism)
Calle Rubén Darío 619, San Salvador, El Salvador
Tel: 2222 8000 (ext 131/151).
Website: www.istu.gob.sv
Deals with tourism within El Salvador.

Embassy of El Salvador in the UK
8 Dorset Square, London NW1 6PU, UK
Tel: (020) 7224 9800.
E-mail: elsalvador.embassy@gmail.com
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 1000-1600.

Embassy of El Salvador in the USA
1400 16th Street, NW, Suite 100, Washington, DC 20036, USA
Tel: (202) 265 9671/2.
Website: www.elsalvador.org
Also provides tourist information.



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