El Salvador — Overview
El Salvador (‘The Saviour' in Spanish) might be the smallest country in Central America, but it is well worth exploring. Newcomers are frequently bowled over by this stunning volcanic landscape, and quickly warm to the openness of its people.
Volcanos and beaches
This tiny tropical land is bursting with natural attractions, including the Cerro Verde National Park, the volcanic lakes of Ilopango and Coatepeque, and impressive beaches; the breakers rolling in from the Pacific Ocean make the coast of Sonsonate and La Unión provinces a major draw for surfers, while the resorts of the Costa del Sol are a 90-minute drive from the capital. El Salvador also offers interesting archaeological sites from Maya civilization, and the Ruta de Las Flores takes visitors to some of the prettiest villages and market towns.
Recovery and tourism
While civil war and a succession of natural disasters left El Salvador physically devastated and psychologically traumatized, the country is in rapid recovery. Tourism has become a government priority: new initiatives include a golf and fishing complex in Usulutan, an adventure resort in the mountains of Chalatenango, and a marina at La Libertad. While crime remains a problem, the National Civilian Police (PNC) have a generally good reputation, and security for tourists has improved greatly with the introduction of a specially trained tourist police force, Politur, which operates at destinations throughout the country.
Geography
El Salvador is situated in Central America and is bordered north and west by Guatemala, north and east by Honduras, and south and west by the Pacific Ocean. Most of the country is volcanic uplands, along which run two almost parallel rows of volcanos; the highest are Santa Ana at 2,365m (7,759ft), San Vicente at 2,182m (7,159ft) and San Salvador at 1,943m (6,375ft). Volcanic activity has resulted in a thick layer of ash and lava on the highlands, creating a richly mineralised soil, ideal for coffee planting. Lowlands lie to the north and south of the high backbone.
