El Salvador permits visa-free entry for citizens of the United States, Canada, European Union member states, Australia, and Japan for stays up to 90 days. Upon arrival at Monseñor Óscar Arnulfo Romero International Airport or land borders, travelers receive an entry stamp valid for 90 days within the Central America-4 Border Control Agreement territory, which includes Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua as a single migration zone. The 90-day period applies cumulatively across all four countries, not individually. Travelers must present a passport valid for at least six months beyond entry date. Exit fees are typically included in international airfare. Official requirements change periodically. The Salvadoran Ministry of Foreign Affairs website maintains current visa policies and the list of countries requiring advance visa applications.
The United States dollar has been El Salvador's official currency since January 1, 2001, when the Monetary Integration Law replaced the colón. The colón remains legal tender at a fixed rate of 8.75 colones per dollar but no longer circulates. All prices display in dollars. All U.S. banknote denominations function in daily transactions. Coins in circulation include U.S. pennies, nickels, dimes, and quarters. ATMs dispense U.S. dollars and operate in San Salvador, Santa Ana, San Miguel, and tourist areas along the Pacific coast. Most ATMs impose withdrawal limits between 200 and 500 dollars per transaction. Banks open Monday through Friday from 0900 to 1600 hours, with some branches offering Saturday morning hours. Credit cards see acceptance in hotels, restaurants, and larger stores in urban centers, with Visa and Mastercard more widely accepted than American Express or Discover. Small businesses, street vendors, and rural establishments operate cash-only. Tipping practices include 10 percent in restaurants where service charges are not included, one dollar per bag for hotel porters, and rounding up taxi fares.
San Salvador contains the Hospital de Diagnóstico Escalón, Hospital de la Mujer, and Hospital Bloom, which provide private care with specialist services. The national public system operates Hospital Nacional Rosales, founded in 1902, as the primary government facility in the capital. Santa Ana has Hospital Nacional San Juan de Dios. Coastal tourist areas around La Libertad and El Tunco have small clinics but limited emergency capacity. Pharmacies throughout urban areas stock common medications, many available without prescription. Dengue fever transmission occurs year-round at elevations below 1,200 meters, with peak incidence during the rainy season from May through November. The Pan American Health Organization reported 6,344 dengue cases in El Salvador during 2023. Malaria transmission was eliminated in El Salvador and certified by the World Health Organization in February 2021, making it the first Central American country to achieve elimination. Zika virus transmission decreased substantially after the 2016 outbreak but sporadic cases continue. Chikungunya cases appear occasionally. Tap water in San Salvador and major urban centers connects to treatment systems, but bottled water remains standard practice. Outside cities, water treatment varies. Altitude sickness does not pose risk since Cerro El Pital, the highest point at 2,730 meters, remains below the threshold for acute mountain sickness.
El Salvador's telecommunications market includes four major mobile operators: Tele fónica Movistar, Claro, Digicel, and Tigo. Prepaid SIM cards are available at supermarkets, gas stations, and carrier stores with identification. Passport suffices for tourists. A prepaid SIM with data package costs between 5 and 15 dollars depending on data volume. Coverage reaches 4G LTE in San Salvador, Santa Ana, San Miguel, and along the Pan-American Highway. Rural mountain areas and remote northern regions have reduced coverage. Free Wi-Fi appears in hotels, restaurants, and cafes in tourist zones. Internet cafes have declined but still exist in smaller towns, charging approximately one dollar per hour. San Salvador shopping centers offer free Wi-Fi. Mobile data speeds in the capital range from 10 to 30 Mbps on 4G networks under normal conditions.