El Salvador FAQs
Pre-Arrival Boat: There are no pre-arrival requirements. See Clearance for details of entry and exit procedures.
Pre-Arrival Crew: Nationalities that require a visa can purchase one on entry. See Immigration for details.
Where can I enter? The only cruiser-friendly port of entry is Bahia Del Sol.
Are fees high to enter by yacht? There are no entry fees other than visa fees, if required, and a temporary permit fee to cruise in El Salvador waters at $30 a month. See Fees for more details.
What security concerns should I know about? Violent crime is a serious problem throughout the country, however, very few serious crimes against yachts have ever been reported. See Security for more info.
El Salvador Facts for Sailors
- El Salvador lies on the west coast of Central America, bordering the Pacific Ocean. It is surrounded by Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. It has a diverse landscape of beaches, mountains and jungles.
- The total population of El Salvador is 6.5 million people with 2.1 million inhabitants living largest city and capital, San Salvador. Spanish is the official language.
- The currency is the US dollar. For details see General Info.
- El Salvador uses UTC -6 Central Standard Time. For specifics see General Info.
- El Salvador has two main seasons: Dry Season (November to April) is arid and warm with little rain. Rainy Season (May to October) is when the risk of tropical storms and hurricanes are higher. See Weather section below for more details.
- Cruising boats are welcome to stop in El Salvador. There are two ports where recreational boats can visit: Bahia del Sol and Isla Meanguera in the Gulf of Fonseca. Acajutla is a commercial port and is not recommended for recreational cruisers and La Union has no infrastructure for visiting yachts.
- Boats travelling in the Gulf of Fonseca are likely to be intercepted, and possibly boarded, by Navy patrol boats who check for proper zarpes. Be aware that three different countries border the Gulf.
- Cruising boats are discouraged by the port officials to arrive in Acajulta because it is a shipping port.
- Both Bahia del Sol and Barillas have convenient access to major supplies if you can spend a few days to travel to nearby large cities where you can find almost everything you need.
- The abundant sea life attracts local fishermen and long lines that are common along this coast. The lines may be marked with a black flag and a strobe light, but some have only with a few plastic bottles tied to the ends.
- For more information see Yachting Essentials.
