We have a lot of great stories to share from our three weeks in El Salvador. Like, the time we hiked to Tamanique Falls, and Bren decided to tackle the steep & rocky trail in bare feet.

Or, we could tell you about the few nights we spent in the beautiful Cerro Verde National Park. Here, we hiked the Santa Ana Volcano, which requires you to have a non-optional guide and armed guard.

There was also the many days spent watching surfers in small beach towns and nights spent camping in places we had all to ourselves. There was even a brief visit to the hospital in San Miguel when we thought that Bren may have contracted Malaria….he did not.

But, the stories we really want to tell are the ones about the unwavering kindness and hospitality we received from Salvadorans. We encountered it from the very first day we got to the beautiful country, and it continued throughout the full three weeks.

Our first day we were looking forward to staying at a hostel that was rumoured to be the nicest in Central America, only to find out they had no vacancy. They directed us to another hostel, which had the same news for us. The man that worked there invited us in to use the internet so that we could look for another accommodation. He also mentioned that if we needed to use the internet again or needed anything else to come back.

Javani and his family at Cocolito Campground made us feel at home the moment we pulled into their oasis. This also happened to be the day we discovered one litre beers for $2. They stocked some in their fridge so we did not have to walk to the store, and didn’t even mark them up. And, after learning of our desire to further our proficiency in Spanish, every interaction turned into a valuable lesson.

In El Zonte, we were invited by our new friend, Carlos, to attend a family dinner they were having. Not only was the food amazing, we left with the feeling of being part of the family. Although we didn’t have the opportunity to follow up, we had offers for places to stay and even a referral to the KTM mechanic in San Salvador to do a once over on the bike.

Roberto, owner of Hotel Caleta in San Miguel, is undoubtedly one of the kindest men you will meet. He is carrying on his fathers dream of a comfortable guest house that caters to anyone in need of affordable accommodation, while not sacrificing the quality of their stay. Roberto was beyond helpful with anything we asked him. He also went above and beyond that by offering, and insisting, to give us rides to restaurants for dinner, or around town to get supplies.

All that being said, if you have read anything about El Salvador in the news, you will know that there is a history of gang violence. It is important that you are aware of this, but also keep in mind, that it is no different from anywhere else. The government has a tourist police force that patrol areas frequented by tourists. The armed guards on our hike previously mentioned is an example of where you will find them. Do your due diligence, pack your common sense, and be safe out there!

On a side note: If you ever do make it to El Salvador, DO NOT leave without trying Puposas. These are tortillas on steroids. This was a very exciting discovery for us, after eating regular tortillas for 4 months, the change up was nice. Our favourites are the jalapeño and the garlic.