Hotels in El Salvador

Hotels in El Salvador: your guide to where to stay

How much does a hotel in El Salvador cost?

The price depends on the standard, the city and the dates. The table shows indicative nightly rates for a double room. Seaside resorts and business hotels in the capital cost more than hostels on the surf beaches. El Salvador uses the dollar, so prices are easy to compare. Booking ahead usually brings better rates.

Indicative rates, updated periodically. For exact prices and availability, select your dates in the search above.

Where to stay in El Salvador: most popular cities

El Salvador splits clearly into the capital, the surf coast and the colonial interior. These are the destinations travellers choose most often:

• San Salvador. The capital and the widest choice of hotels, from budget to 5-star. A base for business and day trips around.
• La Libertad and El Tunco. The most popular stretch of coast, the surf capital with hostels and resorts right by the water.
• El Zonte. A quieter surf beach in the west, with intimate hotels and a slow vibe.
• Suchitoto. A colonial town with cobbled streets and a lake, a base for art and history.
• Santa Ana. The second city of the country, close to the volcanoes and Cerro Verde Park.

Nightly rates vary between cities. Here are indicative prices per night for a double room:

What to see in El Salvador

El Salvador combines coast, volcanoes and Mayan history, so it is easy to match a trip to your interests.

• Surfing. Pacific waves at Punta Roca, El Tunco and El Zonte in the west and Las Flores and Punta Mango in the east.
• Suchitoto. The prettiest colonial town in the country, with a main square and a parish church.
• Cerro Verde National Park. Three volcanoes and a cloud forest rich in flora and birds, with guided climbs to the summits.
• Joya de Cerén. A perfectly preserved Mayan settlement buried by volcanic ash, a UNESCO site.
• Guazapa Volcano. Horseback tours through the forest with views from the top, a popular day trip.

How much does a trip to El Salvador cost

Beyond the room, prices are moderate. A meal in a local restaurant is about 5 USD per person. El Salvador uses the US dollar, so it is worth carrying notes smaller than 20 dollars, as change can be tricky. Visa cards are the most widely accepted, with ATMs at banks and in malls. A bus ticket costs from a few cents to a few dollars.

When is the best time to visit El Salvador

The dry season runs from November to April and is the best time to travel, with about 23 degrees on the coast and cooler inland. Surfing is good all year, but the biggest waves come in the rainy season. Sea turtle nesting runs from July to November. Room prices rise at the peak of the dry season and over the holidays.

Getting to and around El Salvador

The main airport is San Salvador (SAL), serving Avianca and US carriers such as American, Delta and United, and Iberia from Europe. By car you enter on the Pan-American Highway from Guatemala and Honduras, and luxury coaches like Tica Bus link the countries of the region. Around the country runs a dense network of cheap buses, often former US school buses, plus taxis. Cars can be hired in San Salvador and San Miguel. Most roads are paved, though signposting can be unclear.

Example hotels in El Salvador

A few recognisable properties from different parts of the country for reference:

• Barceló San Salvador and Courtyard by Marriott San Salvador in the capital (upper tier, from approx. 125 USD).
• Boca Olas Resort Villas and Atami Escape Resort on the La Libertad coast (by the water, from approx. 104 USD).
• Hotel Michanti and Almare Zonte by the El Zonte surf beaches (from approx. 72 USD).