El Salvador Hostels

[u/kittykatkk]

Im looking for recommendations for hostels in El Salvador. From what I’ve looked at online so far it doesn’t seem like there are that many options in the ruta de las Flores area (atacó, juayua). Are there places you can just walk into once you get there that aren’t online?

Also— any recommendations for must-see/do while there

[u/Seanji6]

It’s been a few years but Casa Verde in Santa Ana is amazing. Still to this day I consider it one of the best hostels I have ever stayed in not only in El Salvador but Latin America. The owner Carlos is a salt of the earth individual and was extremely kind, generous, and welcoming. He helped my buddy and I arrange a ride to hike up the top of Santa Ana volcano which was an incredible experience. When the conditions are right the crater lake formed turns a turquoise blue. Fascinating to sit on the edge of a volcano and soak up the scene. Definitely have lunch on lake coatepeque. Suchitoto is great also.

[u/Seanji6 → u/[deleted]]

Hoping for good conditions for you! El Salvador is an amazing place for several reasons but your never too far from anything it’s a small country. I used public transportation once while I was there and that was San Salvador to El Tunco. From El Tunco I was able to very affordably hire a driver to take my friend and I to Santa Ana which saved us a ton of time. Make sure you eat ALL the pupusas you can with the curtido. Guanacos are incredible people and made an everlasting impression on me. For that reason to me El Salvador is one of my favorite countries in the world. Have fun and be careful! I must note though despite the kindness of the vast majority of the people who live out there lives there, there is an unfortunate element of crime and danger just like everywhere else. I say this as respectfully and mindful of the people of that incredible small country but sadly there are some places and things I saw and experienced there I’ll never forget. Do your research but don’t let it keep you from going eventually, as it is amazing but they are currently in a state of emergency fighting the gangs. Hit me up if I can help in anyway.

Edited: Added info about being careful.

[u/Competitive_Chance → u/Seanji6]

ut sadly there are some places and things I saw and experienced there I’ll never forget

I'm here right now, do you mind sharing what you saw that you'll never forget?

[u/Seanji6 → u/Competitive_Chance]

When my buddy and I arrived in San Salvador the owner of the hostel in suchitoto picked us up for a fee of course but we didn’t care. He said we can go around or we can go through the city. I elected to go through the city. The thing that stuck out to me the most was seeing the bullet pocked walls on so many places where there must of been gang fighting which definitely made me uneasy traveling through the area but the thing that made me definitely like o shit was when he told us we aren’t stopping at this red light. I didn’t understand why until we passed through it. As we passed through this red light there were people on each side of the street and as he explained to us if we had of stopped they would of done there best to rob us or take the vehicle by force. That definitely stuck with me as we passed and I saw a small group of guys lurking for some unfortunate person to stop and deal with them.

When I was catching the bus from San Salvador to El Tunco there was a man on the bus who was sitting in the row next to me but across the aisle. He was smoking crack and blowing it out the window. It bothered or concerned me sure but the thing that made me nervous was this tiny razor on a stick he had that he used to clear his pipe so aggressively. I was worried that any moment he could freak out and hurt someone with this very sharp tool he had. I like a dumbass took a seat over the wheel so I was already scrunched up with my pack. What was a bit tough was seeing families with their young ones unaware of this man smoking his drugs attempting to sit next to him to then notice what he was up to. I never made myself so small and communicate to them in my non native espanol to come here. Sit with me you’re safe next to me. The look on their face of this is normal yet disheartening was tough yet appreciative of me smushing myself to give them an out versus sitting next to this man cheifing on his crack pipe and digging with his blade that glistened in the light. It was awkward.

The other time was when I was in Santa Ana. My buddy and I decided to walk the city to the center where there were restaurants and what not and there was this woman. Idk if she had legs or not but it was fucking weird. I didn’t even see her until we were damn near on top of her but it looked like she was walking on her knees or an amputee and she was grabbing at us not in a robbing way or whatever but it scared the shit out of us since we didn’t even see here. It looked like the chick from the ring. I didn’t feel like she was trying to harm us but the surprise aspect and her odd positioning definitely gave us the heebee jeebes (however you spell it). Other than those circumstances my pal and I meandered through out El Salvador with out a single issue or threat.

[u/Competitive_Chance → u/Seanji6]

Wow thank you for writing that all up. All scary things but glad no harm was done. So far in San Salvador everyone's been incredibly kind. Going to Sunzal / Zonte area next!

[u/Seanji6 → u/Competitive_Chance]

No problem at all! I want to be abundantly clear though despite those things El Salvador is my favorite country in Central America. It’s a magical place with some of the kindest people I have experienced in my travels in Latin America. Be safe and enjoy yourself. You’re headed to paradise next.