Packing for El Salvador starts with a list that is different from its neighbours'. Documents come first, because current advisories recommend carrying identification throughout the stay; the climate is two climates, because the coast and the highlands are two hours apart; and money is simple, because the currency is the US dollar.
Documents, first
Your passport and a clear copy. Current advisories recommend carrying identification at all times, with checkpoints common. Carry the passport or a copy as your own government's advice specifies, and keep separate copies — paper and digital — in case the original is lost or held.
Prescription medication in its original packaging, with a copy of the prescription. Drug laws are strict and penalties severe, so anything that could be questioned should be clearly documented.
And your driving licence if you plan to drive; checkpoints ask for it.
What earns its place
High-factor sun protection, in quantity. The coast burns quickly, and long sessions in the water or on a volcano rim catch people on day one.
Light, loose, quick-drying clothing for the coast and the lowlands, where it is hot in every month.
A warm layer — a fleece or light jacket — for the Ruta de las Flores and the volcano parks, where the evenings are genuinely cool.
Walking shoes with grip, for cobbled streets in Suchitoto and Ataco and the loose slopes of the volcanoes.
Insect repellent for evenings on the coast and near the lakes.
And a reusable bottle, because the heat dehydrates faster than people notice.
Cash, the easy part
US dollars, in small notes. There is no currency to exchange, which simplifies things, but small notes are useful at markets, food stalls and tourist-card desks.
For the water
A rashguard for surf days, which protects from sun and board rash better than cream alone.
Reef booties for the rocky point breaks, where the entry and exit are over stone.
The water is warm all year, so a wetsuit is rarely needed.
For the volcanoes
Closed shoes, not sandals, for the loose volcanic slopes.
Water, sun protection and a layer, because the summits are exposed and cooler than the base.
Nothing technical. These are half-day walks, not climbs.
What to leave at home
Heavy cold-weather gear, unless you are heading to the cloud forest at Montecristo.
Formal clothes, outside a business meeting in San Salvador.
And most of a general medical kit: San Salvador has good pharmacies.
The flight question
Small aircraft are a volume problem, not a weight one. For a regional sector — Nicaragua's Tola surf coast is 214,5 nautical miles from the international airport — that matters for surfboards. The allowance is calculated by weight when you quote in the app; tell us if you carry bulky gear. The specific aircraft is assigned on confirmation, based on passenger count, baggage and the destination field.
Ask with real dimensions before booking if you are carrying anything long or rigid. Private flights leave from Ilopango, 16,0 nautical miles from the international airport. We show a "from" price per route; the final fare depends on the date, the group and the baggage, and is confirmed in writing before booking.
The seasonal difference
We fly year-round. In the rainy season the pilot in command decides; if weather stops a flight, it is rescheduled at no cost. November to April: sun protection, light clothing, a layer for the highlands.
May to October: add a rain layer and shoes you do not mind getting muddy.
March and April: more water, more shade, and less ambition at midday.
Frequently asked questions
What matters most?
Documents. Current advisories recommend carrying identification at all times; bring your passport and separate copies.
Should I bring medication?
Prescription medication in its original packaging, with a copy of the prescription. Drug laws are strict.
Do I need warm clothes?
A layer for the Ruta de las Flores and the volcano parks, where evenings are cool. The coast is hot all year.
Do I need to exchange money?
No. The currency is the US dollar. Small notes are useful at markets and food stalls.
What do I need for surfing?
A rashguard and reef booties for the rocky point breaks. The water is warm all year.
Can I bring a surfboard on a small aircraft?
It is a volume question. Ask with real dimensions before booking a regional sector.
Let's plan it together
The allowance is calculated by weight when you quote in the app; tell us if you carry bulky gear.