Travora
/ El Salvador
Volcanoes, surf and flower-filled villages: Central America's security comeback.
El Salvador is among the destinations a Japanese passport reaches without a visa. Volcanoes, surf and flower-filled villages: Central America's security comeback. Here: visa, real budget, best seasons and what to do — departing from Japan.
In pictures
The visa, step by step
How to apply
No visa for a short tourist stay: show a valid passport and a return ticket on arrival.
Required documents
- Passport valid 6 months
- Return ticket
- Yellow fever certificate
Good to know
- •Visa-free tourist stay; confirm the exact allowed duration before departure.
A one-week budget
Round-trip flight from Douala / Yaoundé
900 000 FCFA–1 440 000 FCFAFlights from Tokyo (Air France, Turkish Airlines, Ethiopian Airlines, Royal Air Maroc, Brussels Airlines…), depending on the destination.
Indicative round-trip price: it varies widely by season, layover and how early you book.
Where the money goes (backpacker estimate)
Budget simulator
What to do there
Ruta de las Flores
A circuit of flower-filled villages (Juayúa, Ataco, Apaneca): street art, coffee and the weekend food festival.
El Tunco (surf)
The legendary Pacific spot: waves for all levels, black-sand beach and an international vibe.
Santa Ana Volcano (Ilamatepec)
The country's highest volcano, hike to the turquoise crater, next to Lake Coatepeque.
Suchitoto
A colonial gem above Lake Suchitlán: cobblestones, art galleries and birdwatching.
Lake Coatepeque
Turquoise crater lake popular for swimming and sunset views.
Joya de Cerén
The 'Pompeii of the Americas': a Maya village preserved under ash, UNESCO-listed.
One week, day by day
- D1
Arrival in San Salvador, check in, historic centre in the evening.
- D2
Santa Ana Volcano and a swim at Lake Coatepeque.
- D3
Ruta de las Flores: Juayúa (food festival), Ataco and its murals.
- D4
Head to the coast: El Tunco, surf lesson, sunset.
- D5
Surf beaches day (El Sunzal, El Zonte) or relax.
- D6
Suchitoto: colonial cobblestones, Lake Suchitlán and galleries.
- D7
Joya de Cerén or souvenirs, return to San Salvador and flight.
Travel checklist
A printable list (or save as PDF) so you forget nothing.
Travel checklist — Salvador
Before you leave
What to pack
Indicative data (June 2026), reliability moyenne. Visa rules, prices and timelines change: always confirm with official sources before booking.
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