Arrival
Getting started in El Salvador
Taxi from the Airport
🇫🇷 🇪🇸 🇬🇧 Juan
Responsible of the alumni association at Liceo Francés — speaks French
🇺🇸 🇪🇸 Pierre Angelo Valiente
Lived in US and UAE, based in El Salvador since 2004 — speaks English & Spanish
+503 7557 7261
WhatsApp & Telegram
SIM Card
- Ask your taxi driver (Juan or whoever) to stop at a pharmacy on the way
- Get a Claro chip — best option, and it works abroad in many LATAM countries
First Meal
- Hungry after your flight? Ask your driver for a pupusas stop in Olocuilta (on the way from the airport) — available morning or night!
- La Carmencha (Pupusería Carmencha) is a good option, but it can be closed on holidays — plenty of other pupuserías nearby if so — 📍 Waze
Transportation
Taxi
Juan
Responsible of the alumni association at Liceo Francés — speaks French
Pierre Angelo Valiente
Lived in US and UAE, based in El Salvador since 2004. Speaks English & Spanish
+503 7557 7261
WhatsApp & Telegram
Getting Around
- Uber — Best option for daily transport. Cheap and good quality
- Pedidos Ya — For food delivery
Lawyers & Accountants
Corporate Lawyers — Spanish only
Lic. Walter Olmedo
Lic. Alejandra Moran
Accountant — Spanish only
Juan Pablo Mendoza
Recommended Neighborhoods
Real Estate Contacts
Berry Dominique
Monica Segura
Can help find a place anywhere: beach, countryside, city or mountain. Speaks Spanish & English.
Practical Life
💱 Currency Exchange
- Need to change Euros to Dollars? The Liceo Francés exchanges Euros with no fees. Ask Juan for details
Bitcoin
Coming soon...
Tours & Places
Santa Ana
- Ilamatepec Volcano — Tour costs (parking, guide, access fees) TBD — 📍 Waze
- Coatepeque Lake — Close to the volcano. Visit Pampa el Lago restaurant while there — 📍 Waze
San Salvador
- Centro Histórico — Historic city center. The Palacio offers a tour in French! 🇫🇷 — 📍 Waze
Los Planes de Renderos
- Puerta del Diablo — Panchimalco — 📍 Waze
- El Obelisco — Comida típica, Carr. a Puerta del Diablo 333 — 📍 Waze
- On the same road you'll also find Ikatú Café and other pupuserías
El Boquerón
- Plaza Boquerón — Calle Al Boquerón Km. 17.5, Santa Tecla — 📍 Waze
- Charlie Boy Pizza & Grill — Calle al Volcán, Santa Tecla — 📍 Waze
Salto de Malacatiupan
- Hot water waterfall — Atiquizaya, Ahuachapán — 📍 Waze
Cascadas de Tamanique
- Waterfalls — Tamanique — 📍 Waze
Lago Suchitlán
Lago de Ilopango
- Located between San Salvador, La Paz and Cuscatlán — 📍 Waze
Juayúa / Ruta de las Flores
Restaurants & Nightlife
City — Going Out
- Zona Rosa — Main party street with several clubs — 📍 Waze
- San Benito — More bars and clubs in the area — 📍 Waze
🍺 Bars
- Cervecería la 20 — Blvd Del Hipódromo 602-2, San Benito / Calle La Reforma #225, Zona Rosa — 📍 Waze
- Nómada — Calle Circunvalación 314 — 📍 Waze
- Beer Station — Plaza Atrio, Blvd Del Hipódromo 626 — 📍 Waze
- Republik Bar — Calle La Reforma 243-247 — 📍 Waze
🎵 Clubs
🍽️ Restaurants
- Típicos Margoth — 77 Av. Norte y Pasaje Istmania #272, Col. Escalón — 📍 Waze
- Ikatú Café | Mirador — RN 6S, San Salvador — 📍 Waze
- Hacienda Real — Carretera Panamericana Km 8½, frente a La Gran Vía — 📍 Waze
- Casa Campo — C. a Planes de Renderos 2 — 📍 Waze
- Cadejo Brewing Company — Calle La Reforma #222 — 📍 Waze
- Clavo y Canela — C. Los Sisimiles 3102 — 📍 Waze
🏖️ Beaches
- Playa El Tunco — Carretera Litoral Km 42, Tamanique, La Libertad (Surf City) — 📍 Waze
- El Zonte — 📍 Waze
- Playa San Diego — 📍 Waze
- Playa Costa del Sol — 📍 Waze
- Hotel Estero y Mar — Final Playa El Pimental, San Luis Talpa — 📍 Waze
🛍️ Markets
- Bitcoin Market — Every Sunday in El Zonte — @bitcoinfarmersmarket — 📍 Waze
Useful Contacts
Community Groups
- "Bitcoin Events El Salvador" — WhatsApp group with 1000+ members. Daily events, meetups, and info about expatriates, locals and businesses. Invite on demand
- French expats Telegram group — 8+ French-speaking people living in El Salvador, sharing tips and helping each other. Direct access
- "Bitcoineros del Occidente de El Salvador" — Telegram group for bitcoiners near Santa Ana, Chalchuapa and the western region