How Many Towns to Visit: I advise
four to five towns on a trip of one to two weeks. That gives you two or three nights each, enough time for the dawn light on cobbled streets, the first smell of grilled pupusas at dusk and the pace of a market morning. Fewer than four and you miss the country's range, while more than six turns into a blur of bus stations.
Choosing the Kind of Town: Pick by travel style. Highland towns suit food lovers and hikers: cool air, coffee farms, waterfalls and weekend food festivals. Coastal towns suit surfers and beach people, with warm water, sunsets and a louder social scene. Northern and eastern towns suit history and culture travelers, with war museums, rural quiet and almost no other foreigners. A first-timer should lean highland and coast, and a veteran should …
read more 👉 How Many Towns to Visit: I advise four to five towns on a trip of one to two weeks. That gives you two or three nights each, enough time for the dawn light on cobbled streets, the first smell of grilled pupusas at dusk and the pace of a market morning. Fewer than four and you miss the country's range, while more than six turns into a blur of bus stations.Choosing the Kind of Town: Pick by travel style. Highland towns suit food lovers and hikers: cool air, coffee farms, waterfalls and weekend food festivals. Coastal towns suit surfers and beach people, with warm water, sunsets and a louder social scene. Northern and eastern towns suit history and culture travelers, with war museums, rural quiet and almost no other foreigners. A first-timer should lean highland and coast, and a veteran should add one northern or eastern stop for the contrast.What It Costs: A backpacker spends about US$25 to 40 a day. Dorm beds run US$8 to 15 and private rooms US$20 to 45, with higher prices on the coast. Pupusas cost US$0.50 to 1.25 each, and a sit-down meal runs US$4 to 8. Local buses cost US$0.35 to 2, and short tuk-tuk rides US$1 to 3. Per visit, budget US$1 to 10 for entry to a nature site or museum, US$20 to 40 for a guided hike or coffee tour, and US$30 to 60 for a surf lesson or day tour. Carry small bills and coins, since vendors often cannot change US$20.Safety and Local Etiquette: Security has improved a great deal, and soldiers and police are visible in most towns. Carry your passport or a clear photocopy for checkpoints, and expect to be stopped and searched at times. Stay calm and polite, and you will be waved on. Avoid walking after dark, keep phones tucked away on buses, and take a taxi or arranged ride at night. Ask before photographing people, especially at markets and in rural areas, and avoid discussing politics or gangs. A greeting of buenos días when entering a shop or bus gets a warm response. Dress modestly in small towns and churches, bring a rain jacket from May to October, and carry cash, since many guesthouses and food stalls do not take cards.