Since San Salvador is yet another Central American capital city that doesn’t seem to excite travelers, most cultural tourists to El Salvador head to Santa Ana instead. This is the country’s second city in most ways, but it leads the pack for tourism. Santa Ana offers a wide variety of nearby natural sights as well as an interesting colonial heart and quite a bit of history.
| Population | 245,000 |
| Area | 290,000 |
| Timezone | UTC-6 |
| Currency | US dollar |
| Airports | El Salvador International Airport (SAL) |
Food, drinks, and the local attractions are also pleasantly cheap. This whole country needs an image upgrade because those that come tend to love it, even if most people stay away.
| Budget breakfast | Some hotels include a breakfast within their nightly rate. If yours doesn't, or your not a fan of the meal presented, then your best bet is to try one of the local small eateries or cafes in town. | $3.00 - $5.00 |
| Budget lunch | Lunch tends to run between 11am and 2pm. It's best to arrive at around 11am to 12pm if you can as that's when the pre-prepared food is the freshest. | $4.00 - $7.00 |
| Budget dinner | For dinner, you'll want to eat at a local pupuserias. Generally you'll find Mexican tacos and burritos are a popular dinner option. | $6.00 - $10.00 |
| Beer (.33l bottle) | There are lots of restaurants that offer beer with your meal. However, it is important to stay away from the Parque Colon area watering holes. | $2.00 - $4.00 |
| Beer (.33l bottle, retail) | There are several different types of supermarkets in the area with the best being Super Selectos. Here you'll find a greater ranger of beers to choose from. | $1.00 - $2.00 |
| Month | High F | Low F | Precip (inches) |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 81 | 59 | 0.4 |
| February | 84 | 61 | 0.3 |
| March | 88 | 61 | 0.7 |
| April | 86 | 64 | 2.3 |
| May | 86 | 66 | 6.8 |
| June | 82 | 64 | 12.8 |
| July | 84 | 64 | 10.0 |
| August | 86 | 64 | 12.3 |
| September | 82 | 63 | 15.2 |
| October | 82 | 61 | 7.7 |
| November | 79 | 57 | 3.1 |
| December | 77 | 55 | 0.6 |
As this city is located in tropical Central America, you’ll find that there are two distinct seasons, the dry season and the wet season. The dry season is characterized with windier days and not much rain day to day. This season generally falls from November to May while the rainy season tends to dominate the months of June through October.
If traveling to the area during the rainy season, you’ll want to make sure to pack a windbreaker of some sort just in case you get stuck on the beach or a hike during a rainstorm. That being said, sometimes the rain only last a few minutes to an hour or so.
| 21 Mar | 6:01am | 6:09pm |
| 21 Jun | 5:31am | 6:28pm |
| 21 Sep | 5:47am | 5:54pm |
| 21 Dec | 6:17am | 5:35pm |
Hotel and hostel prices in Santa Ana are quite cheap, which is typical of this under-touristed part of Central America. The quality isn’t always great, but at least you can find a room or bed in any budget if you are the adventurous type.
As with most places, hotel seasons in Santa Ana closely follow the weather, meaning that good weather brings in more tourists and thus raises the nightly rates. Generally speaking, the hotel high season runs from November to May. You’ll also find that hotel rates are higher during certain holidays, like Christmas week and Easter.
If you plan on visiting during the high season, you’ll want to book your rooms before arrival. During the off season it’s not as important to book your rooms early, but if you’re eyeing a certain room, then you’ll want to go ahead and do just that.
| Rating | Price(USD) |
|---|---|
 | 17.00 - 46.00 |
| 11.00 - 53.00 |
| 35.00 - 77.00 |
| - |
| 57.00 - 98.00 |
| Type | Price(USD) |
|---|---|
| Hostel Bed | 8.00 - 11.00 |