May to October is the rainy season. It is super wet, muddy and slippery with really high humidity. November to April is the dry season. It is still humid, but less so.
They use the U.S. dollar in El Salvador.
El Salvador has worked hard to become one of the safest places in the western hemisphere.
The people are warm and friendly.
Family is SUPER important and they like to talk about their family. You will often find multi generational families living together.
Because it is a tropical climate, a light rain jacket for the wet season is needed.
You will need light, breathable clothing.
Elders: choose quick-drying golf pants and pack mostly short sleeved shirts. Just 1 or 2 long sleeved shirts.
Sisters: choose light, quick-drying fabrics that are loose fitting.
You don’t really need any warm clothing.
Invest in good, comfortable shoes and socks. There are a lot of dirt, unpaved roads, especially in the rural areas and you will be doing a lot of walking. You will want a hiking boots or shoes over dress shoes.
Bring a wide brim hat or bucket hat.
Bring a waterproof sling bag for every day and also a backpack for pdays, transfers, and exchanges.
Do not drink the tap water or brush your teeth with it. Apartments will have clean, filtered water although you might not have running water 24/7. A filtered water bottle might be a good idea.
Brief power outages are very common, especially in the rainy season. A power bank and a rechargeable fan for hot nights and to keep mosquitoes off are very good to have.
You will need strong insect repellent.
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Tips on Vaccinations like Yellow Fever and Typhoid: The cheapest options mentioned are Costco, GoodRX (request coupon), Walgreens, and County Health Department. You often have to request these vaccines and may have to pay for a travel consult. One helpful tip is to ask your doctor to send in a prescription for the vaccinations — some have had insurance cover the cost that way.
Serve shirts have a ventilation panel in the side of the shirt making them noticeably more breathable. Missionaries serving in hot or humid places absolutely RAVE about this feature. The most popular shirt for hot-climate missions, for sure.