El Salvador

El Salvador’s volcanoes provide fertile soil optimum for growing the country’s world-class coffee.

El Salvador has Honduras to its northeast, Guatemala to its northwest, and the Pacific Ocean along its south. El Salvador is the only country in Central America without a Caribbean coastline, but that’s no reason to despair.

Salvadoran beaches are among the most beautiful in the world. El Salvador is famous for its surf, with beaches like El Tunco attracting surfers from far and wide.

El Salvador has a troubled history. Since colonization by the Spanish, disparities of wealth and land ownership have widened throughout the country.

Protests by poorer laborers have resulted in backlashes of extreme violence by those in power. Several military dictatorships have exploited the population, resulting in thousands seeking refuge in other countries.

Today, El Salvador still struggles with governmental corruption, high crime rates, and gang violence.

Despite these ongoing issues, expats are generally isolated from these problems. That said, life in El Salvador requires an awareness of its past and having your wits about you at all times.

This is a small trade-off for a cheap cost of living, friendly locals, and a great climate in this stunning Central American destination.