ABOUT EL SALVADOR


El Salvador, officially the Republic of El Salvador, is a democratic country with a developing economy.  El Salvador borders the Pacific Ocean on the south, and the countries of Guatemala to the west and Honduras to the north and east.  Its easternmost region lies on the coast of the Gulf of Fonseca, opposite Nicaragua.  See map for more detail.  The country's capital and largest city is San Salvador, accessible by El Salvador’s International Airport at Comalapa.  The U.S. dollar has been the primary currency in El Salvador since 2001.  U.S. citizens traveling with U.S. dollars should not exchange them for colones.  Read the Department of State’s Fact Sheet on El Salvadorfor additional information on U.S. - El Salvador Relations.