El Salvador Beyond the Gringo Trail ——A Backpacker’s Raw Guide

🚍 San Salvador Survival Tips Buses: Google Maps lies! Routes change daily due to construction. Look for crowds = unofficial stops Key Zones: ✔️ Centro: National Palace ($5) + locked Rainbow Church (open 2 days/week) ✔️ Zona Rosa: Anthropology Museum’s Maya exhibit + 5.0-rated coffee shops ✔️ Smart Transit: Use Estación Ceiba hub (avoid sketchy Occidente Terminal) 🌋 Offbeat Spots 1️⃣ Parque Boquerón Ride the retro school-bus-turned-shuttle (P7) Volcano breeze + hidden cafe in the crater 2️⃣ Lago Coatepeque Reality Check: Dusty roads, zero tourism infrastructure Silver Lining: Silent lakeside villages perfect for digital detox 🏄 El Tunco Truths Surf Hype: World-class waves BUT... ✔️ Many "English-speaking" coaches don’t actually ✔️ Backpacker tax: $10 beers in a $3 country 💡 Local Hacks Coffee: Buy beans at Viva Espresso (Zona Rosa) Safety: Never walk highways at night – even locals hitch rides #RealCentralAmerica #BrokenBusesAndVolcanoe