San Salvador

Where to stay

Most budget hostels cluster around Boulevard de los Héroes, within walking distance of Metrocentro mall and a short Uber ride from the historic center. A few options sit further south in Colonia San Benito, but that area skews pricier and is better for a night out than for keeping costs down.

Getting around

• Use Uber or InDriver instead of flagging down street taxis. Both apps give you a fixed price upfront and are considerably safer for getting around the city.
• Eat pupusas from street comedores rather than sit-down restaurants near tourist spots. They cost a fraction of the price and are usually fresher. The stretch along Boulevard de los Héroes has several stalls open into the evening.
• The Centro Histórico around Plaza Barrios and the Catedral Metropolitana is worth a morning visit, but wrap up sightseeing there before dusk and head back to your hostel neighborhood before dark.

When to go

Hostels are cheapest during the rainy season from May through October, and fill up quickly around Semana Santa in March or April and again in late December.