Living Conditions in El Salvador

General considerations

To learn more about living and working in El Salvador, applicants are encouraged to connect with a recruiter to discuss any specific considerations that could affect their service. In addition, please visit the U.S. Department of State's El Salvador travel information pages for the latest on travel advisories, local laws, and special circumstances.

Applicants who undergo an interview will have additional opportunities to raise questions or concerns. If, upon learning more information, an applicant would like to be considered for a different assignment from the one they have been assigned to serve in, the Peace Corps can often find an alternate option that may be a better fit.

Communications

Mail

Your family and friends can send mail to the Peace Corps El Salvador office (address to be provided) during pre-service training. All packages sent from the U.S., or another foreign destination, have to go through customs and may require payment of an import tax and storage charges. All packages will need to be picked up and paid for by the Volunteer at a central facility located in San Salvador.

Mail can take anywhere from 10-14 days to and from El Salvador. Peace Corps El Salvador does not recommend sending valuables through the mail.

Telephones

Most populated areas of El Salvador have reliable cell phone coverage. In some rural areas cell phone service may be spotty.

Volunteers are encouraged to bring an unlocked cell phone from the U.S. The device must be unlocked in the United States before it can be used in El Salvador. Volunteers who are unable to bring their own device will be provided with funds to purchase a cell phone shortly after arriving in El Salvador.

Peace Corps El Salvador will provide you with a SIM card (or e-SIM) from a local provider. Volunteers are required to maintain a functional local cell phone number throughout their service.

WhatsApp is commonly used in day-to-day communication in El Salvador.

Internet

Nearly all Volunteers have regular access to the internet in their communities.

Volunteers are strongly encouraged to bring a laptop computer, notebook, or tablet. They are an essential staple in the Peace Corps and in the professional El Salvador work environment. If you do not bring a laptop, Peace Corps may be able to provide a stipend for you to purchase one locally.

Volunteers are required to engage with an online learning platform, submit plans and reports online, and respond to emails. Computers are also helpful for entertainment and communication purposes. Volunteers have access to a computer at the Peace Corps office in San Salvador.

Peace Corps encourages you to purchase personal insurance for any valuable IT equipment.

Language

The official language of El Salvador is Spanish. All Peace Corps Volunteers must reach an established minimum language proficiency level in Spanish to begin service.

Spanish language instruction comprises a majority of the 11-week pre-service training (PST) calendar. Frequent assessments are conducted to ensure that Trainees are making progress and are appropriately challenged. Instruction techniques vary widely and include classroom lessons, community visits, field trips, online exercises, and independent learning. Engagement with the host family is also a key part in reinforcing language learning during pre-service training.

Speaking Spanish is a key skill in supporting community integration and improving professional effectiveness. At the time of swearing in, Volunteers are equipped with learning strategies and resources to continue independent learning in their community of service.

Housing and site location

During pre-service training (PST), Trainees will live with a Salvadoran family near the training facility. Sharing meals, conversation, and other experiences with your host family is an important step and expectation in developing the language skills and cultural knowledge that will aid and support integration into your community.

Upon successful completion of PST, Volunteers are required to live with a host family in their assigned community. Living with a Salvadoran family allows Peace Corps Volunteers to integrate more quickly into the community, develop their intercultural competency and language skills, build a local network of community support, and greatly enhance personal safety and security.

Peace Corps Trainees are not assigned to individual sites until the end of PST. This gives Peace Corps staff the opportunity to assess each Trainee’s technical and language skills. You will have the opportunity to provide input on your site preferences to your project manager, including geographical location, distance from other Volunteers, work preferences, and/or living conditions. Keep in mind that many factors influence the site selection process, and Peace Corps cannot guarantee your preferred placement.

Housing conditions for Volunteers vary greatly throughout the country. Some Volunteer assignments will be in regional cities or towns while others may be in more rural areas. Most Volunteers have access—some via a short bus ride—to services such as banking, postal service, and grocery stores. Most host family homes where Volunteers live have cold running water and electricity. The electric current is 115 volts, similar to that in the United States. El Salvadoran communities typically have a church, a school, and general stores that sell staples such as rice, black beans, tuna, soap, soft drinks, and snack food.

Living allowance and money management

Volunteers receive a monthly allowance that is sufficient to live at the same level as the Salvadoran people in their community. The allowance covers food, household supplies, clothing, transportation to and from work, utilities, recreation and entertainment, and incidental expenses. Peace Corps Volunteers are expected to live at a level that is comparable with that of their Salvadoran counterparts. The Peace Corps discourages Volunteers from supplementing their living allowance with funds from home. However, Volunteers often bring additional money for vacation travel to other countries. For this, credit cards are preferable to cash. It is important for Volunteers to maintain a U.S. bank account for the duration of service as Peace Corps will deliver the end-of-service readjustment allowance to that account.

Peace Corps staff will help you open a bank account at a local bank. Many Salvadoran businesses in the capital and larger cities accept credit cards, including Visa and MasterCard. Other major credit cards are accepted in the major cities, but not as frequently. The U.S. dollar is the official currency. You may find it advantageous to retain a U.S. debit card, particularly one which does not charge foreign transaction fees and/or foreign ATM fees.

Food and diet

Food availability depends on the season, the size of the community, and region you live in. Many local varieties of fruits and vegetables are available and generally of good quality. In general, Salvadorans eat meat, eggs, and/or dairy at all meals, and many deep-fried foods. While staying with host families, Trainees and Volunteers will typically eat three meals a day, prepared by and shared with host families. Volunteers are treated as members of the family and are expected to adhere to family norms and diet. Host families participate in an orientation prior to receiving a Volunteer and this expectation is emphasized; however, Volunteers are also encouraged to cook for themselves, especially if they have dietary restrictions or preferences that don’t match their host family’s diet.

Throughout El Salvador, corn tortillas and black beans are a staple. Other common foods include eggs, rice, chicken, and bread. These foods are eaten daily in most areas of El Salvador. The most common fruits and vegetables include bananas, mangos, papaya, citrus fruits, tomatoes, onions, avocado, and a squash called huisquil (chayote). Chicken or pork tamales are also common. Pupusas—delicious thick tortillas, typically filled with beans, cheese, or meats, and served with pickled cabbage—are the national dish of El Salvador. They are inexpensive and can be found in every town or village. Small local stores stock snacks, sodas, and other items. Traditional outdoor markets, where you can find fresh fruits, vegetables, meat, clothing, and household items, are open on a regular basis in central towns and are always open in main cities. In larger cities, you will also find supermarkets, where you can purchase nonperishable items and imported goods. Volunteers take advantage of the opportunity to stock up on spices, peanut butter, or imported ingredients when visiting larger cities.

Vegetarians have been able to maintain a vegetarian diet with some planning and flexibility. However, meat is prepared on special occasions and there will likely be situations when meat is offered to you. A vegan diet may be more difficult for a Volunteer to maintain while living with a host family. Imported products are available in bigger cities but are not typically part of the local diet as they are often beyond the economic means of host families. Many Volunteers who are vegetarian have found strategies to navigate the traditional diet in a culturally appropriate manner.

Transportation

Transportation routes are well developed, with an extensive, dependable bus system that operates in most of the country. The service is inexpensive and usually runs on a set schedule several times a day. The quality of bus service and condition of the roads depends on location and geography.

Peace Corps Volunteers travel mainly by public bus between cities. In some areas, Volunteers may ride in vans or “chicken buses” (U.S. school buses painted and outfitted with racks to haul supplies and sometimes animals). In other areas, pickup trucks instead of buses provide transportation to villages on a regular basis. Sometimes, you may arrange for a ride with someone who has a car or pickup. For long distances on major routes, higher quality buses (similar to Greyhound) provide more comfortable and secure rides at a higher fee. In some rural areas, there may be only one bus in and out of your site daily, leaving in the morning and returning in the afternoon.

The Peace Corps El Salvador transportation policy will guide you on the safest and approved routes and transportation methods. Volunteers should always use the safest transportation method available.

Some Volunteers may purchase a bicycle to facilitate travel around their community. In some areas, conditions are difficult for cyclists; streets and roads are bumpy and narrow, and unexpected hazards (e.g., potholes and uncovered manholes) are commonplace. Volunteers must complete the safety and security e-learning module for bicycle use and wear a bicycle helmet provided by the Peace Corps whenever they ride.

Social activities

Salvadoran culture is warm and hospitable, and most Volunteers find that establishing relationships and participating in local activities are very rewarding.

El Salvador’s culture is rooted in a Christian, agrarian society, and many of their social activities derive from that tradition. As in most Latino countries and cultures, Salvadorans love to spend time with family and friends, and almost every activity they undertake includes them.

Family celebrations and community celebrations are the most common social activities. Birthdays, weddings, anniversaries, holidays, and other events are often celebrated with extended family and include traditional food and drink, with an extended midday or evening meal.

Most communities have an annual civic celebration in the center of town affiliated with a patron saint or other attribute unique to the community. These events typically include a parade, food, music and dancing, and sporting events such as a soccer match or rodeo.

Salvadoran society is very social, and people enjoy going out. Restaurants are popular spots for socializing. Urban areas will offer other options such as movie theaters and arcades. Town squares and central parks are also popular places to go for a walk and meet up with friends.

Climate

Weather in El Salvador is marked by two distinct seasons. The dry season runs from November to April and the rainy season runs from May to October. Annual average temperatures range from 58 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit and vary based on location and altitude. Temperatures can also vary during the day, so dressing in layers is a good idea, as is having rain protection (rain jacket, poncho, or umbrella). Homes and workspaces are generally neither heated nor air conditioned. In addition to temperature variations, please consider high humidity during the rainy season.

Professionalism, appearance, dress, and behavior

Professionalism in the Peace Corps requires an awareness of the host community workplace culture, community values, and your self-presentation. To maintain a positive, culturally appropriate professional standing within a host community or workplace, Volunteers may need to adjust their style of dress, hair style, facial hair, make-up, piercings, manner of greeting others, etc., to demonstrate respect for local culture and customs. How you present yourself, in both informal and professional settings, is a reflection of you as an individual and of you as a representative of Peace Corps and the United States. In the U.S., dress (and other elements of personal appearance) may be seen as an expression of personal freedom and identity. In many host countries where Peace Corps Volunteers serve, the way you dress and present yourself may be interpreted as an expression of regard—or disregard—for those host community members around you.

Volunteers are encouraged to spend time in their communities, develop their language skills, and get to know the individual members of their community to better understand their traditions, culture, and local norms. As mutual trust is established over time, there may opportunities for Volunteers to adjust their personal appearance and dress outside of the more rigid local standards. Volunteers are encouraged to discuss these potential adjustments with staff and other cultural mentors.

Personal grooming

Hygiene: Volunteers must maintain good personal hygiene for both personal health and acceptance in local culture. Staff can help troubleshoot if access to water is a challenge to maintaining hygiene routines.

Hair and beards: Salvadorans value a neat, clean, and well-groomed appearance. Volunteers should keep their hair and beards neat and clean, and wear them in culturally appropriate styles. In some communities, men with long hair or ponytails may receive mixed responses or unwanted attention.

Clothing

In keeping with culturally appropriate norms in public and work settings, Volunteers are to wear clean garments and must avoid wearing patched or torn clothing when in the presence of others.

• Jeans: Jeans may be appropriate in the work setting if the Volunteer observes coworkers wearing them for work activities.
• Shorts: Volunteers must avoid wearing shorts in the workplace as they are considered informal wear. Shorts that are too revealing might lead to unwanted attention and/or criticism.
• Footwear: Volunteers are not to wear flip-flops or sport sandals as they are not culturally appropriate in work settings. Open-toed shoes may be acceptable if the Volunteer observes coworkers wearing them for work activities.
• Military fatigues: Volunteers must avoid wearing military surplus clothing or equipment due to the association with civil war in El Salvador.
• Shirts: Shirts with collars are preferable to t-shirts. Tank tops are informal attire that might only be used at beaches or at home.
• Bras: Women are strongly advised to wear bras at all times outside of the home.

Other elements of appearance

• Exposed skin: Volunteers must avoid wearing pants with a low-cut waist, shortened shirts revealing a bare midriff, or clothing that exposes bare shoulders or shows a substantial amount of skin.
• Tattoos: Peace Corps recognizes tattoos as an expression of personal identity. While on Peace Corps premises, without external partners present, Volunteers may display their visible tattoos. However, while off premises, Volunteers must cover visible tattoos to the extent possible to respect community and/or cultural perceptions that associate tattoos with gang and other unlawful activities. Once Volunteers have a better understanding of their home and work environment and have developed relationships with their host family and work partners, they can explore revealing their tattoos. (Due to healthcare concerns, Peace Corps recommends against acquiring tattoos during service.)
• Earrings: To be culturally appropriate during service, men should avoid wearing earrings. Volunteers with multiple piercings should refrain from wearing multiple earrings. Once a Volunteer has a better understanding of their home and work environment and has developed relationships with their host family and work partners, they can explore revealing multiple earrings.
• Piercings: Volunteers must have no visible facial or body piercings. In most communities, facial or body piercings could receive mixed responses or unwanted attention.

The best advice is to follow the lead of the Salvadorans. In general, casual skirts, dresses, and dress pants are acceptable attire for women. Trainees should pack at least two professional outfits for special occasions.