tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9177745.post634175076389259176..comments2024-03-28T11:30:20.005-05:00Comments on El Salvador Perspectives: Eco-tourism for El SalvadorTimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02452039674856298357noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9177745.post-32059635154518138722012-05-07T07:25:19.313-05:002012-05-07T07:25:19.313-05:00So informative post sharing by you.
Tourism in E...So informative post sharing by you.<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://tourismmarketresearch.blogspot.in/2012/05/tourism-in-el-salvador.html" rel="nofollow">Tourism in El Salvador </a>Market Research Reportshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01338849502816267355noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9177745.post-8240774514761963952009-01-23T14:32:00.000-06:002009-01-23T14:32:00.000-06:00Information on El Salvador for Visitors and Volunt...Information on El Salvador for Visitors and Volunteers.<BR/><BR/>First of all I am not a "traveler", I am a different kind of animal "Long Term Resident Ex Pat" who has lived, worked and loved in the Central America "we all know and love" (mainly El Salvador and Guatemala, a bit in Honduras and Nicaragua, while in Costa Rica, excpet for one 4 month stint, and Panama, I was a tourist). So I am a bit cynical, not on any vacation or relocation "honeymoon" and prefer to keep most of my personal observations to myself, my Salvadorian friends are from all walks of life and of varied political persuaions or none at all, frankly. So I don't write about Fantasy and Myth I write about Reality as I see it, and sometimes it ain't too pretty.<BR/>I don't play "blame games" or "politics" nor associate with any foreigners visiting locally who do! Sound rule. Take your "Lonely Planet" and begone!!<BR/>Ancestors of mine on my Mother's side originally immigrated to El Salvador in 1889, founding El Salvador's first international commercial Bank, the bank failed after the Second World War, so the President, a Great Great Uncle of mine by marriage donated his entire fortune to the El Salvadorian Ministry of Health, and today in San Salvador, El Salvador stands the largest Children's Hospital in the region, administered by The Salvadorian Public Ministry of Health, which bears his name.<BR/>I first resided in Central America in 1970 and 1971, lot of changes.<BR/>I left pre-Guiliani "crackhead city" New York in 1985 and moved to Mexico City, where I had a relative and friends living, stepped into a ready made social network, transition was fairly easy for me. In 1986 I moved to Guatemala, same deal, different country and culture and in late 1993, about a year after the Peace Accords went into place I returned to live in El Salvador. Here I am. Feel free to message me if traveling to or volunteering in Central America. Punto.<BR/>-----------------------<BR/>*****About El Salvador and Central America..mostly facts.<BR/><BR/>Why not El Salvador and Guatemala??<BR/><BR/><BR/>Guatemala - The Director of INGUAT, Institute of Tourism of Guatemala,<BR/>estimates that is possible for the country to reach an increase of 3<BR/>to 4 percent in the tourism industry for 2009.<BR/><BR/>The current financial crisis in developed countries could make<BR/>Guatemala, neighboring El Salvador and the rest of Central America a<BR/>very attractive travel destination suiting all budgets. <BR/><BR/>World renowned publications like<BR/>Forbes Magazine and others have described how much<BR/>'bang you get for<BR/>your travel buck' in Guatemala.<BR/><BR/>Guatemala's advantage is that we are<BR/>considerably cheaper than Costa Rica and we have much more to offer.<BR/>Actually factual.<BR/><BR/>Pacific Ocean destinations like Monterrico are a favored tourist hot<BR/>spot. The new surfing madness brings young visitors to the beaches.<BR/>There is sports fishing, a newly developed industry that is taking of<BR/>with great success, so are the newly discovered opportunities for<BR/>whale watching.<BR/><BR/>For water and adventure lovers there is river rafting in river Cahabon<BR/>and many others.<BR/>Guatemala will have the usual culture travelers. The Mayan culture is<BR/>a magnet that brings hundreds of people from all over the world to<BR/>explore Tikal, Chichicastenango and many archeological sites all over<BR/>the country. One of the favorites is Tak alik ab Aj, down on the<BR/>pacific coast near Rethaluleu. There are so many sites that the time<BR/>is usually not enough to visit them all.<BR/><BR/>*El Salvador<BR/><BR/>El Salvador boasts 'The Pompei of the Americas' Joya de Ceren, the<BR/>Pyramids of San Andres and Tzumal and the recently excavated Ruins of<BR/>Ciuhatan, City of Women.<BR/><BR/>Back in Guatemala, for nature lovers, Bird watching tours are also a trend that is<BR/>developing, so is the visit to the natural reserves like Laguna del Tigre<BR/>and la Lechua. <BR/><BR/>In El Salvador don't miss the nature preserve of Parque<BR/>El Imposible and the Cloud Forest of Montecristi in Parque El<BR/>Trifunio, summit is located where the borders of El Salvador,<BR/>Guatemala and Honduras meet. On a clear day one can view the Heart of<BR/>Central America from the Carribbean to the Pacific! Awesome! No<BR/>'tourist hordes'<BR/><BR/>Lake Atitlan in the Highlands of Guatemala is more majestic than ever, it is recommended as a<BR/>phenomenal natural wonder and some funky tourist towns like Panajachel<BR/>and San Marcos, a pristine Lake village, where continental travelers have a lot of fun and rub shoulders with our "Living Maya". And<BR/>Antigua is as beautiful and charming as ever.<BR/><BR/>In El Salvador 330 km. (220 miles) of unbroken pristine Pacific<BR/>beaches, bays, islands and mangroves await, along with World class<BR/>surfing, and yes El Salvador boasts charming colonial towns such as<BR/>Suchitoto, indingenous villages of Panchimalco and Santo Domingo de<BR/>Guzman , volcanoes, cloud forests and much much more. Uncrowded.<BR/><BR/>The world is in crisis, so is Guatemala, so is El Salvador, so is the<BR/>rest of Central America, so what! <BR/>Tourism, travel must go on. Tourism is a<BR/>motor for development.<BR/><BR/>The recommendations or precautions to not visit Guatemala and even more so El Salvador are unfair<BR/>and geopolitically motivated.<BR/><BR/>The following lists of countries are<BR/>promoted to the wazoo by "the powers to be" and they share every<BR/>single problem that both Guatemala & El Salvador possess; some of them additionally have<BR/>terrorism. Really. Sad but true. <BR/><BR/>China, India, Mexico, Colombia, Thailand, Indonesia, Russia, Vietnam,<BR/>Turkey, Malaysia, Egypt, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, are all on the list of<BR/>the 50 most visited countries in the world. Last time we checked they<BR/>had crime, drugs, human rights violations, organized crime, poverty,<BR/>inequality; etc.<BR/><BR/>So what makes Guatemala and El Salvador different from these other countries? One<BR/>thing: the patronage they have, the promotion they get. "PR" Rumors<BR/>and bad press are nothing more than cheap online gossip, written<BR/>mainly by those who never even have traveled to Guatemala, El Salvador<BR/>or the rest of Central America!<BR/><BR/>There are of course security issues, as everywhere one will travel way from home, however out of thousands of visitors evey month only a handful experience problems and even some of those are preventable by using common sense and being aware!<BR/><BR/>Entonces, le esperamos……<BR/><BR/>*The week that Mumbai in India was taken hostage by terrorist, 'CNN'<BR/>ran advertisements to promote "The exotic adventure of India".<BR/>Colombia, who still exports the same amount of drugs as 10 years ago,<BR/>is also being promoted in the US, sponsored by the US. The same<BR/>applies for Mexico, never mind the atrocities of the internal drug war<BR/>that is now spilling over its borders.<BR/><BR/>*So, if anyone can give me a specific reason to not visit Guatemala or<BR/>neighboring El Salvador, or Honduras or Nicaragua if you prefer, using<BR/>comparative objective criteria, I will listen. ¡Digame!<BR/><BR/>---------------------------<BR/><BR/>The Myth: "El Salvador is the most dangerous country for travelers in Central America...."<BR/><BR/>The Reality: NOT SO, even in the congested capital city of San Salvador are many small and affordable Guest Houses, Bed & Breakfast and small Hotels catering to budget travelers on pleasant tree lined streets, in fact, next to San José in Costa Rica, San Salvador, El Salvador turns out to be the safest and most pleasant capital city to base in, in all of Central America, the Beaches of La Libertad are a 45 minute drive or less and Suchitoto is about an hour. Slightly more time on public transportation. The entire country can be seen in a few days, no 'all day' bus rides or drives, where you arrive exhausted.<BR/><BR/>People are friendly here in El Salvador, willing to help out travelers in a pinch. There exist now in El Salvador dozens of Couch Surfing members, so if traveling here try to contact a few Couch Surfing hosts, mostly locals, view www.couchsurfing.com/ well in advance of your arrival, especially if arriving holiday seasons such as December & New Years. Neighboring Guatemala and nearby Costa Rica boast many CS members while the number of members in Nicaragua has almost tripled in recent months.<BR/><BR/>I, a long term El Salvador resident, am suprised myself, despite the ongoing 'bad press' and 'bad rep' of El Salvador, how many travelers are now making El Salvador their first or second Central American destination. Few go away dissapointed.<BR/>Of course there exist serious security issues in many parts of Latin America so be aware, especially when traveling alone, and use common sense.<BR/>The more Spanish you know, the easier it gets <BR/><BR/>About Suchitoto in El Salvador<BR/>Sobre Suchitoto en El Salvador<BR/><BR/>www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20081018.STRATFORD... (English)<BR/><BR/>From Tim's El Salvador Bloq <BR/><BR/>luterano.blogspot.com/2008/10/making-suchitoto-center-for-th... (English)<BR/><BR/>Courtesy of:<BR/><BR/>www.geocities.com/welcome_to_elsalvador/ (webpages in English)<BR/><BR/>ARDM <BR/>Asociación de Reconstrucción y Desarrollo Municipal <BR/>Barrio El Centro, frente al Parque, <BR/>Cinquera, Departamento de Cabañas, El Salvador, C. A. <BR/>Organización sin fines de lucro.<BR/><BR/>------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------<BR/><BR/>The 'Really Real' El Salvador we know and love!<BR/><BR/>Don't miss this super and funny travelouge!!!!! <BR/><BR/>http://www.supertouchart.com/2008/08/12/road-trippinkelsey-brookes-on-the-loose-in-el-salvador/<BR/><BR/>http://www.southboundtravels.com/ A Bloq on Driving through Central America<BR/><BR/>http://www.vivatravelguides.com/central-america/el-salvador/el-salvador-articles/welcome-to-cinquera<BR/> <BR/>An article of mine on Cinquera, a village in Central America (one of our pilot projects on Rural Ecotourism/Cultural & Historic sites here in El Salvador) enjoy.<BR/><BR/>-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------<BR/><BR/>Practical Travel Information<BR/><BR/><BR/>**Common Sense Travel Advice for El Salvador and the rest<BR/>of Central America for Sensible People!<BR/>**Remember, advice is cheap, it usually takes me a few<BR/>minutes of my time to answer some sensible travel<BR/>questions and to point you in the right direction, as<BR/>well don't just take my word for it, check with<BR/>others who have traveled to the areas you wish to<BR/>visit, usually you will find these persons, eager and<BR/>willing to aid you, on the travelers forums such as:<BR/>Join free:<BR/><BR/>www.travellerspoint.com/<BR/><BR/>www.bootsnall.com/<BR/><BR/>www.gonomad.com/<BR/><BR/>www.tripadvisor.com/<BR/><BR/>www.lonelyplanet.com/ Thorntree Travel Forum<BR/><BR/>Check out the non profit hospitality portals to make local contacts<BR/>in each and every country you wish to visit:<BR/><BR/>Couch Surfing www.couchsurfing.com/<BR/><BR/>Be Welcome www.bewelcome.org/<BR/><BR/>Hospitality Club www.hospitalityclub.org/<BR/><BR/>CENTRAL AMERICAN LINKS<BR/><BR/>www.travelingo.org/south-america/el-salvador/san-salvador/fo…<BR/><BR/>www.worldtraveltips.net/centralamerica/ Select your<BR/>region and country to view tips, i.e.<BR/><BR/>www.worldtraveltips.net/centralamerica/view.cgi?country=El+S…<BR/><BR/>www.gocentralamerica.about.com/od/elsalvadorguide/El_Salvador.ht…<BR/><BR/>www.virtualtourist.com/travel/Caribbean_and_Central_America/<BR/><BR/>www.studentuniverse.com/i-central-america-travel.html<BR/>(Student Travel, has Student Airfare Booking on line)<BR/><BR/>www.travel-journal.org/ central-america/<BR/><BR/>www.airfare.bootsnall.com/<BR/>Good Airfares, Bootsnall can<BR/>help you 'plan' your trip RTW or just to one city and return!<BR/><BR/>www.exitotravel.com/ Consolidator, Airfares, Hotels,<BR/>Tours , Latin America only. US Based consolidator website with toll free number.<BR/><BR/>BUSES<BR/><BR/>www.goodtimebob.com/buseslinks.htm Central American Bus Links<BR/><BR/>www.ticabus.com/ Tica Bus International serving all<BR/>Central America<BR/><BR/>www.kingqualityca.com/ King Quality International buses<BR/>Guatemala to El Salvador , Honduras and Costa Rica<BR/>Website in Spanish only. Excellent Service.<BR/><BR/>www.hedmanalas.com/ Hedman Alas 1st Class Buses, Services all around<BR/>excellent services to major cities and destinations in Honduras and<BR/>Guatemala<BR/><BR/>GENERAL TRAVEL INFORMATION<BR/>Central America Information and Maps:<BR/>www.enjoycentralamerica.com/<BR/><BR/>Lots of links on this site:<BR/>www.travel.org/central.html<BR/><BR/>Surf this lengthy and informative website for Central<BR/>America only information:<BR/>www.alfatravelguide.com/english/index.htm<BR/>in English, Spanish, Svenska<BR/><BR/>*Surfing these websites, then if you wish, posting and asking questions on<BR/>the various travellers forums and asking questions<BR/>should be a good start. Most of the websites feature an array of links to other local and regional travel sites in both English and Spanish.<BR/><BR/>--------------------------------------------------------<BR/>I, the the writer, am a long term resident in El<BR/>Salvador and Guatemala . So I know the local customs,<BR/>culture, language and many subtle things travelers may have<BR/>not have the time to learn.<BR/>presently I am a volunteer co<BR/>ordinator/translator working with small projects based in El Salvador<BR/>assisting these small<BR/>non profit organizations to implement their receptive<BR/>eco and rural tourism projects as well as native crafts<BR/>projects. More information contact me by private<BR/>message <BR/>in English, Spanish, German, Italiano or Portuguese. I or another<BR/>volunteer will try to answer your inquiry within two (2) working days<BR/>when possible. IT and web design advice and assistance always<BR/>required!<BR/><BR/>--------------------------------------<BR/>MORE ON TRAVEL…..<BR/>Hotels and Lodgings…depends on your budget, upscale<BR/>2-5 Star accommodations in Central America may be<BR/>easily booked on line, http://www.tripadvisor.com/<BR/>For those travelers on Medium Budget, Low/Moderate Budget<BR/>to Upscale I would recommend the 'Alpha Travel Guide<BR/>to Central America ', a no nonsense, practical portal<BR/>about and for all the Central American countries in<BR/>English, Spanish and Swedish (see list above also)<BR/><BR/>www.alfatravelguide.com/english/index.htm<BR/><BR/>No "bells and whistles"<BR/><BR/>LOW BUDGET TRAVEL<BR/>If traveling on a low/backpacker budget you'll find<BR/>many small hotels and other unique lodging places in<BR/>El Salvador and the region that are quite economical<BR/>compared to European/North American prices, for<BR/>comfort and safety I would check out the B and B's<BR/>and Guest Houses in the cities and large towns and<BR/>even cheaper 'hostel/backpacker' style<BR/>accommodations are plentiful in travel destinations<BR/>such as Antigua and Lake Atitlan in Guatemala , Granada<BR/>in Nicaragua and many of the popular beach and mountain<BR/>destinations in Costa Rica .<BR/><BR/><BR/>EL SALVADOR, CENTRAL AMERICA'S HIDDEN GEM..<BR/>There are many lodging<BR/>bargains in El Salvador , but make sure you do not stay<BR/>in the crowded, dangerous and polluted 'Centro' or<BR/>Downtown, when in San Salvador , stay in the western<BR/>part of town near Metrocentro Mall and the National<BR/>University, the lodgings located on pleasant tree<BR/>lined streets in nice areas, near San Salvador 's<BR/>'Bohemian District' for overview of nightlife check out:<BR/><BR/>La Luna Casa y Arte<BR/>http://www.lalunacasayarte.com/ (español)<BR/><BR/>and the ads on the El Salvador section of Revue Magazine in English:<BR/>www.revuemag.com/ <BR/>in pdf format.<BR/><BR/>View www.theotherelsalvador.com/ excellent bi lingual website for El<BR/>Salvador with dozens of links. English & Spanish<BR/><BR/>Nice virtual tour of El Salvador on...<BR/>www.4elsalvador.com/<BR/><BR/>www.travelpages.com/el-salvador/san-salvador/guides/87001.html<BR/><BR/>and <BR/><BR/>www.cityguides-worldwide.com/ElSalvador/86998.htm<BR/><BR/>A great site for Budget-Moderate travel has many other<BR/>El Salvador city pages such as: Suchitoto, the<BR/>Colonial City where this website is based….<BR/>www.gaesuchitoto.com/<BR/><BR/>San Salvador city guide….An amazing city with lots of cultural and night life!<BR/>www.cityguides-worldwide.com/ElSalvador/35653.htm<BR/><BR/>Upload in pdf the 'Guatemala Revue Magazine' online….<BR/>You shall view many, many Adverts and a few very excellent<BR/>Articles on this on line edition, same as print edition, which will<BR/>give one a good overview of<BR/>Guatemalan and El Salvadorian travel, all the articles<BR/>Are archived.<BR/>pdf format only<BR/><BR/> url: www.revuemag.com/<BR/><BR/>The Guatemala Revue Magazine boasts large Guatemala<BR/>section, El Salvador section and smaller Belize and<BR/>Honduras sections. Monthly, in English.<BR/>------------------------------------------------<BR/><BR/>--------------------------------------------------------<BR/>TO THOSE INDEPENDENT TRAVELERS WHO SPEAK SPANISH<BR/>**When Central Americans do travel within the region,<BR/>usually on weekends or holiday periods, they travel<BR/>with family members in large groups. This is called<BR/>'turismo interno' - internal tourism. There are<BR/>many fine local guides, tour operators and<BR/>driver-owners in El Salvador that advertise locally<BR/>and will take visitors on tour with advance notice at<BR/>reasonable prices. If you speak Spanish you are able<BR/>to save a lot of money rather than go with the more<BR/>expensive inbound tourism outfits, as well as meeting<BR/>and travelling with locals, at times the locals may<BR/>invite you to their home after the tour, especially in<BR/>El Salvador or Nicaragua ! The local tour operators<BR/>advertise in the classified sections of the daily<BR/>newspapers and on Spanish language local Internet<BR/>portals.During holiday periods El Salvadorian<BR/>operators conduct excursions in Mexico , Guatemala ,<BR/>Honduras, Nicaragua , Costa Rica and some go as far as<BR/>Panama, prices and quality vary so check around,<BR/>always ask to inspect the vehicle first and inquire<BR/>with local friends as to which companies are<BR/>reliable or contact writer of this bloq.<BR/>Many locals in El Salvador often travel weekends to<BR/>make pilgrimages to Catholic Shrines in Antigua and<BR/>Escuintla, Guatemala, etc. Religion is practiced here<BR/>in El Salvador by a large majority of people, Roman<BR/>Catholic or Evangelical, be polite and respectful of<BR/>other's beliefs and opinions at all times.<BR/><BR/>----------------------------------------------------------<BR/>TO THOSE LEARNING TO SPEAK SPANISH<BR/>***Speaking Spanish. .If you don't at all start<BR/>learning at home before your departure, tapes, a<BR/>tutor, conversation club, classes, whatever, if on a<BR/>basic conversation level or above find someone to<BR/>practice with, it is my opinion that if you are<BR/>traveling, say 3-4 weeks in the region, it is really<BR/>useless to spend the first week or two in a "Spanish<BR/>School". If worse comes to worse bring a very good<BR/>phrasebook and do a lot of pointing. A tip: I've<BR/>lived down this way, way down south, 21 years and used<BR/>to escort a lot of visitors to the highlands/carib<BR/>coast/honduras/el salvador out of Antigua, Guatemala,<BR/>some couples had studied for several weeks at<BR/>Antigua's best Spanish Academies, in school proper<BR/>Castillan Spanish is taught, no "street lingo" nor<BR/>slang of any kind, as soon as we were in the<BR/>countryside, my clients froze up, when I ordered for<BR/>them and used the word 'vos' (slang familiar for<BR/>'you' in El Salvador and Guatemala ), these poor<BR/>gringoes asked what 'vos' meant! They were taught<BR/>to use Usted and Ustedes (formal) at all times and in<BR/>the Indian Markets in Chichicastenango and Panajachel<BR/>these people 'flipped out' literally when I began<BR/>speaking the local native Kak'chiquel and Quiche<BR/>dialects!<BR/><BR/>I am listing a few good resources for Spanish<BR/>Schools:<BR/><BR/>www.salvaspan.com/ El Salvador<BR/><BR/>www.123teachme.com/ List of Spanish Schools throughout Latin America &<BR/>Spain excellent resource!!<BR/><BR/><BR/>****SAFETY AND SECURITY ISSUES<BR/>Recommend not to travel to rural or remote areas with expensive<BR/>cameras, videocam or other electronic<BR/>toys… a small digital camera will often do…<BR/>unless you are a Business or Upscale Traveler, staying<BR/>in a Hotel or resort with a room Safe and filming while traveling on<BR/>organized tour with security. Tour groups of four or more persons in<BR/>El Salvador, through any licenced tour operator or the ISTU<BR/>(Salvadorian Institute of Tourism) may make arragments in advance for<BR/>National Tourism Police officers in uniform to accompany your group,<BR/>no charge, however tipping per diem expected and polite. Same with<BR/>native eco and cultural guides who charge low fees compared to guides<BR/>in developed countries..<BR/><BR/>Safety...use<BR/>common sense, be aware while on the road and in cities and start learning<BR/>Spanish TODAY..HOY MISMO if you don't speak any!<BR/>Check out http://www.livemocha.com/ and <BR/>www.123teachme.com/ for free on line<BR/>tutorials. !Hoy Mismo.......!<BR/><BR/>"This is the number one question. Way over hyped.<BR/>I've been living in El Salvador and Guatemala since the 70's. Even<BR/>with the current economic and political issues it is<BR/>still a lot better than back a couple decades. You do<BR/>all the common sense stuff listed in the Lonely Planet<BR/>guide (or any other Guidebook)…it increasingly reads<BR/>like it is written by someone's<BR/>grandmother…lawyers must do the editing. Some<BR/>paranoia in some situations is worth while….<BR/>Always be aware<BR/><BR/>NEVER NEVER CAMP OUT WHERE THERE IS NO SECURITY, NOR IN AREA<BR/>WHERE YOU HAVE NO PERMISSION FROM PROPERTY OWNER....<BR/>If planning to camp in Central America, and not driving nor renting a<BR/>vehicle best to have a travel companion or two or three and carry<BR/>durable tents..if on a low budget and taking 'chicken buses' in and<BR/>out of remote areas this may be often a difficult task...in some cases<BR/>best to pool funds and rent a 4WD for a few days or a week..<BR/>Best site to contact locals who know camping spots in or near their<BR/>local area www.couchsurfing.com/<BR/>Two websites with informating on camping and 'boondocking' (may<BR/>include parking lots of Shopping Malls or Luxury Resorts!) in Central<BR/>America, including El Salvador are:<BR/><BR/>www..99DaystoPanama.com/ Has list of campsites Mexico & Central America<BR/>and<BR/>www.panamaorbust.com/ Good information and links.<BR/><BR/>Also www.drivemeloco.com/<BR/><BR/>New camping group online:<BR/>http://findingfinn.com/group/camping<BR/>-----------------------------------------------------<BR/><BR/>SAFETY AGAIN……<BR/>Remember you are not at home, where you know where and when to go or<BR/>NOT to go..locals on the street in many places in Latin America will<BR/>often give contrary advice and directions if you are lost, usually<BR/>just to be polite…<BR/><BR/>The writer's own Words…..<BR/>For El Salvador and the rest of Central America the<BR/>warnings about the same, same old, same old:<BR/>**don't walk alone or in pairs after dark and take a<BR/>taxi home (if you don't have a ride)even if your<BR/>lodging place is only three or four blocks away,<BR/>sometimes it only takes 50 meters outside the bar or<BR/>night spot if thieves are following you and they hit<BR/>hard and fast.<BR/><BR/>**Be especially aware, never paranoid, in second/third<BR/>class bus terminals, crowded outdoor markets and city<BR/>bus stops, never carry a digital camera or laptop on public<BR/>transport unless concealed. Between countries take the<BR/>international Tica Bus or other first class bus lines,<BR/>remember all of the thieves now have cell phones, most<BR/>travelers do not carry cell phones away from home so try and<BR/>keep a low profile, blend in if possible, got it?<BR/><BR/>THIS IS IMPORTANT, SAD BUT TRUE.........<BR/>"The Police don't really care much if you are not<BR/>injured in a crime, just as at home, the police<BR/>usually have more pressing things to deal with, and<BR/>the Consuls at the Embassies have seen hundreds of<BR/>Police Reports and issued many new Passports for a<BR/>hefty fee! Never carry your passport unless leaving<BR/>the country, carry a photocopy."<BR/><BR/>* At your own risk accept drinks, favors, gifts, lodgings or rides home from<BR/>total strangers, say those met in a 'bar', café or nightclub,<BR/>especially young women traveling alone or in pairs,<BR/>never tell strangers your itinerary and travel plans,<BR/>nor where you are staying. Guys, never take a 'bar<BR/>girl' you do not know back to your lodging place.<BR/>View the city entertainment guides above.<BR/><BR/>*Taxi Drivers and Hotel Employees are usually the<BR/>worst people you can ask about where to go out,<BR/>you'll usually always be directed to the most<BR/>expensive places, especially if you don't speak<BR/>Spanish. Start learning!<BR/><BR/>IF TRAVELING ALONE YOU HAVE NO 'FRIENDS' ON THE BUS NOR IN OR AROUND THE BUS<BR/>STATION...MAKE 'FRIENDS' ELSEWHERE!<BR/>--------------------------------------------------------<BR/><BR/>VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES<BR/><BR/>Many many humanitarian aid organizations exist in Central America and<BR/>require long or short term volunteers, with or without special skills,<BR/>all year around..view these non profit portals for no cost or low cost<BR/>opportunities, contacting yourself any and all organizations you are<BR/>interested in working with well in advance of your departure..from<BR/>another bloq of mine…"volunteering abroad, especially in the<BR/>developing countries, as a volunteer, long or short term, you'll make<BR/>valuable and lifelong friendships as well as trusted local contacts<BR/>which may lead into full time employment in your chosen field locally.<BR/>Ordinarily you'll have to pay your airfare and room and board to<BR/>volunteer with many small projects as most have barely enough money to<BR/>stay above water. Fundraising, a year round effort, often takes up<BR/>much of paid staff's time and energy! The 'pro' is you'll be there in<BR/>your target country or region and not online behind a computer screen<BR/>at home! The smiles of a child or family in need we have assisted<BR/>beats any computer screen or laptop for me by a wide mile!<BR/>More information view these web portals:<BR/><BR/>www.idealist.org/ in several languages.<BR/>www.idealista.org/ español (Has large El Salvador section)<BR/>www.truetravellers.org/ English<BR/>www.volunteersouthamerica.net/ English, Spanish.<BR/><BR/>If traveling to El Salvador , meetup with us and we'll point you in the right<BR/>direction!<BR/><BR/>Information Courtesy of "Welcome to Cinquera" in El Salvador<BR/>Pilot project development of sustainable rural cultural, crafts and<BR/>ecotourism 'off the beaten path' in El Salvador.<BR/>Feel free to contact us via the website at any time.<BR/>http://www.geocities.com/welcome_to_elsalvador/<BR/><BR/>"All the information you require to travel to El Salvador & Central<BR/>America" Just ask.expatwizardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12904761416984284538noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9177745.post-71541758878199038452008-11-24T23:46:00.000-06:002008-11-24T23:46:00.000-06:00The Eco experiencias project is helping Salvadoran...The Eco experiencias project is helping Salvadoran communities, workers cooperatives, NGOs, and private landowners to interpret themselves to create one of a kind, sustainable experiences that highlight unique cultural, natural and geographical qualities of the departments of sonsonate and Ahuachapán.<BR/><BR/>---------------<BR/><BR/>kesha<BR/><BR/><A HREF="http://www.drivenwide.com" REL="nofollow">Buzz marketing</A>keshacogginshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09889235819464436788noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9177745.post-40899665045178885712008-11-21T15:48:00.000-06:002008-11-21T15:48:00.000-06:00Going to El Salvador for ecotourism is like going ...Going to El Salvador for ecotourism is like going there to learn about indigenous peoples. The country provides a lesson in how to destroy almost the enire environoment while leaving just a tiny bit still standing, just as there are a few surviving Pipiles.<BR/><BR/>By the way, do the ecotourists have any idea what they are drinking in the bottled water???Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com