El Salvador Travel Guide

There is a fixed exchange rate of US$1=8.75 colones, and banks do not charge a commission for changing either currency into the other. All goods and services can legally be paid for in either dollars or colones, though in practice some vendors still prefer one or other. Outside the top-end hotels and restaurants, the best way to pay is in cash. Travellers' cheques are becoming more widely recognized, but at present can only be changed in banks (you'll need have your proof of purchase in order to change them). A few ATMs ( cajeros electrónicos , mainly operated by Banco Agrícola, Banco Salvadoreño, Banco de Comercio and Banco Cuscatlán) accept foreign-issued Visa and Mastercards (Visa is more widely accepted) and dispense US dollars. Opening hours for banks are 8.30 or 9am until 4 or 5pm, and some of them close for an hour at lunch. Some banks in the larger cities also open between 9am and midday on Saturday. There are casas de cambio in San Salvador, Santa Ana and San Miguel (generally open daily 9am-5pm). Moneychangers can be found at borders, and along Alameda Juan Pablo II in San Salvador, but exercise caution.