El Salvador: Some Interesting Facts

Public Holidays

Date 2005 Occasion
January 1 New Year's Day
March 23 - 27 Holy Wednesday to Easter Sunday  
May 1 Labor Day
August 4 Bank holiday (Balance day)
August 5 - 6 San Salvador Festival
September 15 Independence Day
October 12 Spanishness Day
November 2 All Souls Day or Memorial Day
November 5 Cry of Independence Day
December 25 Christmas Day  
December 31 Bank Holiday

Other Observances
June 22                     School Teachers' Day
December 12             Virgen de Guadalupe

Weekend- Saturday, Sunday

Electricity

110 volts or 60 hertz

Weights & Measures

The Metric system of measurement is used.

Post & Communications

Postal services are reliable. There is express as well as airmail and letters take a week to reach Europe or the US. Post offices are generally open from 9am to 4 pm, Monday to Friday. International Direct Dialling is available. If you’re making an international call, it’s better to use a collect card or phone card. You can use these from any of the phone booths on the street. Internet services are available all over El Salvador.

Tipping

A 10% tax is added to all goods and services. Sometimes the tax may not be added to the price tag but is added directly to the bill. Tip only if you really want to.

English Language Media

You can pick up a copy of the El Salvador News Gazette to keep in touch with domestic as well as international events.
Listen to the BBC or Voice of America on the radio for latest news updates around the world.