🇸🇻 El Salvador Internet & SIM Cards — Connectivity Guide

The internet in El Salvador is relatively well-developed, with a good mobile network coverage and widespread WiFi availability, making it a decent destination for tourists and remote workers alike.

Internet Overview

The internet quality in El Salvador is generally good, with an average internet speed of 10 Mbps download, which is suitable for most online activities such as browsing, social media, and streaming. However, there is a notable urban-rural divide in terms of internet quality, with faster speeds and more reliable connections available in urban areas such as San Salvador, while rural areas often experience slower speeds and more frequent outages. The reliability of the internet in El Salvador is also a concern, with occasional outages and disruptions reported, especially during heavy rainfall or other extreme weather conditions.

Despite these challenges, the internet infrastructure in El Salvador has been improving in recent years, with investments in fiber-optic cables and 4G networks expanding coverage and increasing speeds. This has made it easier for tourists and remote workers to stay connected and access the internet from most parts of the country. However, it's still important to be aware of the potential for outages and disruptions, especially when working remotely or relying on the internet for critical communications.

Getting a SIM Card

To get a SIM card in El Salvador, tourists can visit one of the main carriers' stores, such as Claro, Tigo, or Digicel, and purchase a prepaid SIM card for around 10 USD. To buy a SIM card, tourists will typically need to provide a valid passport and fill out a registration form. The recommended carriers for tourists are Claro and Tigo, which offer a range of prepaid plans and data packages. For example, Claro's tourist plan includes 1GB of data, unlimited local calls and texts, and 10 USD credit for international calls and texts, all for 20 USD per week.

WiFi Availability

• Hotel WiFi quality in El Salvador is generally good, with most hotels and resorts offering free WiFi to their guests.
• Cafe WiFi culture is also popular, with many cafes and coffee shops offering free WiFi to customers.
• Coworking spaces are becoming increasingly popular in San Salvador and other major cities, offering reliable and fast WiFi connections.
• Public WiFi is available in some areas, such as airports, malls, and public parks, but it's not always reliable or secure.
• Many restaurants and bars also offer free WiFi to customers, making it easy to stay connected while dining out.

For Remote Workers

• Coworking spaces such as WeWork and Regus offer reliable and fast WiFi connections, as well as other amenities such as meeting rooms and printing services.
• Reliable cafe chains such as Starbucks and Dunkin' Donuts offer free WiFi and a comfortable working environment.
• Backup internet options such as portable WiFi hotspots and mobile networks can be useful in case of outages or disruptions.
• VPNs are recommended to ensure secure and private internet connections, especially when working with sensitive data.
• Some coworking spaces and cafes also offer additional services such as virtual offices and mailboxes, which can be useful for remote workers.

Tips & Warnings

• Internet censorship is not a major concern in El Salvador, but some websites and services may be blocked due to copyright or other issues.
• VPN recommendations include ExpressVPN and NordVPN, which offer secure and private connections.
• Roaming alternatives such as portable WiFi hotspots and local SIM cards can be more cost-effective than using international roaming services.
• eSIM options are not widely available in El Salvador, but some carriers such as Claro and Tigo offer eSIM plans for certain devices.
• When using public WiFi, it's always a good idea to use a VPN and keep your device and data secure.
• Be aware of the potential for outages and disruptions, especially during heavy rainfall or other extreme weather conditions, and have a backup plan in place.