The World Surf League Championship Tour is on at the moment in El Salvador, it runs from the 6th to the 15th of June at Punta Roca. A World class event like this in a Spanish-speaking country is a great opportunity to brush up on some Spanish and Central American culture. So in this blog post you’ll learn something new about El Salvador.
Interesting Fact No.1
El Salvador is a Spanish-speaking country located between Guatemala and Honduras in Central America. It’s Central America’s smallest country and the only country in Central America that doesn’t have a Caribbean Coastline.
But what it lacks in Caribbean it makes up for with countless world-class waves.
Interesting Fact No.2
Did you know that El Salvador is also known as the Land of the Volcanoes and has over 20 volcanoes in the country, two of which are active. The Chaparrastique is considered to be the most active volcano in the region. It has erupted 26 times in the last 500 years.
Interesting Fact No.3
What El Salvador lacks in Caribbean coastline it makes up for with countless world-class waves. The country is one of the most popular surfing destinations in the world. Punta Roca is the country’s premier point break, and hosts the World Surf League.
Interesting Fact No.4
High in the mountains, at the 7,931-foot (2,417-meter) summit of Monte Cristo Mountain, is a cloud forest in the international nature preserve of El Trifinio. The cloud forest is home to orchids, ferns, spider monkeys, jaguars, anteaters, and many bird species, including green toucans.
Interesting Fact No.5
Salvadorans (people born in El Salvador) are also called Guanacos. Guanacos are one of two wild South American camelids; the other species is the vicúna, which lives at the higher elevations of Los Andes.
Interesting Fact No.6
El Salvador is the 19th largest coffee growing country in the world12. Over 90% of the coffee produced in El Salvador is shade-grown and from a high altitude3. Salvadoran coffee is grown on mountainside “fincas” (farms) at 1200 to 1500 meters above sea level.
Interesting Fact No.7
El Salvador gets half as many visitors annually as Costa Rica and is also becoming a hub for eco-tourism. Making it a FANTASTIC alternative destination (dupe destination) to visit.
Interesting Fact No.8
The people of El Salvador are friendly, warm and hospitable.
It is a tradition in El Salvador for women to often pat each other on the right forearm or shoulder instead of shaking hands.
The use of first names is usually reserved for family and friends
