Its name still evokes images of the brutal civil war fought throughout the 1980s, but the bloodshed is long over - the volcanic landscape remains the most turbulent aspect of El Salvador. Friendly locals like to chat, diverting your gaze from the gangs and refugees to beautiful broad valleys. El Salvador has a tropical climate with only two seasons: verano (dry season) from November to April, and invierno (wet season) from May to October. Almost the entire annual rainfall occurs during the rainy season and at night. Temperatures are based mostly on elevation in El Salvador. The coastal areas are the hottest. The best time of year to visit is at the beginning or the end of the dry season, when it doesn't rain every day and the roads are in good shape. More cultural festivals take place around these times. It's advisable to avoid the holiday periods - it's busy and prices are inflated. The main holiday periods are from Christmas through mid-January; Semana Santa, a week-long festival before Easter; and during the first week of August when San Salvador holds its annual festival. Many services also shut down during these periods. In the rainy season, prices are lower, beaches are less crowded and the evenings slightly cooler after the rainstorms. Source: Lonely PLanet

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