El Salvador has been the world’s top bitcoin tourism destination since 2021, when it became the first country to accept bitcoin as legal tender, it has become one of the favorite destinations for bitcoiners. In addition to the region’s natural beauty and the warmth of its people, the promise of a country friendly to bitcoiners’ economic ideology is one of El Salvador’s greatest attractions.

Depending on where you’re coming from, flights can range from as low as $150 to as high as $2000. It all depends on your budget, time, and whether you want to stretch your legs during the flight. Despite being small, El Salvador International Airport offers all the amenities of a world-class airport, such as free WiFi. This is very useful since there are no SIM card vendors inside the airport.

If you’re planning to stay, the immigration process is swift, fast, and friendly. You can even pay with bitcoin for the immigration cards, valued at USD 12. Immigrants from some countries, like Colombia, are exempt from paying this fee.

Before leaving the airport, there are several car rental agencies where you can rent a car if you choose to do so. If you go down this route, I recommend downloading maps of the country and the regions you plan to visit before setting off, as you won’t find a SIM card for your cell phone until you reach a populated area. There are also local chauffeur services that accept bitcoin payments, such as the one offered by Napoleón Osorio (@bitdriver7 on Twitter). As for accommodation, most hotels in the capital city don’t directly accept bitcoin payments yet, so keep that in mind.

However, a hotel in the urban capital that does accept bitcoin is called the Bitcoin Landing Spot (@BTCLandingSpot on Twitter). Twitter can be a useful tool for finding bitcoin-friendly businesses in El Salvador.

Another benefit of this place is its proximity to two bitcoiner event spaces: Casa de Mi Primer Bitcoin
BTC
 (@MyfirstBitcoin_) and Casa del Bitcoin (@CasadelBitcoin_). These houses frequently host meetups where you can meet like-minded individuals. To stay updated on their events, I recommend following their Twitter pages and sending them a direct message if needed.

Mi Primer Bitcoin is an educational project with a bitcoin diploma program, so far 1,500 young students have graduated with this diploma. Outside of bitcoin event spaces, there are very few places in the capital city where you can make direct bitcoin payments. Most establishments still don’t accept bitcoin. If one of your goals during your visit is to live for several days using only bitcoin, then one of the must-visit places is the coastal city of El Zonte, home to the Bitcoin Beach community.

People have been earning and spending bitcoin at local businesses in the Bitcoin Beach neighborhood since 2019, aiming to spread the community across El Zonte. This includes charitable bitcoin initiatives that provide student scholarships, aid for the elderly, and local educational workshops in both computer programming and English. Additionally, through their “Surf Para Todos” (Surf for Everyone) program, Bitcoin Beach community members offer free surf lessons every Saturday morning. I recommend visiting the Hope House at Bitcoin Beach to learn more.

With regards to safety concerns, the security situation in El Salvador has improved significantly over the past few years. During all of my visits, I have never felt any danger. If you’re curious about visiting the first country in the world to make bitcoin legal tender, then I hope this El Salvador travel guide inspires you to enjoy a trip to the first bitcoin-friendly country.

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