Ep 173 w/ Dave Mendez – Why You Should Visit El Salvador in 2025 – A Local’s Perspective

Hello and welcome to this week's episode. I've got a very special episode today with Dave Mendez, who is a local tour guide in San Salvador. When I was traveling there, I booked in a walking tour with Dave on GuruWalk and then I asked him would he be willing to come on the podcast to talk about his life, San Salvador, El Salvador and provide us with some great tips for traveling to El Salvador for the audience. And he said, yes. So today we chat for an hour.

and you're going to hear everything about El Salvador and San Salvador. This really should inspire you to travel there because you're going to hear from a local perspective on the things you've seen. eat, drink, et cetera, et cetera. A great episode right in the middle of the El Salvador series I've got right now. So last week we had San Salvador and Suchitoto. Today we've got Dave and then next we're off to Elizonte. Hope you enjoy the episode. Thanks for tuning in. Let's get stuck in. Do you love spontaneous adventures, travel tips and stories?

that will inspire you to pack up and go? Well, welcome to the Wigging It Travel Podcast. I'm James, your host, and each week I bring you travel tales, practical advice, and interviews with travelers from around the globe. Whether you're planning a big trip or just dreaming about one, you'll find everything from hidden gems to epic fails, because travel is not perfect, and that is what makes it beautiful. So grab your backpack and let's wing it. New episodes every Monday, wherever you get your podcasts.

and on YouTube too. You can find Winging It and more fantastic travel podcasts from around the world at voyescape.com. The link is in the show notes. Let's go and explore the world. Hello listeners and viewers. Today I've got a local friend of mine called Dave and he's from El Salvador and specifically San Salvador. I'm actually going to do a walking tour later with him but before that we've got a cheeky little interview here to talk about El Salvador, San Salvador and Dave's life. So Dave, welcome to the show. How are doing?

Thank you very much. I'm doing fine, James. I really appreciate that you have come to El Salvador. This is the land of the pupusas, right? we definitely have a lot to share, and it will be a good opportunity that now we have with the viewers from all around the world. So they can basically experiment what we are experiencing nowadays, basically.

Yeah, and I really appreciate you coming on because obviously English is your second language and I can't imagine what it's like to speak on a podcast or video in a second language. So I really appreciate it. I really thank you so much for coming on. Thank you. I first want to say just talk to us about where you grew up, bit of history about yourself and do you like travel to other countries as well?

Illegally through Mexico and we have to go to the United States Because right here we were you know, we had this civil war that lasted almost 12 years 12 years 12 years. So wow with many of my family members they were considered, you know, For example, if you were listening music related to communism you were accused that were you were a communist So many of my family members they have to leave the States so eventually we have to do that because there were a lot of bombs and

wow, the other side? That's a big change.

Yeah

So basically we went to we went to live in, wichester wichester county, you know, close to canada Yeah, as a matter of fact, and yeah, I went to study four years high school Yeah, once I finished those four years. I returned back to the country My mom my dad my sister. They all loved the new york that they became u.s. Citizens. I was the only one that after you know, it's high school. I came back to the country

that.

that I work in the call center industry. But then I saw what our president, Nayib Bukele, know, first of all we have to thank God because without him this miracle wouldn't have been possible. This is a miracle that we have been experiencing in El Salvador that for the last three years basically we have experienced a lot of secureness. We Salvadorians, we are basically able to enjoy the freedom that we didn't have before.

And I just began with my own business beginning almost seven months ago. So that's why you were able to find me on GoodWalk because before I was in GoodWalk I am on different platforms like Viator, Get Your Guide, you know all of those.

Was it getting better or was it still the same same? What was the feeling like after the Civil War?

Got it.

they went to the streets. We basically live another war. Got it. Because in the civil war we basically lost approximately 100,000 people.

Got it. Right.

But during the last 30 years, we lost almost 100,000 people as well. So it was basically two wars that I was... I was escaping one war, but then I came back to another. But of course, we couldn't go from one place to another. It was like a Berlin wall. People from one neighborhood, they couldn't go to another neighborhood and vice versa. All of a sudden, people just came from universities and they fall asleep. And then all of a sudden, they woke up in a wrong neighborhood.

You could see the face that they were afraid of. And immediately these gangsters because they control everything. Back in the days they had the cell phone, they had the earphones. Anybody coming to the neighborhood, they will know who was the first time. Who was the first time coming to the neighborhood. So that's why we were considered, as a matter of fact, James, we were considered the world's capital of murder. 25 to 30 people per day being killed in El Salvador. On high peaks, we had like weekends.

Yes.

that number went up to eighty hundred people. Specifically on holidays like December, know, like Eastern, on holidays that number went even higher. As a matter of fact, know, unfortunately we have to tell about politicians back in the days they were making money out of it.

even high waste of life right

Yeah,

how many times are you saying I heard that?

Yeah,

definitely. they will say, hey, we do the politicians work. They were like, we do own, you know, these security enterprises. So your bank needs our guards. Your school needs our guards. So basically they were making money out of it. So that's why, you know, during those, those years it was terrible. It was terrible. You know, we

Just to give you an example, one day, we always on paycheck, every 15 and 30 of the month, we had to go, specifically myself, I had to go to a mall, into the mall I had to go to a restroom and get my salary and put it between my socks and my shoes. That was the safest place I would ever have my money. On those days, all of a sudden these guys will come on the buses, they will...

I mean,

get into and they will come with these backpacks empty and they will say okay everybody give me your cell phone or your money that you have otherwise you will know what will happen and they will show the gun so everybody was putting the cell phones right there the money everything and that was very common that was very common shootings everywhere people couldn't go from you know after 7 p.m. you you needed to know that basically you have to be a home by 7 p.m. because after that

Wow. Yeah.

Yeah.

or maybe going to the mall or maybe going to the store, he had to go with us, either myself or my wife. Because going by himself, it was impossible. Nowadays he can do that. He can go to the gym and now he can go by himself. He comes from the school and he can come by himself. Before, that was impossible to think about it. So as you can see, it was terrible times, we feel like, have you seen the movie The 10th Commandments? You haven't? my God, you gotta see.

I have not. I'm

a bad film person.

Look,

Okay. Yeah.

Yeah, amazing. And just to give you an example, I have been to downtown before Dave's tour, but I haven't done too much because I don't want to ruin the tour. Right. But I did go into the library, the National Library, and there's loads of books in there, positive vibes, loads of children just playing games or reading. Right, right. I just think when a country is doing well, you can read books, you've got accessibility to all the different types of literature, right? I think that's a good sign when it's free as well. You just walk in, it's free. Right, right. Amazing.

To tell you the truth, in order to go to that library, I waited five months. Because the first five months, everybody was trying to get in, that it took almost one up to three hours to get in. And people under the sun, they were waiting on the canopies in order to come in. Now you can do it because now everybody almost know it, but at the very beginning, five months for me to get into the library. I was like this, I want to go there. But yes, it is amazing.

Wow.

The

building, very impressive. You've got modern one side of the square, old on the other side. It's quite a nice mix.

Exactly, even though it is old, but it is being renovated. Yes. That's the good thing about it. I have one of these tourists coming from Germany. She always said, David, when I go to big cities, I usually avoid going to the capital city. I usually go to the surroundings. And she said, I'll make this exception to come to downtown San Salvador. After two hours and a half that we walked, she was amazed. She said, David, I feel secure. I feel safe.

What Bukele did, started like a wave. He started making a lot of changes beginning from the different plazas and he's moving towards the different neighborhoods. Secureness, cleanness, street vendors taking from the streets some place on different buildings. So in this case gives you a sense of secureness and many people love it. Especially at night because all of these emblematic buildings, they are little.

I can't

You

will see it's completely different from the day to the night.

Before we get to El Salvador, one more question about growing up in USA. Did you travel much in USA or abroad? was it purely just because you moved to a new country, you're just going to stay in USA, get the passport or get the visa and just work? Or did you manage to travel other places?

No,

actually when I went to the States I went to study. So I went to study from eighth grade until I finished high school. So in this case the only place I met was because it was from the airplane going from San Diego to Pittsburgh and from Pittsburgh to New York. So and then when I returned back to the country it was from New York to Guatemala and from Guatemala to El Salvador.

But once I was already here in El Salvador, I went to visit places. I have visited places like Guatemala. Lovely, lovely. I love, you know, we are very... Are you is a brotherhood, yes. There is a lot of in common with us. We share a lot of traditions, basically. So, Guatemala, I have also traveled to Honduras. I love archaeological sites. I started a semester of anthropology.

And believe me, now that I am able to show many tourists from around the world the different archaeological sites, I remember that taking that six semester of studying this type of subjects, basically, at that point I didn't understand why I was taking it, but now I understand that God put me the purpose of studying it, so now I can teach about it. So throughout the life, I have been dealing with customer service.

you know, industry, I have dealt with very tough people, but that is also helping me out now that I do deal with customer services face to face. everything that I have gone through has helped me out so far. So I definitely thank Scott for that, know. But yes, I love to travel, you know, I would definitely, that's why I have created my own business because one of my dreams is basically, you know, bring people from all over the place, but also

one day to start bringing Salvadorians back to many different countries. If they want to go to London, for example, bring somebody that speaks English and Spanish at the same time, show them what you have, for example, in the UK.

So you want to bring or take groups to other countries?

That would be like the phase five. I have created my diaries. I have divided like in five different sections basically. So that would be like phase number

We'll come to the first phase in a minute, in a second. I want to save it because I want to do the whole section on you. Let's get into El Salvador. So I've got some questions here on my Mac. These are probably what people are thinking about in terms of, okay, I don't know El Salvador that much or that well. I need to know the basics. So we're going to go with, very general first, some of the top places to visit in El Salvador as a country.

Top places, first of all you got to visit the El Centro Historico, the historical center. Because from this you're given an idea of what El Salvador offers you. Food to eat, places to go, where not to go, a lot of background, historical, the present, the future, infrastructure. So first of all the capital city, historical center. Second of all, San Salvador Volcano.

San Salvador volcano is the easiest volcano you can go to. Tell you why. San Salvador volcano. really? San Salvador volcano, Uber takes you to 90 % of the volcano. So if you might be thinking that, climbing a volcano would be difficult. No, wait. You just go. Uber takes you right there to the parking lot. And then you just walk like a 20 minutes easy walk. And then you get to see the crater.

Oh, right, okay. please. It's not on my list.

That's the easiest volcano in El Salvador. So that's first one. Second of all, south of San Salvador, we have a place that is called Los Planes de Renderos. There is a whole view of San Salvador. And the best thing of all, every business in that place is a pupuseria. Yeah, pupuseria. Definitely. So right there, you can find it. So we have a lot of attractions right there. And also, going northern San Salvador, we have a place that is called Suchitoto.

I am going there, that's on my list.

Excellent.

Okay.

January 13th and another one February 13th imagine bad month basically and when the European Union sent the aid to El Salvador they arrived to Suchitoto and many other places but there was a Spanish delegation that went directly to Suchitoto. When they arrived to Suchitoto James they were so amazed about it that they started promoting and bringing people from Spain directly to Suchitoto. Why? Because they say

Okay.

Wow

Imagine that, we haven't that type. So that's another spot you can definitely, it is a must, you must go. Then we have what is called the Pompeii of America. The Pompeii of America is an archaeological site. It's called Jolla de Seren. Jolla de Seren, is a community that was buried by a volcano eruption. So it is the only one place in the country that we have.

Okay.

which is called, it's coming from the World Heritage of the UNESCO. The only one, the only one, is right behind the volcano. The volcano of San Salvador. Exactly, you can definitely do it. That's just one day. Then we have Ilo Pango Lake. Pango Lake used to be a crater back in like centuries ago. So nowadays you can go on a bicycle in between the lake, through the lake, through a bicycle.

Okay. Right. So you can visit two in one day.

As in, is this the bicycle that's like up really high? Exactly.

It's floating, it's like floating. So you're basically cycling in the middle of the lake. You gotta stay, if you're staying 11 days, you must make it 30 days. Yeah, definitely. Those are just within San Salvador. So when people say, I'll just go from Santa Ana to El Tunco, which is one of the beach areas, you know.

I'm tempted, I'm scared at the same time.

My job is basically to tell them, know, hey, you have this and that, where you can go. For example, I got somebody coming from Italy two days ago. She basically came and she said, yeah, from here I'm going to Nicaragua. I just got a review today. She says because of the walking tour I took with David, I'm extending my days in El Salvador. Exactly, exactly. So you see, I'm really happy that that is happening. So.

Exactly

those are just some of the examples of course then you have to visit the Santana volcano we have the the Coatepec Lake the Coatepec Lake is considered one of the eighth wonders of the world why because it turns out once or twice a year if it turns out with a turquoise color by its own because of the algaes yes so when you see it from above

Camel's got loadings.

Exactly. So that is why it is very known. You go right there and you find restaurants that are called the eighth wonder of the world. La Octava Maravilla, right? Exactly. So basically it is a must. Then you also have to visit the flowers route. The flowers route, La Ruta de las Flores. Exactly. is five, there are five different towns, colonial towns.

Got to market the name, right?

Yes, someone's recommended that to me.

and each and every one of those towns, teach you something different.

god, I need two weeks here. Exactly! I'm you! three!

I'm

telling you, you will get in love and you will have to come back again. My friend, you you have from gastronomic places to, for example, we have a Huyua, which is very known because of the gastronomic festivals that they have. We have a Concepcion de Ataco. Concepcion de Ataco is like a small Antigua, Guatemala in El Salvador. And we have Apaneca.

I will, 100%.

okay.

In a panaca you have all of these extreme games that you have ever imagined in your life. Extreme games like cycling above one of the biggest maize that we have in Central America. The maize is made out of cypress. You can smell the pan. So you're cycling above that maize. That's just one. Then you have zip lines, then you have the big swing where you're swinging.

They have a lot of things right there. So right there, that's another day basically. And then we have Nahui Salco, which is one of those indigenous towns that we have available. Unfortunately, we only have 2 % of indigenous people. And that town is the place where you can learn about their history, Nahui Salco.

Where in the country is that town? It's... Okay, pass, pass. Brilliant,

part of their flowers route.

And then Salcua Tintana is another place where people go to have this type of food that is like for snacks like yuca frita, empanadas, you will learn.

Yeah, when we walking you were

We'll

definitely be able to learn a little bit about our gastronomy. But yes, those are basically, and of course, Surf City. Surf City is basically, Surf City is not just one beach. It is basically a concept. The concept is 300 kilometers of beaches where you can choose where you want to have surfing lessons, where you want to swim. So we're talking about...

300 kilometers. The good thing about the waves that we have in El Salvador, this is good for surfers, that the waves that we have in El Salvador, they are right-handed waves.

Okay, I'm not an expert so...

I wasn't either, but because I learned from the Minister of Tourism. And then they say that the rest of the world, have the left-handed. And that's why for the last five years, under Bukele's administration, we have been having approximately 36 international competitions on all of those beaches.

wow, okay.

Wow, that's great. Yeah, yeah. And

can you go and watch just the surfers? That's fine. Yeah. of coffee, because I don't swim. So I'm not very good in water, right? Yeah, yeah. Cup of coffee, trendy, sit there, watch. I just want to say what my itinerary was and see what you think. So I've got 10 to 12 days. I haven't decided yet. I'm not fixed to a date. So I was thinking three or four days in San Salvador area. Succhi Toto. I think I might stay there for a night or two. Yeah, Yeah, must. OK.

Next time, I'll

Exactly exactly

Yeah, you must.

And then I going to go to the coast. So El Zon. Because I think it's quieter than El Tunco. Is that right? Yeah, it's quiet. Yeah, I don't want party like... Right, And then up to Santa Ana and the area there. Because I need to go to the border, right? So if I go Santa Ana, then I'll go across the border. So I've got four or five days here in this area and such a toto, maybe five or six days. Couple down south on the coast and then three or four in Santa Ana. Then I go. That's my first rough trip.

That's on these clothes too.

So, but with all the stuff that you just mentioned, I've got to come back. So it's great. So I need to bring my girlfriend next time. we're good. Right. Let's go to some other questions. I've got here. Yeah, this is an important question. What should we not do? So what I mean by this is how can I put this delicately? A lot of tourists could be Americans, could be UK.

That's good. We can get to meet her.

are not respectful of the culture of the people and they do things which annoy local populations. Is there anything that we shouldn't do as tourists? I don't know, it could be like filming certain areas or how we speak to you or is there anything you could share that maybe would help us?

This is what happens El Salvador is basically now opening to all of these tourists from all over the world As a matter of fact we as Salvadorians we are also discovering the same country that you have come to discover we are also discovering Exactly so by doing that the people of El Salvador you will find always you will always find a nice smile I can assure you

see, okay, yeah.

Always, yes.

they come either as you're in either Spanish or English and they will take you literally to the bus stop that you're looking for to go to the destination you want to go to. So you can find these people right here. are, we are happy. Everybody's happy that you have come and you are tasting our pupusas, our national dish. So basically, you know, in this case you will, you will be amazed in these days that you will be staying right here.

about all the kindness, the people, the food, the gastronomy. So, no, don't worry about, as a matter of if you use the word chivo, which is nice, you say, chivo? So the people will be so nice, they will be clapping at you and they say, yeah, that's good. And they will start repeating things to you. So yeah, no, you will definitely find that it is a good place. People are opened.

you know, we have opened the arms. you you are coming from many parts of the world. As a matter of fact, that's why Bukele has given, he says, instead of giving you three months to come to stay in the country, we give you six months.

Yes, and it's a visa on arrival, a lot of visa but you just get stamped in. So real easy if you've got a UK passport and I think it extends to all the other parts

All

different passports, exactly. that tells you that we are happy to embrace you and come over to El Salvador and we can show you many good stuff about the country. So yeah, nothing to worry about. Places to visit, you can visit anywhere, anytime. Just to give you an example, we used to avoid going to the capital city before, the downtown area. Now, because the library opens 24-7, people are working at midnight. People are working at 2, 3 a.m.

So in this case, even the places that we used to avoid going before neighborhoods, now you can see different people making businesses, selling any type of stuff right there. So yeah, it is a different country and that's why people still don't believe it, that it has changed so fast. That's the thing.

I

was reading a newspaper in Spanish because I know some words right and there's an article on the paper last night which said I think four million tourists this year it's gonna hit four million and I think the reason I came here is New York Times also had El Salvador I think 34 out of 50 places to go to this year so I thought okay right so it's good to go next year is gonna be super busy so I need to go now yeah so my advice is to to get a move on right

Okay, next question, we've got to food. So we talked about pupusas, I've had some already last night. Can tell us about pupusas, but also other dishes that we should try?

As a of I began yesterday, officially, my first food tour.

Oh, you food tours? Great! I've some people from Monstee do food tours in the podcast.

So it is I already posted my foot or unknown on get your guide. Yeah So I got the my first tourists yesterday. So I usually this is what happens You know, I usually bring her people or in this case her to where we do our groceries Yes, get all the vegetable the yes the meat But we didn't though you don't down market You are also able to find the place where you can get very Salvadorian food because right here we are very Americanized

You know, know, if you have been, example, you know, in Sona Rosa, many parts of like Fancy El Salvador, the New El Salvador, right there we have a lot of like these companies like, you know, junk food, things like that. But personally, my job is to so you can taste our gastronomy. So that includes pupusas. But also we have other like dishes we're talking about. We love soups. We love soups. Yeah. So for example, we have a sopa de gallina India.

That is like wild hen. It's not just any regular type of chicken that has been vaccinated. We're talking about hens that have been raised on the wild. the taste for that one is completely different, James. We better make that food tour and you will definitely know what I'm talking about. Because they give you the soup, which is with all these vegetables. They take the hen and then they roast it. It is like al pastor.

They broil it. So basically then they have a quarter of that chicken with rice, salad and two tortillas because without tortillas we do not, we cannot live without tortillas. You will know once you walk around, tortillas are everywhere. Pupusas and tortillas, everything made out of corn. As a matter of fact, that is a heritage coming from our Mayan people. So that's why we eat them a lot. yes, that is another soup. The sopa de gallina India is wild hen and it is...

very, very recommended. Then we have different type of foods like snacks. We have in El Salvador, we have traditions like between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m., we must have cafe con pan, coffee and bread. And the bakery industry in El Salvador, my friend, it's everywhere. So you will see people selling on the streets. For example, they might be selling SIM cards. They will have a spot selling SIM cards, but you will see.

Yeah.

around that time frame, a coffee right here, and bread right here. We are not like other countries like Spain, for example, that they had the siesta, everybody closes, no. Right here, we continue working. Sometimes I am in touring, I have my coffee and my bread right here. So it's part of the tradition. And then we have a lot of things made out of corn, for example, we have elote loco. It's steamed corn.

love it.

you put a stick on it and then they put a little bit of cheese, sauce, chili pepper, a little bit of everything and that is called crazy corn. Elote Loco. So yes, we have a lot of atoles. Atoles are very known in Mexico. So we have atoles made out of corn as well. We have la carne asada, it's like this.

a type of a barbecue meat. Yeah, carna sara. You hear that it's all over the country also. So the dishes I'm telling you about is all over the country.

I think I walked past one today because it's hot here today, was really hot the minute, which we'll come to in a second, weather. I was like, oh yes, quite hot, I'm sweating. Then I walked past this barbecue grill. was like, oh God, it's even hotter now. For the next five seconds, was like, whoa, there's heat. But yeah, he was cooking meat on there.

Exactly, You're right. Yeah, that is part of our and then we Salvadorians we have a Within a week, you know, have different menus. We include soups. We include meats and we include the vegetables That's why you know, we have a little bit of everything. Of course pupusa It is a whole a whole, know a story about it. pupusa We the meter in the morning at noon at night on the weekends. We as a matter of fact, are pupusa hunters

We're always looking for the best pupuseria.

How would you describe a papoosa

Okay,

so it is basically it is made out of the maize or the corn. Right. So we basically have it in our hands. make like a circle and then we put the stuff inside which it can vary. It can be from cheese. It can be pork and also bean. That's the revuelta. That's the mix off. So then they put it right here and then they start parm it.

and then that's what they throw on the pan. Right? So that is basically the pupusa. But that can be very, that can go, nowadays we have a varieties like chicken pupusa, meat pupusa, we have a shrimp, nutella, pineapple, you think it and we will have it. And as a of fact, we are about to be, to go, today is the 10th, right? Yes. Yeah, today is the 10th. Let me give you a good news. Tomorrow we have pupusa day.

I'm

No, as in like the national dish day. Great timing. I did not plan that, but I'm happy. what I'm going to do is because I had one in the evening, I need to one for breakfast. So I'm going to have a breakfast toast.

Exactly.

So on Popusa Day we celebrated everybody makes every municipality they make contest. So for example who eats the most pupusas in three minutes? The record, the world record is three minutes, 17 pupusas.

Okay.

Imagine, exactly. and then we have like, if there is a municipality that they grow up pineapples on that day, they will make pineapple pupusas. And if there is another one that makes other, know, grow up anything else, they will make even jocote pupusas. Jocote is a very national fruit that we have in the country. You will be able to taste it so you can have an idea how it is. So we, basically we are considered the land of pupusas.

I want

to touch on drink, coffee, so I've got on my list to visit is a coffee plantation, I think it's near Santa Ana, I can't remember the name. Coffee is grown here and I've had a few coffees so far, good tasting, so anything else to share?

Okay.

diverse country.

making businesses for so many centuries. And nowadays we do have two type of coffees that we are very known of. The first one is called the Pacamara. The Pacamara is a combination of Brazilian coffee and Salvadorian coffee because of the volcanic ashes. So they make a good combination. Hey James, the Pacamara has a citrus taste.

Okay

yeah, yeah.

Yes, and you can feel it like that lemon and it's soft. The other one is called the Bourbon. The Bourbon and the Bourbon, has a chocolate taste. As high as you go on the altitude, the better the coffee. Santana, group de la Flores, they will have one of the best type of coffees. And now we have some fancy restaurants within San Salvador where you can get it. When we go to the downtown San Salvador area, we will be able to get to some of these spots.

Cheers.

Okay. Okay, Paul Burn.

Okay.

Another combination that they have made lately, is besides coffee, we have a common beverage that is called horchata. The horchata, it is basically this type of beverage that includes peanuts, cinnamon, vanilla, chocolate, and also we have el morro seed. The morro seed is this fruit that we cut in the middle, we take the seed, we grind it, and that is part of the horchata.

or chapter.

Okay.

So basically, horchata, you can find it anywhere in the whole country because we are a very tropical country. So it's usually, you're sweating, sometimes you get this sun that you just want to go and drink something. So you have these people with plastic bags and that's my attraction. I always bring people to one of these spots with instance. And this is sometimes that day for the first time ever.

they have this beverage on this plastic bag. And that for them is like amazing, easy, unforgettable, things like that. So part of my walking tours that I do, I try to include a little bit of gastronomy, including these type of beverages. And then since we a lot of, we grow up a lot of fruits and vegetables.

In neighborhoods that you go to, find all of these types of beverages like tamarind, hibiscus, passion fruit, cebada, horchata. So this is spread out throughout the whole country. yes, whenever you come to El Salvador, you will definitely be able to experience those types of flavors.

Can't wait. Because I'm about to start my trip. Dave's come on my first day, I've got a lot to... The reason why I get you on the podcast is because I want to get some recommendations from me, right? Okay. And we've covered safety, that's fine. Weather. I've come in November, this is November 10th, as we said a minute ago. Is this good time of year? And also, is there any time of year to avoid?

Right, right. Yeah.

Okay, yes, right now we have just started the summer season. Yeah, November November all the way to April. Yeah. So basically what happens in from November to December is good because all the coldness that we get from North Yeah, it's we get it into the country. So a specifically around four or five six p.m. It gets cooler Exactly. It gets cooler

Yes, I've noticed that last time. Yeah,

but it's hot today, like during the day.

During

the day it's hot. So the main difference between the summer and the winter, because we have only two seasons, summer and winter, the summer in theory it doesn't rain. In winter it can rain at any time of the day. But it doesn't rain like, oh, it's pouring like three, four hours. No, it's like maybe half an hour and then it disappears. It might be the whole day like this and then like at 5 p.m. it might start raining maybe an hour, 30 minutes.

and then it's gone and that's part of the winter time. basically, yeah, many people, sometimes whenever they come on winter time, know, beginning May all the way to November, basically sometimes they go to the volcanoes and sometimes if it is raining, like the Ministry of Tourism doesn't allow people to go to the volcanoes. So in this case, basically you need to make sure, you you look for the weather in a broadcast to see if they are not going to have any rains so you don't go just, you know, in vain.

Okay, and if you just pick two months of the year to visit, which are the best ones?

These two. November and December. You came at the perfect time. You came at the perfect time. you specifically when you come to Christmas, know, right now you see in November 10th, you see a lot of Christmas decorations going on already. As a matter of fact, are going to begin this month as a matter of fact, in the 15th of this month, in five days, they are going to be building the first ice skating hall in the very center.

Yeah.

Is that in the century?

I saw the building that's here. I don't know what it was, but ice rink? The heat of the sun! How does that work?

Exactly. eyes are really in.

I've never seen that before, believe me, not even when I live in New York, I went to the ring right there. So I will have to do it right here in San Salvador.

Yeah, amazing. That's great. Okay, we've got maybe 10 minutes. I want to leave stuff for you. Let's go with, I'm trying to what's important. Public transport, transporting around the country. I want to do public transport, like local buses to get to Sushitoto or other places. Is that possible?

It's possible, yes, it's possible, it's doable. The good thing about it is that we have a lot of buses. We call them, usually you call them chicken buses, right? So to move from one department to another. But within San Salvador, definitely there are good buses. The ministry, or in this case the government, is basically going to do some changes in a couple of months. The same enterprise that built the buses for Qatar the World Cup,

Okay.

That same enterprise is building 1,500 new buses for El Salvador. Brand new buses. Because the buses that we have, the buses that we currently have, are school buses coming from the United States from the 70s and 80s.

like brand new buses.

singing.

Yeah.

And some of them, they leave a smog behind you that you're like, my god. Exactly, so the government is trying to do something where even the environment can be taken care of. Exactly, so in this case, yes, there are many different areas that we are improving year by year, month after month, and the climate is also part of it. So in this case, by bringing new buses, we will eliminate people having asthma issues.

good.

you know, lot of breathing complications, things like that, basically. So you can move. As a of on some of the tours, that's my idea, you know. I don't rent either Uber or private cars. I usually bring, for example, to La Puerta del Diablo, or south of San Salvador, Los Planes de Rendero. I usually bring them on public transportation so they can experience it. Exactly, so I usually move. That's my, I will say that that is one of ways I am

showing up to the world. So people can see that we can walk, we can also go on public transportation, we can go on minibuses, and it is with this public system that we're in. In San Salvador, within the metropolitan area, it is around 20 cents up to 25 cents. 35 cents if it's a little bit farther.

How much are they?

for tourists? Yeah. Would they hide the price? No, wouldn't. wouldn't you?

No, they were

Really? That's amazing. It is against the law to do that. Because before they used to do that even to the locals. So specifically when they were moving from one department to San Salvador, that one you can go from $1.50 to $2.50 because it's... that like... Santa Ana, San Salvador, La Union. So in this case, it is prohibited for them to raise the...

That's it.

like Sushi Toe Toe to and...

the fair. because before they used to do that and now they have to respect. And usually that's why the government has put on the buses that you go to, they have a sign and it says right there how much they must charge. So definitely, so in this case you know ahead on time how much you have to pay.

Yeah,

so if I want to go to Suchitoto for example, is that a chicken bus or is that one of those longer buses, the bigger buses?

To switch it up, they do have a specific like this enterprise has brought some of these nice buses basically. So you have two options. You can either go on the chicken, regular chicken buses or the ones that where you have some air conditioning and then it's $1.50. Yeah, you can move anywhere.

What's the price of those ones there?

No, you've got to do chicken breasts, I've to experience.

You go

to Santa Ana and you go on air conditioning, you go on these very comfortable seats, even you can watch a whole movie for 2.50 cents.

Wow.

Okay. we've got, I've got currency here because El Salvador accepts Bitcoin. Yeah, yeah, definitely. And US dollar, I've seen it before. Do you have your own currency that's not crypto?

I've been.

A quarter, so that's how they heard it and that's how they pronounce it. If you listen to it, it's like quarter, but it's quora. So I mean, they say, ask for something, they say dos cuaras, two quora, two quarters, right? So yeah, in this case, the whole country, use a lot the US dollar. But three years ago, we introduced Bitcoin. Bitcoin is now our national tender, the first country in the whole world. And now I have met

Quora. Quora. Quora.

I have met Bitcoiners from many different countries. As a matter of fact, the first time, because I also post on my Google Walk that I do receive tips in Bitcoin, besides other currencies. So basically, the first guys, they were coming from Germany. And they were like, David, is it true that you accept Bitcoin here in the country? I was like, yes, I have my app right here with my Bitcoin application. And they were like, OK, let's see if we can tip you. And they recorded.

It was historical even for them. Making a transaction from Germany, because they were Germans. then making, here in El Salvador, the other pals, they were just recording because it was historical for them. And from there, I started receiving tips also from many other tourists around the world when they do that. But yes, Bitcoin is huge right here. Bitcoin is huge.

stuff that.

a i'd tell people look you know when it is started almost thirteen years ago it was almost two hundred dollars right now we are most in heating seventy five thousand

Yes, it's

got up really a lot the last few days because of the...

Exactly,

because of the election. So if you look, even though it has gone up and down, in the long run, you get a good benefit. But how about the US dollars? A hundred dollars today is not the same as it used to be years ago, right? So yeah, in this case, people are learning. That's why the government has created what is called the Chiwo Kiosk. The Chiwo Kiosk are basically customer service agents that teach people how to use Bitcoin.

Definitely not.

Right? How to use Bitcoin, how to transfer from Bitcoin to US dollars, and how to withdraw from the ATMs the US dollars.

Because I don't know how to use Bitcoin. Okay. I don't know how I even get Bitcoin and even how to spend it.

So that's why these customer service kiosks are spread out throughout the whole country. at the beginning I did not even know how to purchase, how to transfer, because we have the idea that Bitcoin fluctuates and then you can lose money. So there is a whole process right there where if it goes up you can get good earnings, but if it goes down you can transfer to the US dollars and then you can go all the way down, but you are not affected.

Yeah, so within the application we have the option so these people teach you those tricks, you know We believe you know, we personally believe that Bukele became a richer because of Bitcoin. Yes So he did okay if I got richer why don't make the country richer because of Bitcoin? You know and it has worked as a matter of fact nowadays Nowadays we have what is called the Chivo pet The Chivo pet well, by the way, the word Chivo in El Salvador means nice

Okay.

So

the ChivoPet, it is the first veterinary hospital that now we can bring our pets, right? The pets can have from vaccinations up to a surgery. And all we need to pay is 25 cents of a dollar. The only requirement is to pay with.

And it's open 24-7. Imagine you have four dogs, one dog.

It's

so forward thinking. Even the US is so backwards with some currency stuff or the way you pay. In the US you still have to sign papers. You go to TIP, a restaurant, and give you, to sign. I'm like, sign? No, no, should be tapping and doing Bitcoin, not signing papers. It's crazy.

No, as a matter of fact, people ask, hey, but you do require a lot of energy to mine bit. Let me tell you something. We have in the country approximately 100 volcanoes. And guess what? We have some of these volcanoes, have steam coming out of them. And this is what Bukele did. He brought these plants.

Our mind, the minding's wrong.

so we can get geothermal energy and from that energy coming from the volcano we are mining better.

It's magic. It is unreal. It's great, yeah. There's nothing extra there. You're using your natural resources.

Exactly

Exactly,

and now there is a whole new process of, there's going to be a new city that is going to be called Bitcoin City.

is there? Okay. Yeah. Been built now?

They have started yeah, Qatar and they are going to be investing and they will bring the first Airport from Qatar Airways in La Union So Bitcoin City will start from La Union and why not having a nice airport from Qatar right there?

Where in the country is this?

in the eastern zone almost hitting with Nicaragua and Honduras. right on the edge basically. So under that volcano we will have that Bitcoin city. Bitcoin city basically it will have train station service. We don't have in El Salvador. will either India or South Korea that will be managing that. there's a whole process of...

Yes.

Just Qatar, if I'm not mistaken, the land where the airport is going to be, they have already purchased at least 90 % of the land where the airport is going to be done.

to be a train from the airport into the city here. Exactly. Yeah, because it's about a 40-minute drive from the taxi. Drive. Yes. It's a long drive.

Right now from the airport. Yeah.

But people that usually go to Launio, they arrive here in San Salvador airport and they have to drive almost three hours and a Wow. So that's why they need their airport right

Is

it going be a high speed train? Well, that goes nicely. So I want to wrap up the podcast interview. That goes nicely into the next question, which will be the penultimate before I ask about your stuff, is the next five years. What do you think our Salvador for tourism purposes will look like in five years? So compare it to now, as we speak today, you mentioned a few things. The Bitcoin is a thing as well. The new train service potentially to the Bitcoin city.

speed training.

Is there anything else you think is going to change in the next five years?

Right now, in terms of tourism, between, I would say maybe the last five years, our GDP in terms of tourism has gone from 3 % to 14 % of our GDP. I remember taking the first walking tours, just one person with me.

Wow.

You know, like, David, are you gonna cancel the tour because it's just me? No way I was gonna do that, right? You you have come from Australia. How come, you know, I will cancel, maybe it is your only day in downtown? No, I won't do that. So that's basically what characterized me, that basically I don't cancel just because it is one person. I can be with 10 person, but at the same time with one person. Not a problem for me. So I have seen.

And they show me that I was everywhere in the country and they were like, if David feels secure to go everywhere, why not going back to El Salvador? So they have started coming for the last three years. I have met other tourists coming from Australia that left when they were three years old and they returned back after four years. So all of these investors that left the country, we're talking about almost three million Salvadorans left the country because of the civil war and because of the gangsters. So those three million people,

They went to all these countries, specifically the US, Canada, Italy, and Australia. And of course, a small amount of Salvadorans everywhere else, right? So all these people are returning back and they have brought money and they are now investing in the country. Right? Exactly. So it is the diaspora that is returning along with the fact that Bukele says, all right, if you come to El Salvador, we give you, we can offer you

It can only be good, right?

up to 6,000 citizenships from anyone from around the world that you want to come to El and help us rebuild the brand new country. So that's the eyes of how Bukele exists. And he's looking for scientists, doctors, engineers, environmental planners, from different fields.

so we can rebuild the country. all of these Bitcoiners, all of these people returning back, the diaspora returning back, it's basically, we consider, as Bukele said, if possible, if possible, we will become, in America, the next Singapore.

wow. It's hot enough. But yeah, that's not unreal.

Look at the high go.

And when we start working, you will be able to see because of the surveillance, the educational system, the health system. When you start hearing all of that, you will see, hey, you are on the way to become. I have heard people from the time they arrive to the airport.

It was so fast, things were done really, really nice and neat. they say, remind me Singapore. So I was like, I haven't talked to you about Singapore and you already said to me that it looks like Singapore. Exactly, so that is the goal that we're aiming. So I can say that from here to the next five years is definitely, this is going up in many different areas. In many different areas. One thing that Bukele said, for example,

we need to get educated people. So now there is a law that between the kids between first grade and ninth grade they will have to learn English on all public schools. When before it was just either the private schools or public schools between eighth, ninth grade and above. Now from very small ages.

Thank

Because I've not met many people who speak English, I told you before the recording, and maybe that's because they're the older generation and that makes sense because the kids probably can speak English, but I'm not speaking to kids, obviously. So, like in five years, those kids will be adults, they could be doing tours like you, maybe if you come in five years, or if I come back in five years, be like, people now speak English. It's good and bad, right? It's good because I...

get to communicate like this. But for me learning Spanish is not good because I want people to speak Spanish so I understand what So it's great for the country overall, yeah, 100%.

True,

true. So not only that, know, also we have in terms of education, Bukele has given the opportunity that the kids from first grade to third grade, they have been given Dell tablets. When before they didn't have opportunity to get access to technology.

okay.

I know, even our age, I don't know how old you are but... Okay, I'm 35. But even then, for us, the tablet thing is new because we didn't have it. The technology wasn't available, right? This generation have got a completely different... They've got all this.

I'm 47, I'm 47.

And the kids from fourth grade to ninth grade, have been given Dell tablets. Those tablets and laptops, include internet access for free and also GPS included. In case anybody dares to steal one of these tablets or laptops from the kids, this is on all public schools. So in case anybody does that, because of the GPS, they can get that person right away.

really? Wow.

Okay that actually reminds me one more question before we go to safety. We talked about how it's improving El Salvador. Can you talk to us about the safety of a tourist? Because I think maybe I read a few articles saying you just need to watch yourself. I think it's the same for any country. Obviously you've got travel insurance but is safety getting better in terms of for tourism people getting stuff nicked or stolen? Is that getting better?

As a matter of

fact, this is what happens. In El Salvador, are now experiencing, thanks to God, another brand new country. For example, before, having your cell phone and taking a selfie on any park, in less than 30 seconds, you will have your cell phone disappear as well as the person who took it from you. You will not know where it is, right? So nowadays it's different. So for the last, I will say the last three years,

We have this law that is called the state of exception. That means that the policemen or the soldiers, are walking around anywhere in the country. They can stop anybody if that person is suspected of being a gangster or if that person is committing another crime. So we have the security that if for some, know, strange reason somebody wants to take my cell phone, there will be a soldier or a policeman around anywhere. Even the people that used to steal cell phones.

that they are not gangsters, they have been reduced to the very minimum because of that law. And that law is approved every month by the politicians, the congressmen. Until we are completely sure that there is no gangsters on the streets. Right now, know, Bukele built, as you know, a jail that holds approximately 80,000 gangsters. One of the biggest jail in the whole world. So basically we're talking about that all of these people are already in

Okay.

Of course,

Yeah.

Prison?

Are they in prison for life?

Right now there is a law that if they are deported or they have tattoos like tree dots or a turd drop, minimum is 15 years. If that person has been a leader, that it will be 50 years.

wow.

But what happens if they come out and they still got the tattoo because they're hard to get rid of,

But most of them, they have now only killed one person. They have killed. One of these days, unfortunately I have to tell this, but one of these days one journalist from Mexico came over and she interviewed one of them and he said, I have killed 500 people. Just like that. So believe me, they are not coming.

I'm totally against it, I just kind of think in the long term, they're either going to stay in prison or they've got come back into society after 10, 15, 25 years. You've got to hope they don't go back to being a gangster. But then if they know that if they go back to being a gangster, they'll be put straight back in prison, maybe they'll be OK.

Yeah, no. Right now we have basically the prisoners that have not been gangsters, they do have opportunities to reintegrate into the society. You will see them usually building hospitals, schools, highways, but gangsters, they don't have that opportunity. They do not even have the opportunity to get their relatives coming to the jail system.

Great.

Okay.

So they even, you go around the prison, that big prison, and you lose your cell phone signal.

right. Okay, that's better.

Before they were able to make funnels from inside this the jail. Yeah, they were able to commit crimes They were able to extortion but that is impossible today. So in terms of the cure Ness you From being the world's capital of more now. We're considered the safest country in Latin America and That's what does the reason why?

Wow.

Yeah, yeah, absolutely. Okay, let's finish the episode because we've got go to our walking tour. Exactly! Please tell the listeners and the viewers what you can offer people who come to San Salvador and El Salvador, the tours that you do and anything else you want to mention.

Yes, first of all, I thank you for having me the opportunity to be with your subscribers and all the viewers. And now here in El Salvador, we have always, we will be happy to receive you. We will embrace you. I always treat my customers the following way. It is like a brother that I have not seen for a long time and I am able to show the new country how it is built again. So that's the way we...

we try to fill, to make fill the guests that are coming to our country. And in between that, we will talk about, we will taste the gastronomy, we will see the emblematic buildings. So the different tours that I do, right now I have started my business just with the walking tours. Believe me, it's been, lately I have been able to have walking tours either in the morning and the afternoons. Every day, every day. Sometimes it's been like two weeks like this.

car today. Wow.

every day. So because I don't see this as a job. As a matter of fact for me it is as a dream job.

No, of course not.

Yeah, rarely exists.

Exactly, exactly. many people, know, out of, for example, Guru Walk. Yeah. Guru Walk, many people say, David, you know, continue the way you're doing. I like to read all the reviews from each and every one of them. And if there is something that I need to apply, I will do it. Sure. But most of the time it's like, no, you're doing a great job. Continue like that. OK, I will do the job. Right. So, yeah, no, in this case, you know, I do walking tours, I do food tours, I do volcano tours.

Specifically, I am focused on walking tours. So at least you can get to know the highlights of what El Salvador offers you in terms of education, in terms of a health system, infrastructure, the present, past, the future, economics, a little bit of everything. And then if there are groups that want to do another type of tour, I also do that with them. If I don't have other walking tours coming on. But yes, the country is very small. We are considered the 45 minutes country.

In 45 minutes you can be from San Salvador City to the beach.

Okay, right? Yeah.

There are countries that you have to drive six hours. Right here you get it in 45 minutes. In 45 minutes or 30 minutes you can be from San Salvador to the volcano.

Wow. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

colonial town, so everything is so close. Everything is so close and that's the advantage of what we have in El Salvador. That's why we're considered, or we are called, the thumb of America. The little thumb. Because we are very small. So you come over here and you will be able to, you probably think that, hey, one, two weeks will be enough. Even though it's very small, there is so much to do. So definitely, I invite you to come. I'm sure you will be able to enjoy it.

everybody will be so happy to receive you because we are now, we have some, you know, virgin beaches that not even us, go to. So you will be coming along with us and we will enjoy, we will have a great time in our Salvador, in the country.

mean, you don't need any other, what's the word, someone to tell you that you've got to come and it's a local, you've got to go. Just tell listeners and viewers where they can find you, social medias and website and the apps as well.

Sure, sure. I do appear on Instagram as Dave Mendez Tours. I am also on my website as Dave Mendez Tours. On Google, I appear on Viator, on GuruWalk, on Get Your Guide, on FreeTour.com. I am on all the platforms. You just look for Dave Mendez and you will find me right there, right away.

I'll put the links in the show notes so people can click all those links and find you. Dave, thanks so much for coming on the podcast. I want to shake your hand. Pleasure. this has been a great episode. People have to take this seriously. You've got to come to this country because now is the time.

It's lovely.

You're now in its infancy where El Salvador is gonna, but I've it's gonna go like this. In terms of more visitors, it's gonna get more modern. There's gonna be loads of activities to do, even now but in the future. seems like a great country and I can't wait to explore it for the next 12, 13 days. I've extended already, so.

Yeah, definitely. I appreciate it.

Sure, it's been a pleasure. Whenever you want to come, you have a friend right here. You have a friend and we will explore and we will eat a lot. You will go to the walk-in, the food tour as well. So you can experiment and all those type of dishes that we have in the country. It was a pleasure. Thank you very much again. Bye bye.

Cheers.

Okay, dude. you.

Thanks for tuning in to the podcast episode today. If you've been inspired by today's chat and want to book some travel,

If you head to the show notes, you'll see some affiliate links below which helps support this podcast. You'll find Skyscanner to book your flight. You'll find Booking.com to book that accommodation. Want to stay in a super cool hostel? You'll see Hostel World down there too. You'll find Revolut to get your travel card sorted. Click the GIGSky link to get your eSIM ready for your trip. And more importantly, you'll find Safety Wing Insurance to get that travel insurance for your trip. There are many more to check out, so when you click that link and book your product, a small commission goes towards me.

and the Wigginit Travel Podcast. Thank you in advance and enjoy your travels.