El Salvador Program Fees and Information

2 Weeks	4 Weeks	8 Weeks	12 Weeks	24 Weeks	Extra Weeks
$580	$680	$880	$1080	$1680	$50

Read how your fees are spent or compare our prices with other volunteer organisations.

View our prices in other volunteer locations's or combine your stay in El Salvador with stays in other locations as part of a combination stay.

What you receive

Orientation upon arrival
24 hour support
Accommodation
Airport/ bus station pickup
Regular follow-up meetings
El Salvadorian cultural introduction
El Salvadoran cooking classes
Local mobile phone
20 hours of Spanish Lessons

Apart from our fees, you must pay for:

Your travel to El Salvador
Vaccinations and Visas
Travel and health insurance
Food (about 4-6 dollars per day) and other personal expenses

Application Process

Our application process typically takes two or three weeks, but can be speeded up if there is a need for that. When we receive the initial application from you, we will send you our Full Application Form.

(1) Complete the Initial Application Form:
The first stage of the application process is to fill out the brief initial application form. Upon receiving this we will send you a link to our full application form.

(2) Complete the full application form:
Fill out the application form. After receiving this we will assess your suitability and place you on one of our programs.

(3) Placement info:
We will then email you your detaled placement information and an Invoice. If you accept the placement you should email us confirmation.

(4) Program Fee:
The program fee should be paid to us at least 2 months before you are due to start your placement. However please be aware that we have a limited amount of placements, so placements will only be secured when we have received your payment.

(5) Communication:
We encourage you to keep in touch and we are happy to answer to try and answer all of your questions.

Once you have made your travelling arrangements you should mail your time of arrival and the means of transportation and we will confirm your pick-up details.

Project Duration and Arrival Dates

For the majority of our El Salvador programs, you can join us for any amount of time from 4 weeks to 6 months. However, some projects have minimum time restrictions. We recommend a trip of 3-6 months since it offers the best value. Regardless of the length of your stay, you will have time to get to know a new culture, come to know its people, and form relationships that will outlast the duration of your stay.

Dates for the Year 2010:
Sat 07 Aug 10, Sat 21 Aug 10, Sat 04 Sep 10, Sat 18 Sep 10, Sat 02 Oct 10, Sat 16 Oct 10, Sat 30 Oct 10, Sat 13 Nov 10, Sat 27 Nov 10, Sat 11 Dec 10, Sat 25 Dec 10

Dates for the Year 2011:
Sat 08 Jan 11, Sat 22 Jan 11, Sat 05 Feb 11, Sat 19 Feb 11, Sat 05 Mar 11, Sat 19 Mar 11, Sat 02 Apr 11, Sat 16 Apr 11, Sat 30 Apr 11, Sat 14 May 11, Sat 28 May 11, Sat 11 Jun 11, Sat 25 Jun 11, Sat 09 Jul 11, Sat 23 Jul 11, Sat 06 Aug 11, Sat 20 Aug 11, Sat 03 Sep 11, Sat 17 Sep 11, Sat 01 Oct 11, Sat 15 Oct 11, Sat 29 Oct 11, Sat 12 Nov 11, Sat 26 Nov 11, Sat 10 Dec 11, Sat 24 Dec 11

Getting Here

El Salvador's only international airport is the Comalapa airport located around 30km outside of El Salvador. Upon your arrival you will be met at the airport by one of our representatives.

Bus
If you coming overland from Guatemala, Honduras or Nicaragua, there are a large range of possible bus routes into the country. You can choose from large and comfortable buses to small and cheaper buses. Please confirm when and where you will be arriving and you will be met at the relevant bus station by one of our representatives.

Reception

All volunteers will typically arrive in El Salvador by road or air. We will meet you at Comalapa airport in San Salvador or at a pre-arranged bus station and introduce you to San Salvador and/Santa Tecla culture and the Spanish language. Our Salvadoran representatives will then help prepare you for your placement.

Food

The food most identified with El Salvador are Pupusas, an El Salvadoran speciality of stuffed tortilla which are filled with cheese, beans and sauces. Other popular foods in Santa Tecla include chilate, nuegados, yuca plant, atole de elote, tamales and shuco.

As well as excellent range of El Salvadoran restaurants, Santa Tecla also has Italian, French and Japanese restaurants in places like multi plaza and La Gran Via (commercial center). For those needing a fast food fix there are also a growing number of Taco Bell's, KFC's etc.

Volunteer Work

Apart from teaching English our volunteers can teach computers and during September and December work as part of turtle conservation programs. Whilst teaching English or computers in local schools there is also the opportunity to assist teaching sports, music, art, maths, or help out running workshops. More information on our El Salvador volunteer programs.

Accommodation

Our volunteers home stay with El Salvadoran families. You can expect a clean and friendly familly environment where volunteers will have there own room and share facilities such as the bathroom, fridge and kitchen. All of our volunteer homes are located in pleasant areas, although you will be living in a typical El Salvadoran family home so its important not too expect too many luxuries.

Vaccinations

Hepatitis A: Recommended for all travelers.
Typhoid: For travelers who may eat or drink outside major restaurants and hotels.
Yellow fever: Recommended for all areas in the north and its mountains.
Hepatitis B: For travelers who may have intimate contact with local residents, especially if visiting for more than 6 months.
Rabies: For travelers who may have direct contact with animals and may not have access to medical care.
Routine immunizations: All travelers should be up-to-date on tetanus-diphtheria, measles-mumps-rubella, polio, and varicella immunizations.

Insurance

One of the conditions of entry onto our programs is that volunteers have travel insurance. Most importantly the insurance needs to include medical treatment and repatriation in case of unforeseen accidents or illnesses. Volunteers should purchase insurance independently and bring a copy of their insurance certificate with them for their local co-ordinator to check before starting their program. Read our terms and conditions.

Visas

Please see our visa information page for details.

Certification

You will get a Travel to Teach certificate stating the time and place you have been teaching.