Documents and money
- Passport valid at entry[1] (check your airline's rules too)
- Copies of your charter confirmation, including what is included
- Travel insurance details; the State Department strongly recommends medical-evacuation cover[1]
- U.S. dollars in small bills for tips and places that don't take cards[1]
- For children: a copy of each child's birth certificate or other proof of relationship[1]
On the boat
- Wide-brim hat or cap with neck flap, polarized sunglasses with a strap
- Long-sleeve sun shirt and light long trousers or shorts that dry fast
- Reef-safe sunscreen and lip balm (relevant around the Los Cóbanos reef[2])
- Non-marking, non-slip shoes
- Light rain shell in the rainy season (May–October)[1]
- Seasickness remedy: ask your doctor in advance and take it before you leave the dock
- Dry bag for phone, cash and passport copy
- Your own water bottle; drink bottled water, since tap water is generally unsafe[1]
Tackle (only if you want your own)
- Circle hooks for any bait fishing; regulations require them for authorized sport fishers[3]
- A dehooker and line cutters
- Your favorite poppers or jigs for roosterfish and tuna; confirm with the captain first
Leave at home
- Firearms, ammunition and spent casings: illegal to bring in[1]
- THC products, including most CBD products: illegal[1]
- Prescription medication without its original packaging and prescription[1]
Sources
- U.S. Department of State, El Salvador International Travel Information. Checked Oct 22, 2026.
- Wikipedia (Spanish), Área Marina Protegida Complejo Los Cóbanos (secondary; cites the MARN management plan and Ramsar data sheet). Checked Oct 22, 2026.
- Reglamento de la Ley General de Ordenación y Promoción de Pesca y Acuicultura, Decreto No. 38, Arts. 51–58 (PDF, El Salvador eRegulations). Checked Oct 22, 2026.