My own visit to El Salvador (sometimes misspelt El Slavador or El Salavador) was a delightful experience. The contrast between those who are wealthier and those who are not is never far away in developing countries. What was different about El Salvador (El Slavador or El Salavador), was the attitude of the less financially endowed.

Poorer people often have to vend to earn a living and vendors can be unobligingly persistent in their pursuit of sales. Not so, the Salvadorans. Dignity, cheerfulness and innovation are more their trademark. What a people to embrace! What ingredients in their history have wrought such grace? How often do you find these attributes? What other nation has such treasure within?

Then there is the beauty of the land itself. Go inland from the 200 miles of coastline and you sweep upwards towards the 25 volcanoes that range along its inland borders. Only 6 of these have been active over the past 150 years, and then seldom drastically so. They do provide however, dramatic vistas when you climb up some of them, and an equally dramatic return to ground level in the case of the volcano Izalco. It's steep sides are invariably negotiated by a slide down to the bottom.

Geographically El Salvador opens its doors to lots of warm days and sunshine, shutting them on the cold draughts of winter climates endured elsewhere. Add to this warm rain in due season and you have a jewel of a country.

Tourism is not a highly developed industry in El Salvador (El Slavador or El Salavador), yet opportunities for tourists abound. There are 14 lakes to choose from on which to go boating. Try the crater lake at Coatepeque or Lake Suchitlan. The Rio Sumpral enters and exits L. Suchitlan - a tranquil river allowing you to daydream gently as you paddle its course. Flocks of birds fly up from their perches on the banks encasing the river as you go by. The river quietly clears its throat only when a fallen log temporarily divides its course, imperceptibly causing it to cough and splutter on the surface.

Other rivers, like the Rio Lempa give a more adventurous ride. This one runs through the Eastern parts of El Salvador (El Slavador or El Salavador), down to the coast.

Then there is the coastline itself. Jiquilisco Bay kayaking trips allow one to enter the deep mangrove swams of San Dionisco's Island. Mangrove swamps, with their theatrical separated roots rising up out of the water like dried up broomsticks of long ago, are often found at the point where the rivers enter the sea.

Parts of the coastline challenge the skills of many surfers, kayakers and canoeists, while other areas are better suited to beginners. All along the coastline one can find places to stay. Some are more developed than others - resorts especially set up for the 'greenback' tourist industry, but for those who want to just experience El Salvador (El Slavador or El Salavador), smaller, less conspicous, equally enchanting places exist right on the beach front. The La Libertad stretch of coastline, less than an hour's drive from San Salvador, is a good place to start.

To purchase any small boat visit: http://www.theboatingstore.co.cc