About a month ago, I had the great pleasure of visiting El Salvador, my motherland. I was there for some medical check-ups and decided to stay for a full week instead of just a few days. So I took my Canon AE-1 film camera with a 28mm lens and three rolls of black and white film, knowing I wanted to document the trip in a more timeless way.
I love shooting in black and white film. The process when shooting film is something so personal and intentional. Having to focus only on your subject and not the color of the scene makes it more challenging, but also more rewarding. Then developing the film is a careful and steady process that can be tedious and requires patience. But the end result is always worth it, every photo feels earned, like a small piece of memory preserved forever.
I started my trip as soon as I got off the plane. My dad and a close friend picked me up and took me straight to downtown San Salvador where I got to see the Metropolitan Cathedral of San Salvador and the National Library of El Salvador, also known as BINAES. The city is so alive at night. The sounds of kids playing and the smell of street food filled the air. It felt energetic but welcoming at the same time, like the city never truly sleeps.
National Library of El Salvador, BINAES, in San Salvador, El Salvador.
One thing I really wanted to do was visit the black sand beaches of El Salvador. I went back in 2018 but, due to the gang violence that was going on at the time, I didn’t really enjoy it as much. This time around I got to truly explore the beach without worry. From random stray dogs wandering the shoreline to small fishing boats rocking in the water, the beach had it all, but most importantly, it had that nice sparkly black sand that almost looks silver when the sun hits it just right.
A fishing boat sits along the shore in Playa El Majahual, La Libertad, El Salvador.
I stayed at my uncle’s house in Aguilares, about an hour away from San Salvador. There I was greeted by my uncle’s dog, Firu, who eats almost anything you put in front of him. My dad and I even built him a small dog house using some plywood and wood blocks we found around the property. It was a simple project, but one of those small bonding moments that end up meaning a lot.
Firu Perol jumps for a snack from his pet parent, Aguilares, El Salvador.
Soccer — or fútbol — is huge in El Salvador. There are games going on all the time, whether it’s Sunday league or a local pro-am match, there’s always something to watch. I got to attend a couple of games which were always fun. The crowds are loud, passionate, and never shy about yelling at the refs or even their own players. The energy is contagious, and even if you don’t know the teams, you quickly find yourself cheering along.
C.D. Fuerte Aguilares against C.D. Talleres Junior, Aguilares, El Salvador.
El Salvador is full of beautiful towns, and the Spanish colonial architecture is always something you can appreciate. I visited Suchitoto and walked down the stone streets, stopping by the Saint Lucia Church. The town felt peaceful and artistic, with vibrant buildings, small cafés, and views that looked like postcards in real life.
A stray dog lays outside of the Saint Lucia Church, Suchitoto, El Salvador.
When my dad was younger, he and his friends used to go to this river with a waterfall called El Salto, or “The Jump” in Spanish. The water there is freezing, but when you sit under the waterfall and let the pressure hit your back, it feels incredibly relaxing. It’s impossible to be stressed there, something about the sound of rushing water and the surrounding greenery just resets your mind.
In Aguilares, there was a parade going on for the local beauty pageant winners. The parade had sports cars, marching bands, dancers, and even clowns. It was one of those unexpected moments that made the trip feel even more special. The people in Aguilares are hilarious, always joking, always making light out of any situation, and never taking life too seriously. Their humor is infectious and makes you feel at home instantly.
Beauty pageant winner stands in a float during the parade in Aguilares, El Salvador.
My nights usually ended at a place called Pupusería 4 Vientos. It’s a restaurant that sells El Salvador’s signature dish, pupusas. Around the area there was also a temporary carnival with small games and rides, lights flashing and music playing into the night. I would hang out there with my dad and his friend Perote, who owned a juice shop right across from the pupusería. That’s where I heard stories from my dad’s childhood, some of the funniest and most unbelievable stories I’ve ever heard, the kind that only come out late at night over good food.
People sitting outside of the Pupuseria 4 Vientos, Aguilares, El Salvador.
I love El Salvador. It’s such a beautiful country with resilient people, vibrant culture, and landscapes that range from beaches to mountains within a short drive. One of the main reasons I went was because I was in a depressive mood and just needed to escape for a bit, to slow down, breathe, and remember what life is all about. And in many ways, the trip did exactly that. It reminded me where I come from, why I love photography, and how important it is to reconnect with your roots every once in a while.
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