Antigua Guatemala, Sacatepéquez Department, Guatemala. According to projections released by the Guatemalan Tourism Institute (INGUAT), Guatemala expects to welcome approximately 78,000 visitors from El Salvador during the August holiday season.
The August vacation period is unique to El Salvador. It coincides with the patron saint festivities of San Salvador, celebrated in honor of the Divine Savior of the World. The annual observance takes place from August 1 through August 6.
INGUAT estimates that visitor arrivals during this year’s August holidays will closely correspond to those recorded in 2015, when Guatemala received 78,576 Salvadoran tourists.
The holiday calendar in El Salvador contributes significantly to cross-border travel during the first week of August. Labor regulations establish paid holidays on August 3 and August 5 for employees in San Salvador, while August 6 is observed nationwide.
Because of its close geographic location and convenient transportation links, Guatemala remains one of the most popular international destinations for Salvadoran travelers.
Travelers entering Guatemala by land are permitted to use only their Salvadoran National Identity Document (DUI). Those arriving by air may instead present a valid passport to complete immigration procedures.
The neighboring country offers diverse tourism experiences, such as visits to lakes, volcanic landscapes, mountain destinations, and colonial cities. Antigua Guatemala remains one of the most popular attractions for Salvadoran tourists.
Many Salvadorans also choose Guatemala because travel packages are frequently offered at competitive prices.
Official statistics indicate that Guatemala received 537,072 Salvadoran visitors between January and May of this year. That total represented 39.26 percent of the more than 1.36 million international tourists who entered the country during the period.
Even though Salvadorans remained the largest group of foreign visitors to Guatemala, fewer people made the trip compared to the same period in 2025.
From January through May, Guatemala received 537,072 Salvadoran travelers, down 76,832 from the 613,904 who visited during the first five months of last year.
The year-over-year comparison represents a decline of 12.5 percent despite Guatemala maintaining its position as a preferred destination for Salvadoran travelers. Tourism officials nevertheless expect demand to strengthen during the August holiday season.
During May alone, Guatemala welcomed 100,743 visitors from El Salvador. Salvadorans accounted for approximately 42 percent of all international tourists entering the country during that month.
However, May’s total also reflected a decline from the previous year. INGUAT reported that the number of Salvadoran visitors arriving during the month fell by approximately 15 percent compared with May 2025.
According to the tourism authority, every Salvadoran visitor recorded between January and May entered Guatemala through land border crossings.
January recorded the highest number of Salvadoran visitors to Guatemala during the first five months of 2026, with 129,966 arrivals.
It was followed by March with 109,901 visitors, April with 107,399, and May with 100,743. February had the lowest monthly total, as 89,064 Salvadorans traveled to the neighboring country, according to INGUAT.
