Safety in El Salvador
Yes, El Salvador is safe to visit in 2024! For years, the country struggled with high crime rates; however, since 2020, violence has decreased remarkably, hitting its lowest levels in over 50 years. Today, El Salvador is one of the safest countries in Latin America.
Crime data has shown that violent crimes in El Salvador, such as homicides, were reduced by 56.5% from 2021 to 2022 and 69% from 2022 to 2023. The country is on pace to have even lower crime numbers in 2024.
Considering the reduction in crime and the historical data on tourism safety, El Salvador is not dangerous for tourists to visit in 2024. Furthermore, most major tourist areas are in safer locations with adequate security.
SEE ALSO: El Salvador Tourism: A Journey Through Pristine Beaches, Colorful Towns, and Enchanting Parks
Crime in El Salvador today
Over the years, crime and violence have affected the number of people visiting El Salvador; this is a sad and upsetting fact about the country. However, security in the country has improved to its best levels in over 50 years.
El Salvador has witnessed a remarkable decrease in homicides, achieving record-low levels, establishing the country as one of the safest in Latin America. Furthermore, the nation has seen numerous days with no recorded homicides, highlighting a positive trend in overall safety.
El Salvador is currently under a State of Exception that limits certain constitutional rights. However, this measure has had no negative impact on tourism; in fact, it appears to have boosted it, with more visitors now choosing El Salvador as a travel destination.
Crime statistics, the scary part
Before 2020, El Salvador had one of the highest homicide rates in the world, and in 2016, it became known as the murder capital of the world.
In 2015, El Salvador recorded an average of 18.24 murders per day, with a homicide rate of 103 per 100,000 inhabitants. By the end of 2023, this rate had dramatically decreased to 0.42 murders per day or 2.4 per 100,000 inhabitants.
With record-low homicides and multiple days without murders, 2023 stands as the safest year in El Salvador’s history. However, 2024 is on pace to surpass it, potentially setting a new safety benchmark for the country.
| Year | Total Homicides | Daily Homicide Rate | Homicides per 100,000 Inhabitants |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 *Jan 1 to Nov 20 |
104 | 0.32 | 1.9 *Estimated |
| 2023 | 154 | 0.42 | 2.4 |
| 2022 | 496 | 1.36 | 7.8 |
| 2021 | 1147 | 3.14 | 18.1 |
| 2020 | 1341 | 3.67 | 21.2 |
| 2019 | 2398 | 6.57 | 35.8 |
| 2018 | 3346 | 9.17 | 50.4 |
| 2017 | 3962 | 10.85 | 60.2 |
| 2016 | 5280 | 14.47 | 81.0 |
| 2015 | 6656 | 18.24 | 103.0 |
| 2014 | 3921 | 10.74 | 61.3 |
| 2013 | 2513 | 6.88 | 40.6 |
| 2012 | 2594 | 7.11 | 42.1 |
| 2011 | 4371 | 11.98 | 71.2 |
| 2010 | 3987 | 10.92 | 65.2 |
It’s frustrating that many people and publications still label El Salvador as a dangerous country, citing statistics from before 2020. However, given the country’s violent history, I can understand why this perception continues.
SEE ALSO: El Salvador’s Homicide Rate
It is understandable why crime statistics discourage some people from traveling to El Salvador. Yet, we must acknowledge that El Salvador has made safety strides and is not as dangerous as it used to be.
For example, since 2022, El Salvador has recorded fewer homicides than Costa Rica, the country traditionally regarded as the safety benchmark in Central America.
| Month | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 288 | 120 | 111 | 82 | 11 | 9 |
| February | 207 | 122 | 108 | 76 | 14 | 6 |
| March | 238 | 68 | 112 | 165 | 12 | 10 |
| April | 326 | 147 | 105 | 23 | 10 | 13 |
| May | 286 | 66 | 117 | 16 | 17 | 14 |
| June | 231 | 72 | 88 | 26 | 10 | 5 |
| July | 155 | 116 | 91 | 17 | 8 | 12 |
| August | 130 | 126 | 58 | 19 | 16 | 18 |
| September | 148 | 131 | 61 | 19 | 11 | 8 |
| October | 124 | 158 | 82 | 19 | 22 | 4 |
| November | 137 | 100 | 124 | 19 | 9 | 5 |
| December | 128 | 115 | 90 | 15 | 14 | |
| Total | 2398 | 1341 | 1147 | 496 | 154 | 104 |
SEE ALSO: Days Without Homicides in El Salvador
| 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 22 | 24 |
| February | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 21 | 24 |
| March | 0 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 20 | 22 |
| April | 0 | 3 | 0 | 15 | 24 | 19 |
| May | 0 | 6 | 3 | 17 | 18 | 21 |
| June | 0 | 4 | 1 | 14 | 21 | 25 |
| July | 1 | 2 | 5 | 19 | 23 | 22 |
| August | 0 | 2 | 7 | 18 | 20 | 18 |
| September | 2 | 2 | 5 | 18 | 20 | 23 |
| October | 2 | 0 | 3 | 19 | 14 | 27 |
| November | 0 | 2 | 2 | 18 | 23 | 16 |
| December | 1 | 0 | 3 | 21 | 19 | |
| Total | 6 | 26 | 31 | 166 | 245 | 241 |
El Salvador is not as dangerous anymore
It is undeniable that safety has improved in El Salvador! But honesty, this improvement has helped mainly the locals as El Salvador has always been considered safe for tourists.
Here is an example of safety improvements using San Salvador, the nation’s capital. Since 2010, the capital city was generally in the top 50 most dangerous cities in the world; as a matter of fact, it was a regular in the top 10, reaching 3rd place in 2015.
But by 2020, San Salvador had dropped out of the world’s 50 most dangerous cities. Today, it’s not even the most dangerous place in El Salvador.
So, Is El Salvador dangerous for tourists?
Considering the recent reduction in crime and the country’s historical data on tourism safety, I can attest that El Salvador is not dangerous for tourists.
However, keep in mind that countries in Central America and the world have areas tourists need to be careful when visiting; it’s not just El Salvador.
Even the United States has many cities categorized as dangerous, with recommendations that tourists use caution when traveling there.
The point that I am trying to make and emphasize is that there might be some areas of El Salvador that tourists should avoid.
My advice for anyone planning a trip to El Salvador is to follow safety guidelines, stay in well-known safe areas, and use common sense. With these precautions, I’m confident you’ll have a great experience and want to return again and again!
Travel advisories for El Salvador
Looking at travel advisories is a reliable way to assess how safe a country is. However, governments will always look at the country as a whole and not at specific areas.
The US and UK travel advisory websites are the most popular and have reliable travel information. They are the ones who tend to have the most detailed information about safety in specific countries, in this case, El Salvador.
United States Travel Advisory to El Salvador
The current travel advisory to El Salvador from the US Department of State is level 2, “Exercise increased caution in El Salvador due to crime.” To view today’s current advisory, visit the US government travel advisory page.
United Kingdom Travel Advisory to El Salvador
The UK is another trustworthy travel advisory source. To view today’s current advisory from the United Kingdom, visit the UK government advisory page.
Misconceptions about safety in El Salvador
Due to its historical past regarding violence, numerous misconceptions persist about El Salvador, some of which are no longer accurate today.
As a Salvadoran, I understand the reasons behind the prevalent fallacies regarding travel to El Salvador and safety concerns for visitors.
Having had significant violence since the 1980s, El Salvador gained a reputation as a violent nation. Nevertheless, numerous misconceptions about the country persist today that are just wrong; here are some of them!
Crime and Violence are Everywhere
The following is on a popular travel website about El Salvador. [In El Salvador] “Gang-related violence on buses is a serious problem. Armed robberies and even grenade attacks have occurred. If you need to travel within the country, opt for private transportation.” www.worldnomads.com.
Are they lying? No, they are not! All those things have happened in El Salvador, but not in over ten years. However, the article makes it seem like these things happen now.
Yes, there have been violent crimes in El Salvador in the last few years; however, they don’t happen all the time and everywhere. Furthermore, most acts of violence and crime occurred in non-tourist areas. Tourists will never have a reason to be in those areas.
Misleading Homicide Statistics
The same website mentioned above also stated that “Gang-related violence is a persistent issue in El Salvador, with around 4,000 murders reported annually.” This is not entirely true and is another damaging misconception about El Salvador.
SEE ALSO: El Salvador Homicide Rate
Gang-related murders have occurred in El Salvador, but not as often as many people and some travel sites tend to inform. The last the country reported around 4,000 homicides was in 2017.
I’ve been living full-time in El Salvador since 2015 and part-time before that, traveling throughout the country. I can assure you that, since 2020, gang-related murders are no longer common occurrences.
Only Tourist Spots Are Safe for Foreigners
That is a false statement; foreigners visit small towns and other parts of the country that have little to do with tourism.
Don’t get me wrong, El Salvador is not Japan or Switzerland, where you can pick up and go to any part of the country. Non-tourist areas are safe but use common sense when deciding where to go.
El Salvador was a country that exceeded my expectations and broke all the misconceptions I had, especially on the safety front.” Mar, solo female traveler.
10 Safety Tips to Follow
Here are a few suggestions to keep in mind when traveling or planning to visit El Salvador. Some of them might seem simplistic and obvious; however, in El Salvador, they should be taken more seriously.
1. Do your research, plan ahead
Before venturing into the country, find out everything you can about the specific areas you want to visit. Ask and answer the following questions before traveling to El Salvador. Is the area safe? How am I going to get there? What should I do there?
Knowing the answers to those questions will ensure your safety even more. Undeniably, doing research and planning is the way to go.
Even though the country is small, every area offers different things for different people. For instance, backpacker safety needs are distinct from regular travelers.
2. Talk to people who have traveled to El Salvador
Talking to people who have visited El Salvador is a good option. Many individuals or families that have ventured into El Salvador are happy to share their experiences. These previous travelers are one of the best sources of information about what to expect when visiting El Salvador.
By all means, pay attention to travel warnings and advisories from your governments. But remember, you will always get a better picture of El Salvador from people who have been there.
3. Stay at safe places
One of the most crucial research tasks travelers thinking about going to El Salvador needs to do is deciding where to stay.
Before deciding on a particular area or hotel, look at their reviews. Find out what the previous guest have commented about the hotel and the location. These reviews will give you a better idea of where to stay and if extra safety precautions are needed.
4. Don’t go where you are not supposed to go
A sure way to put yourself or your family in an unsafe situation is to venture into areas classified as dangerous. They do exist, and not only in this nation. Avoid drug, gang, and red districts areas; unless that is what you are looking for.
Also, remember, If a local tells you, “Don’t go there, it’s not safe!” Take that advice. Locals know the area and are protective of travelers. They don’t want you to put yourself or your family in an unsafe situation.
5. Be more careful at night
Nightlife in El Salvador is just like nightlife in any other country; there are bars, dance clubs, restaurants, movie theaters, etc. The safety recommendations needed when visiting these establishments will depend heavily on what you want to do at night.
For instance, if you have a nice quiet dinner in a family atmosphere zone, your safety concerns will be minimal. However, if you want to venture out at night to drink or to a club, you must be more careful.
Remember, nightlife in El Salvador is similar to nightlife in any other country; you get the good with the bad.
6. Be more careful when taking public transportation
If you need or want to take public transportation, be more careful. Public transportation is good as it’s cheap and convenient. However, public transport can also be unsafe for the following reasons.
If you take the wrong bus route, you can end up in a bad area and put yourself in an unsafe situation. Also, the bus could be on a path often targeted by criminals.
To ensure safety, before taking the bus, find out if the bus is on a safe route and if it goes directly to your destination. The best way to get this information is from the hotel or hostel where you are staying. If they say yes, it’s safe, go for it; if they say that you shouldn’t take that bus route, follow their advice.
7. Take guided tours
Taking guided tours is the best option if you want to venture into different parts of the country. These guided tours are for the day or even a few days; they will pick you up from your hotel, take you to your destination and drop you off right back at your hotel.
There are quite a few options available for group tours or private tours. Also, these Salvadoran tour companies will set up a trip exclusive to you and include the things you want to do or visit.
8. Keep local emergency numbers handy
El Salvador has its 911 emergency system; However, it is best to keep the phone numbers for the local police branch and emergency numbers near you.
In case of an emergency, you will get faster attention if you call the local branch of the police, red cross, or Comandos de Salvamento.
Remember, this is a developing country, so the emergency services are not up to the standards of developed countries.
9. Avoid displaying the numbers 13 and 18
Most of the violence in El Salvador is due to two main gangs fighting each other for control of the drug trade and the territory. They are the Mara Salvatrucha and Barrio 18. These two gangs are associated with the numbers 13 and 18, respectively.
For precautionary reasons, visitors should not wear anything with the numbers 13 and 18 anywhere in hats, shirts, t-shirts, backpacks, etc. Also, tattoos that resemble the numbers thirteen and eighteen should be covered. It is an extra safety precaution.
10. Don’t be Flashy With Your Expensive Items
If you are staying in the upscale areas of San Salvador or Santa Tecla, then you might flash your jewelry or valuables as much as you want to. In this area, wearing or flashing expensive things is normal.
On the other hand, if you are in underdeveloped areas of the country, use common sense, and avoid flashing expensive things.
I am not saying that you will get robbed by flashing them in these areas, but why get extra attention to you? Use common sense; it is that simple. It is a common-sense safety tip.
Is El Salvador safe to visit for tourists?
Even with all the issues, visiting El Salvador is safe, but remember to practice common sense, make wise decisions, and follow safety recommendations.
Remember, Salvadorans are known for their friendliness. Locals will go out of their way to assist foreigners, making them feel welcome and safe. So, if you need help and can communicate in Spanish, don’t hesitate to ask the locals.
