Travel Summary
- Heavy rain over the weekend of 7 and 8 November has caused heavy flooding in the San Salvador and San Vicente regions of the country. The President has declared a State of Emergency whilst cleanup and ongoing operations continue to assist thousands of displaced people. The international airport is open, but local travel by road may be interrupted by landslides and flooding. Please contact our Honorary Consul for more localised travel information.
- We continue to advise against all but essential travel to neighbouring Honduras, with the exception of the Bay Islands, due to the ongoing political crisis. Although elections took place on 29 November as scheduled work on political and national reconciliation is still ongoing. As a result of these events the situation, particularly in the capital Tegucigalpa, remains unpredictable and may change very quickly. Equally neighbouring countries (El Salvador, Guatemala and Nicaragua) may close land borders and stop air links at short notice. The curfew previously in place in Honduras has been lifted, but could be reintroduced at any time should there be a change in the situation. Anyone intending to travel to or through Honduras should contact his or her travel operator for further advice and to keep abreast of the situation by monitoring local media, the FCO’s Travel Advice on Honduras and by checking our Embassy’s website at www.ukinguatemala.fco.gov.uk.
- There is no British Embassy in El Salvador. The British Embassy in Guatemala City has overall responsibility for El Salvador. In the event of an emergency you can contact the British Honorary Consul in San Salvador for assistance. See the General (Consular assistance) section of this advice for more details.
- The rainy season in El Salvador normally runs from June to November, coinciding with the hurricane season in the Caribbean. See the Natural Disasters (Rainy Season) section of this advice for more details.
- Dengue Fever is endemic to Latin America and the Caribbean and can occur throughout the year. See the Health section of this advice for more details.
- The main types of incident for which British nationals required consular assistance in El Salvador in 2008 was for replacing lost and stolen passports as a result of pickpocketing.
- There are very high crime rates in El Salvador. You should take care if you need to travel in downtown San Salvador and on roads outside major towns and cities at night. See the Crime and Local Travel sections of this advice for more details.
- There is a low threat from terrorism. But you should be aware of the global risk of indiscriminate terrorist attacks which could be in public areas, including those frequented by expatriates and foreign travellers.
- We recommend that you obtain comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling. You should check any exclusions, and that your policy covers you for the activities you want to undertake. See the General (Insurance) section of this advice and our Travel Insurance page for more details.
Safety and security
Terrorism
There is a low threat from terrorism. But you should be aware of the global risk of indiscriminate terrorist attacks which could be in public areas, including those frequented by expatriates and foreign travellers.
Crime
El Salvador has one of the highest crime rates in Latin America. The majority of serious crime involves Salvadorians and does not affect visitors. However there have been several attacks on tourists in recent years including robberies, carjackings and assaults. The main types of incident for which British nationals require consular assistance in El Salvador is replacing lost and stolen passports as the result of pickpocketing.
Petty crime is a problem in cities and tourist areas. You should be particularly careful of your belongings at bus stations, airports, tourist places and on public transport. You should keep your valuables locked away in a safe or keep them on your person when travelling. Carry a photocopy of your passport for identification purposes.
Despite the high levels of crime most visits to El Salvador are trouble-free. However, the risk of becoming a victim exists and you should take steps to mitigate the risk. You should take your personal security seriously and be aware of your surroundings at all times. The following advice may help:
- You should take great care travelling anywhere in El Salvador at night. You should take particular care if you need to go to downtown San Salvador, other towns or cities, or and travel on roads outside of major towns and cities after dark. Within San Salvador, areas such as Escalón, San Benito, Zona Rosa, Maquilishuat, La Grand Via and Multiplaza are safer at night, although you should still exercise caution.
- You should take care travelling alone in El Salvador. When travelling to remote areas it may be safer to travel with others or take part in a tour with a reputable company. The same applies to walking on remote trails, as there have been reports of attacks on tourists walking alone.
- You should avoid displaying items of value such as laptops, MP3 players, cameras and mobile phones. This is particularly important when arriving at the airport. There have been several instances of foreigners being targeted when leaving the vicinity of the airport. You are advised not to wear expensive jewellery and only carry minimal amounts of cash when travelling in El Salvador.
- It is safer to withdraw money from ATMs in shopping centres or change money in hotels or banks. It is wise not to withdraw too much money at one time. There have been attacks on foreigners after they have withdrawn money from ATMs. You should avoid withdrawing money at night.
- You should not resist when being robbed. Victims have been killed and injured resisting attack.
- There have been instances of armed attacks on vehicles travelling in El Salvador. Avoid travelling on unpaved roads as you are at greater risk of attack in remote areas with fewer police patrols. The road between El Salvador and Guatemala has seen attacks and you should exercise caution. Please see the Local Travel Section for more information.
- For shorter trips within towns and cities it is safer to take radio or hotel taxis rather than public buses or unofficial taxis.
- You should be aware that the risk of kidnapping in El Salvador still exists, despite success by the National Police in tackling the problem in recent years. Kidnap gangs generally target rich Salvadorians rather than visitors.
For more general information see our Victims of crime page.
Political Situation
El Salvador Country Profile
Demonstrations occur in El Salvador from time to time and can do so with little warning. They can become violent and disrupt movement. You are advised to avoid large gatherings or demonstrations.
The El Salvador Constitution prohibits political activities by foreigners, and participation in activities such as demonstrations may result in detention and/or deportation.
Local Travel
Public buses are poorly maintained and often overcrowded. Robberies often occur and foreigners are sometimes targeted. Using a reputable tour company for longer journeys may reduce the risks associated with travel on these buses. It is safer to travel short distances in radio or hotel taxis.
When travelling by car, it is safer to travel on main roads between major cities and destinations.You are at greater risk of attack in remote areas with fewer Police patrols. Take simple precautions such as locking doors and keeping windows closed whilst travelling.
You should exercise particular caution when travelling to/from the border with Guatemala and when travelling this road by car, especially in vehicles with El Salvador number plates. You should use only reputable coach companies when travelling to/from Guatemala. There have been reports of violent attacks on vehicles, particularly on the Guatemalan side of the border. Vehicles with El Salvador number plates are often targeted.
There have been recent reports of attacks on vehicles travelling in Santa Ana and on the route between Comalapa airport and San Salvador.
You should pay attention to your security at the border areas with Guatemala and Honduras. You should avoid openly changing large amounts of money and make sure valuables are kept out of sight. It is often better to cross borders in the morning as borders sometimes close in the early evening. It also allows time for you to reach your destination before dark.
As a result of past conflicts, there remains unexploded ordnance such as landmines in the countryside. Those going off-road should be aware of these potential dangers when visiting the more remote locations. You should take local advice and avoid travel to such areas if advised.
Road Travel
The main highway through El Salvador is being brought up to international standards. The other main routes to Honduras are in good condition. Some roads, however, are in poor condition and can be dangerous to drive on. Care should be taken whatever road is used as the standard of driving is low.
For more general information see our Driving Abroad page.
Swimming
Swimming on El Salvador’s Pacific coast can be dangerous due to strong undertows. The currents around La Bocana de San Diego are particularly treacherous. Several people have drowned in recent years. The number of lifeguards is limited and you should avoid swimming on isolated beaches.
Local laws and customs
For more general information for different types of travellers see our Your trip page.
Entry requirements
Visas
UK passport holders can enter El Salvador as tourists or business visitors for up to 90 days without a visa. This can be extended on application to the Salvadorean immigration department, Centro de Gobierno, San Salvador; Tel: (503) 2221 2111.
Passport validity
You should ensure that your passport has at least six months validity from the date of intended travel.
Central America Border Control Agreement
El Salvador is party to the Central America Border Control Agreement (CA-4). Under the terms of this agreement, British tourists may travel within any of the CA-4 countries (Honduras, Nicaragua, El Salvador and Guatemala) for a period of up to 90 day, without completing entry and exit formalities at border Immigration checkpoints. This period begins at the first point of entry of any of the CA-4 countries. Fines are applied for travellers who exceed this 90-day limit, although a request for an extension can be made for up to 30 days by paying a fee before the 90 days limit expires. If you are expelled from any of the four countries you are also excluded from the entire CA-4 region.
Travelling with children
Single parents or other adults travelling alone with children should be aware that some countries required documentary evidence of parental responsibility before allowing lone parents to enter the country or, in some cases, before permitting the children to leave the country. For further information on exactly what will be required at immigration please contact the Embassy of El Salvador.
Health
There is no in-country Swine Flu quarantine policy but screening equipment has been installed at airports to check incoming passengers.
Medical facilities outside the capital, San Salvador, are generally basic. State-run hospitals are on the whole under-staffed, under-funded and ill-equipped. You should use private clinics whenever possible. You should be aware that some hospitals in El Salvador may be reluctant to provide treatment until they are satisfied that you have medical insurance. You should therefore carry a copy of your insurance cover at all times.
Water is not generally safe to drink outside the better hotels in the main towns but bottled water is widely and cheaply available.
Dengue Fever is endemic to Latin America and the Caribbean and can occur throughout the year. There have been confirmed cases of Dengue Fever this year throughout El Salvador. There is no vaccine to prevent Dengue Fever. You are advised to take additional precautions against mosquitoes.
In the 2008 Report on the Global AIDS Epidemic the UNAIDS/WHO Working Group estimated that around 34,000 adults aged 15 or over in El Salvador were living with HIV; the prevalence rate was estimated at around 0.8% of the adult population. This compares to the prevalence rate in adults in the UK of around 0.2%. You should exercise precautions to avoid exposure to HIV/AIDS. For more general information on how to do this see our HIV and AIDS page.
You should seek medical advice before travelling to El Salvador and ensure that all appropriate vaccinations are up-to-date. For further information on vaccination requirements, health outbreaks and general disease protection and prevention you should visit the websites of the NaTHNaC and NHS Scotland's Fit For Travel or call NHS Direct on 0845 46 47.
For more general health information see our Travel Health page
Natural disasters
Volcanoes
El Salvador has a number of active volcanoes. The last notable eruption was the Santa Ana (Ilamatepec) volcano, which erupted on 2 October 2005, prompting a government alert, which lasted for several months before the activity died down and local residents returned to the area.
You should seek local advice before climbing any volcanoes in El Salvador and monitor local media for any updates on increased volcanic activity.
For further information on volcano warnings please check with the Humanitarian Early Warning System.
Rainy Season
Heavy rain over the weekend of 7 and 8 November has caused heavy flooding in the San Salvador and San Vicente regions of the country. The President has declared a State of Emergency whilst cleanup and ongoing operations continue to assist thousands of displaced people. The international airport is open, but local travel by road may be interrupted by landslides and flooding. Please contact our Honorary Consul for more localised travel information.
The rainy season in El Salvador normally runs from June to November, coinciding with the hurricane season in the Caribbean. Mountain areas are particularly vulnerable to landslides in the rainy season. You should monitor local and international weather updates from the World Meteorological Organisation and the US National Hurricane Centre. Please also see our Tropical Cyclones page for more detailed information about what to do if you are caught up in a hurricane.
Earthquakes
El Salvador is subject to frequent minor earth tremors and occasional earthquakes.
You should ensure that you know what action to take should an earthquake occur. If staying in a hotel read their earthquake instructions. During an earthquake, you should drop to the ground and take cover under sturdy furniture, in a doorway or next to an inside wall, away from windows or objects which may fall. Cover your head with a pillow or your arms and wait for the earthquake to stop, before moving to a safe area outside.
Further advice may be found on the Red Cross website.
General
Insurance
If things go wrong when overseas, please see our When Things Go Wrong page.
Registration
Register with our LOCATE service to tell us when and where you are travelling abroad or where you live abroad so our consular and crisis staff can provide better assistance to you in an emergency.
Alternatively, you can register with the British Embassy in Guatemala on arrival in El Salvador. You can do this in person, via e mail: consular.guatemala@fco.gov.uk or through the Embassy website at www.ukinguatemala.gov.uk.
Consular Representation
There is no British Embassy in El Salvador. The British Embassy in Guatemala City has overall responsibility for El Salvador. In the event of an Emergency you can contact the British Honorary Consul:
Mr George Chippendale, San Salvador, PO Box 424; Tel: +503 2281 5555 extension 104 or 2271 1050; Fax: +503 2271 1026; e-mail: claims@gibson.com.sv
Honorary Consul Office Hours: Local Time: Mon-Fri: 08:00 to 12:00 and 13:00 to 17:00; GMT: Mon-Fri: 14:00 to 18:00 and 19:00 to 23:00.
Passports should be left in a hotel safe/deposit box. You should carry a photocopy of your personal details page for identification purposes. You should ensure that your passport has sufficient validity and a plentiful supply of unused pages before you travel.
The British Honorary Consul in San Salvador and the British Embassy in Guatemala City do not issue standard passports. Applications for new passports should be sent to the UK Passport service for the Americas and Caribbean in Washington. Details of the process can be found at their website www.ukinusa.fco.gov.uk/en/passports. The process may take up to 10 working days. If a courier is used, the cost will be borne by the applicant.
However, in emergencies and some circumstances, we are able to process emergency passports in El Salvador and Guatemala, but it is dependant on your situation. This document is only available if you have held a full passport previously. Please note that this passports is restrictive and only allows for one nominated journey and is not valid via the United States.
Money
The American Dollar is the official currency in El Salvador. Although some prices are still quoted in the Salvadoran Colon, payment is expected in Dollars. The exchange rate is fixed at US$1.00 = 8.75 Salvadoran Colón.
Pounds sterling cannot be exchanged anywhere in El Salvador, so you should bring a mixture of cash and travellers’ cheques in US dollars. You are advised to bring some low denomination US dollar notes as US$50 and US$100 notes may not be accepted in many smaller restaurants and shops, in bars and by taxi drivers.
ATMs allowing withdrawals using debit and credit cards are widely available in El Salvador. For advice on using ATMs, please refer to the Crime section above.
