last edited Dec 11, 2019
Health and Safety in El Salvador
Official Recommendations
In France, both for individuals and professionals, the "travel advice" from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding precautions for each country has legal weight. A similar online travel advice system exists in several countries:
Health
As always, it's best to be up to date with your vaccinations, even if nothing is officially required to enter the country.
Diseases
El Salvador doesn’t pose too many health problems, though dengue fever and chikungunya, spread by certain mosquitoes, are present as in many places in this part of the world. As for malaria, it’s only found very locally (below 1,500 m) or occasionally during the rainy season, to the point that few travelers use treatment, preferring prevention. To protect yourself, the best approach is to use a good repellent, cover your arms and legs at dusk when mosquitoes are most active, and bring an impregnated mosquito net if you’re sleeping in a place without air conditioning or airflow.
Hygiene
Good personal and especially food hygiene is essential if you want to "eat local." So avoid tap water, which isn’t truly potable, and dishes or foods that don’t seem completely fresh—if only to avoid traveler’s diarrhea.
Healthcare Facilities on Site
Safety
Crime and Delinquency
This has been the country’s biggest problem for years. El Salvador has a very high rate of homicides and violence, particularly in urban and peri-urban areas. While this insecurity primarily affects the local population and is linked to gangs in near-permanent conflict (the infamous "maras"), it’s still wise to take all precautions and stay alert as a tourist, especially if traveling solo. There’s also a risk of robberies on public transport, which affects everyone.
In any case, it’s crucial to check the current situation when venturing outside tourist areas, as some regions are strongly discouraged. That said, authorities are doing their best to secure tourist zones or supervise trekkers, notably through the presence of a tourist police force called Politur.
Scams and "Tourist" Harassment
Socio-Political Risks
Climate and Nature
Nature in El Salvador can be unpredictable. Like most countries in the region, it’s located in a seismic zone, in the path of storms or cyclones, and its volcanoes occasionally erupt. Fortunately, these events aren’t too frequent, and the main issue you might face during the rainy season is secondary roads being cut off.
Foreign Consulates on Site
If you run into trouble while traveling abroad, your country’s consular services can assist you. It’s also worth knowing that if you’re an EU citizen and your country isn’t represented, you can turn to any other EU member state’s representation.
France
Consulate General: 1a Calle Poniente, 3718 Colonia Escalon, San Salvador. Tel.: +503 25 21 90 00. Note that the French embassy and its services in El Salvador also handle Belize.
Other Countries
Belgium: Honorary Consulate: Ave. Las Magnolias 172, Colonia San Benito, San Salvador. Tel.: (+503) 2 263 84 64.
Canada: Consulate General: Centro Financiero Gigante, 63 Avenida Sur y Alameda Roosevelt, Local 6, Nivel II, San Salvador. Tel.: (+503) 2279-4655.
Switzerland: Consulate General: Sucursal Galerias Escalón, Apartado Postal 72, San Salvador. Tel.: (+503) 2264 1177.