based on 7 experiences from female travelers
I felt safe overall. I chose accommodations in safe areas like El Tunco and Santa Ana. People were very welcoming, and I didn’t face any issues. What I recommend: Hike Santa Ana Volcano (amazing view, not too hard). Go to El Tunco (beach town, great for surfing), Discover Ataco (small village), relax in Salto de Malacatiupan. El Salvador is very budget-friendly. I stayed in Airbnb's, except when I was in the capital city where I used Hotel Villa Florencia Centro Historico (great hotel!). For transport, I only used a rental car. Walking around towns felt safe in the daytime and evening time. Here's a rough outline of my 2-week trip: Day 1–3: El Zunto/El Tunco Day 4–5: Ataco Day 6–8: Antigua Guatemala (for Easter weekend) Day 9–11: Lago de Coatepeque + Volcano Santa Ana Day 12–14: San Salvador
Posted: July 19, 2025Experienced: March, 2025Jackie
United States
This is my second time going to El Salvador. My family is from El Salvador. My mother left in 1989 when she was pregnant with me, during the civil war. It was her first time going back to her home country since she left. It was a surreal experience to her, seeing how much her country as changed. El Salvador is beautiful and welcoming.
Posted: July 6, 2024Experienced: February, 2024I traveled alone to El Salvador and it was an amazing surprise. It's beautiful, and people are very friendly and hospitable. I never felt unsafe, even at night in San Salvador. I really enjoyed it.
Posted: October 17, 2023The people I met were super nice, the landscapes, activities, everything was very beautiful. The only thing is that because they use the American dollar, the prices seemed high to me. But the place is definitely worth it. I highly recommend renting a car as well. We were there for 9 days, and I think that was too much, 7 days is perfect to see everything.
Posted: September 18, 2023I went on a four-day solo trip to Salvador and I really enjoyed it. I usually do things on my own, renting a car, but I decided to book a four-day custom tour (with a guide and transport) and I felt 100% safe. I visited beautiful waterfalls, charming towns, good volcano trails, drank great coffee, etc.
Posted: September 11, 2023Based on 8 local experiences
Based on 8 local experiences
I felt very safe in El Salvador. I was travelling with a friend and everyone was telling us „please don’t go, it’s dangerous,…“. It was my favourite trip of all the trips I did and the people are really friendly and helpful. Of course there are some points you should avoid- alone in the middle of the night. But you have that in almost every country. We felt very safe and it’s a wonderful country. A lot of nature with hot springs and culture. I hope that your experience will be great and safe!
Posted: August 24, 2025