Is El Salvador Safe for Solo Female Travelers?
Is El Salvador safe for solo female travelers? Here’s everything you need to know!
As a solo female traveler who has spent many months traveling Central America on my own, I know that this region of the world can get a bad rap when it comes to safety — especially El Salvador.
I just returned from a trip to El Salvador, and I wanted to write this guide to address the safety concerns you might have and answer the question, is El Salvador safe for solo female travelers?
El Salvador is a small country in Central America bordered by Guatemala and Honduras. It’s known for its diverse scenery, including volcanoes, lakes Pacific Coast beaches, and charming small colonial towns.
But is it safe to visit? Here’s what you need to know!
Is El Salvador Safe?
For many years, El Salvador was not a safe country, especially for those who lived there, but also for tourists. The country suffered from a civil war in the 1980s, a time characterized by military terror and violence. During the civil war, many Salvadorans had to flee the country and come to the US as refugees.
Gangs became a big problem in El Salvador in the following decades — you might have heard of the notorious MS-13 and 18th Street gangs before. These gangs made life a nightmare for Salvadorans through violence and extortion, and it made many parts of the country unsafe for tourists too.
As of 2022, El Salvador’s president Nayib Bukele instituted a “state of exception” in the country and virtually obliterated the gangs by rounding up and imprisoning tens of thousands of known and suspected gang members. Now most people will tell you that El Salvador is safer than it ever has been.
There have been human rights criticisms about this move since many of those who were imprisoned were not given access to due process or a real trial. But from what I saw, the majority of Salvadorans are happy with this development because they no longer have to live in fear of the gangs.
So Is It Safe to Visit?
So to answer the question, El Salvador is quite safe now. It went from having one of the highest murder rates in the world to the lowest murder rate in Central America. You can now freely travel throughout the country and stop in places that were once no-go zones controlled by the gangs.
Even at the height of the gangs’ power, it was possible to travel safely in El Salvador as a tourist, but now you can explore the country with more ease and fewer concerns about security.
Of course, you should still exercise the standard precautions you would take while traveling anywhere in the world — be mindful of your belongings because petty theft or pickpocketing can still happen, don’t walk alone at night, and so on. But overall, El Salvador is a safe destination and like all of Central America, it’s possible to go there as a solo female traveler without any issues and have a great time.
Safety for Women in El Salvador
Let’s talk specifically about safety for women in El Salvador.
I personally did not experience any street harassment or unwanted attention while walking around on my own in El Salvador. After traveling throughout all of Central America and South America at this point, I can honestly say that I’ve experienced far less street harassment in this part of the world than in Europe.
It’s very hot and humid in most parts of El Salvador year-round, and you’ll notice that many local women dress a little more conservatively on the bottom (typically wearing pants regardless of how how it is) but will show a little more skin on top with tank tops or other short shirts.
If you want to blend in more, you can dress like this too, but I personally wore shorts almost every day since it was so hot and I didn’t experience any unwanted attention from this.
There are a few things to keep in mind as a solo female traveler that I would recommend doing anywhere in the world (like not walking alone at night or avoiding or at least being very careful about how much alcohol you drink) but other than that, I don’t think you have too much to worry about.
Tips for Solo Female Travelers in El Salvador
Let’s get into some additional tips for solo female travelers in El Salvador, both safety tips and tips to simply make sure you have a smooth experience while you are traveling around this country.
1. Be careful in San Salvador.
Unlike many other Central American capitals that you can skip (like Guatemala City, Tegucigalpa, and Managua), San Salvador is actually one of the better cities to visit in this part of the world.
I ended up basing myself here for four days to take day trips around the country since El Salvador is so small and the capital makes for a convenient base. The area where I stayed (Zona Rosa) and the historic center are safe to walk around on your own, but you will still want to exercise caution wherever you go.
Don’t book yourself an Airbnb in a random neighborhood you don’t know anything about — stay in a hotel instead. And you should also avoid walking around alone at night in San Salvador.
2. Choose accommodations in a central location.
The advice above about where to stay doesn’t just apply to San Salvador — you should follow it in every destination you visit in El Salvador, for safety reasons and just to make your life easier.
For example, in the popular beach town of El Tunco, I chose a hotel that was about a 10-minute walk from the town and beach if you took a shortcut through the literal jungle, or a 20-minute walk if you walked along the busy main road that always had a lot of cars speeding down it.
I did not feel comfortable with either of these options at night, and taxis and Ubers aren’t really available in El Tunco since it’s so small. If I were to do it again, I would have booked a hotel that was right in town so I wasn’t so isolated. It would have been more convenient and made for a better experience.
3. Carry plenty of cash.
Although you can pay with card in some places in El Salvador, cash is still king so be sure to have enough at all times. For American travelers, this is easy because the official currency of El Salvador is the US dollar.
Many smaller restaurants, local businesses, and transportation options only accept cash. Uber is available in larger cities like San Salvador, but you will want to change your payment method to cash to ensure drivers pick you up. (Some will decline your ride request if you have your payment method set to card.)
4. Learn some Spanish.
This is one of my top tips for traveling anywhere in Latin America. English is not widely spoken, especially outside touristy areas and hospitality settings. It really helps to know basic Spanish so you can get by.
If you’re backpacking through Central America, Guatemala is a popular place to start and you can brush up on your Spanish skills with affordable private lessons in one of the many language schools in Antigua, Lake Atitlan, or Xela. Then you can move on to El Salvador confident in your Spanish-speaking abilities.
Though it’s not a necessity for traveling in El Salvador, especially if you stick to the main tourist trail, it will make your life a lot easier. At least learn the basics — you don’t have to become fluent!
5. Don’t drink the tap water.
Let’s talk safety tips to hep you avoid getting sick in El Salvador. Nothing to ruin your travels faster than becoming ill! Like with most of Central America, it’s not safe to drink the tap water in El Salvador.
You can stock up on bottled water, but I personally recommend getting a LifeStraw water bottle which automatically filters water for you. It’s better for the environment than bottled water and it’s also really convenient. I’ve traveled all over Latin America with my LifeStraw water bottle.
6. Be careful with street food.
Another thing to watch out for is street food in El Salvador. Food hygiene standards might not be what you’re used to at home, which can lead to an upset stomach or in extreme cases, food poisoning.
I’m vegetarian and didn’t have any issues with the food in El Salvador. However, you should be careful with meat as well as fresh fruits and vegetables. Always travel with Pepto Bismol tablets just in case!
7. Pack plenty of bug spray.
One final tip for El Salvador — be sure to pack plenty of bug spray (along with sunscreen!) When I was in El Tunco, I remembered to put on sunscreen but I forgot to put on bug spray my first morning there. I ended up getting mosquito bites all over my face and neck and it was extremely painful!
There are lots of mosquitoes in El Salvador, especially on the coast, but in other areas of the country too. You’ll definitely want to pack insect repellant for your trip and apply it every day.
Is El Salvador Safe for Solo Female Travelers?
This guide is all about safety for solo female travelers in El Salvador.
Overall, it’s possible to travel safely on tour own in El Salvador and have a great time. Many of the concerns and fears around El Salvador are sensationalized or outdated, based on old information.
The country is safer than it ever has been before, and absolutely worth visiting!
Related:
- Where to Stay in San Salvador, El Salvador
- Where to Stay in El Tunco, El Salvador
- 6 Best Day Trips from San Salvador, El Salvador
- Do You Need to Speak Spanish to Travel in Latin America?
- How to Make Friends While Traveling Solo
- 7 Safest Countries in Latin America for Travelers
- Is Central America Safe for Solo Female Travelers?
- 12 Things to Know Before Backpacking Central America
