With just over six million residents, El Salvador is home to the most dangerous cities in the country and the world.
If you’re thinking about traveling to El Salvador, there are a few important things you should know about one of the world’s most dangerous countries.
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What makes visiting El Salvador Dangerous for US tourists?
El Salvador has one of the highest reported homicide rates in the world due to two large national gangs engaging in drug trafficking and turf wars that drive high crime.
This makes it dangerous for US tourists to travel there.
Local reports say El Salvador’s homicide rate is around 60 homicides per 100,000 residents.
10 Most Dangerous Cities in El Salvador
#1. San Salvador
San Salvador is rumored to be home to two of the country’s most dangerous and powerful street gangs.
The Mara Salvatrucha also goes by the name “MS-13,” and the Barrio 18 gangs leave worldwide trails of murder, drug trafficking, and extortion in their wake.
Poverty, lack of resources, and out-of-control corruption also contribute to the extremely high levels of violence and mayhem in this area.
Latest Population Estimate: 2.4 million
#2. Soyapango
Like many other dangerous cities in El Salvador, Soyapango is home to rival gangs that drive violent crimes against residents and tourists.
As a result, residents and officials have dubbed Soyapango as one of the most dangerous areas in El Salvador, which makes the city one of the most dangerous places in the world by default.
The Numbeo Crime Index ranks Soyapango as a perilous city and assigns it a crime ranking of 87.50 out of 100.
Latest Population Estimate: 290,412
#3. Ilopango
Ilopango, El Salvador, is among a network of cities known to be controlled by the local warring gangs and organized crime.
Located southeast of San Salvador, Ilopango has an average of around 60 murders per 100,000 residents.
Latest Population Estimate: 159,232
#4. Mejicanos
Mejicanos, El Salvador, belongs to dangerous El Salvador cities controlled by local crime syndicates.
Along with extremely high levels of violent crime, there are also extreme levels of poverty in Mejicanos which contribute to it being one of the most dangerous cities in El Salvador.
Latest Population Estimate: 160,317
#5. Apopa
Like many neighboring cities, Apopa, El Salvador is a hotbed of violent crime.
A combination of high levels of gang activity, extreme poverty, and lack of access to essential services make Apopa a dangerous El Salvadorian city.
Residents here live in fear as the homicide rate in the town of Apopa is among the highest in the world.
Latest Population Estimate:215,071
#6. Santa Ana
Along with being known for some of its historic architecture and robust cultural heritage, the city of Santa Ana, El Salvador, has high violent crime rates and a homicide rate that averages around 60 homicides per 100,000 residents.
Latest Population Estimate: 75,960
#7. San Miguel
San Miguel, El Salvador, is in the country’s eastern region.
The city experiences high levels of gang violence, murder, assaults, robberies, and other violent crimes that make it unsafe for residents or tourists.
This El Salvadorian city is so dangerous that the military has been called in to back up the efforts of the local police force.
Latest Population Estimate: 241,094
#8. Usulutan
Usulutan, El Salvador is the country’ southeastern region.
While the town doesn’t receive as many annual visitors as its coastal neighbors, it does see its fair share of tourists.
Tourists traveling in the Usulutan area should beware of high levels of gang activity in the area, ongoing incidents of violent crime, and devastating poverty that make Usulutan one of the most dangerous cities in El Salvador.
Latest Population Estimate: 319,623
#9. Santa Tecla
Santa Tecla is just west of the city of San Salvador.
Despite its vibrant cultural scene and nightlife, many of the residents of Santa Tecla live in fear.
Gang-controlled neighborhoods in this area see high crimes against people, including theft, assault, robbery, and homicide.
Aside from being gang controlled, many of the city’s permanent residents are poor and live in slums under subpar conditions.
#10. Zacatecoluca
Zacatecoluca is one of El Salvador’s smaller cities, with a population of under 100,000 residents.
This southeastern city is a major commercial hub and transportation center.
Despite its status as an industrial hub, the city has a high unemployment rate, poverty, and crime rate.
The latest reported estimates show Zacatecoluca with a murder rate of around 50 per 100,000 residents.
This number is exceptionally high for a city with a population of only approximately seventy-five thousand year-round residents.
5 Safety Tips for Traveling in El Salvador
These cities are all located in the central and western parts of El Salvador.
They are all home to large street gangs that control much of the country.
Many of the most dangerous cities in El Salvador are located along its central and western corridors.
These areas are known to be gang-controlled and prone to extremely high levels of violent crime.
The US Department of State has issued a level 3 travel advisory warning against American travel in El Salvador.
Regular outbreaks of violent crime and high murder rates make El Salvador a dangerous place to live or visit.
#1. Reconsider Travel
There is an active Level 3 travel advisory for El Salvador.
This travel advisory urges US travelers to “reconsider” traveling to the country, which is currently under a nationwide “State of Exception” due to out-of-control gang activity and extremely high homicide rates.
#2. Many Areas are Gang Controlled
El Salvador is known to be the home base of two of the world’s most ruthless street gangs.
Residents and tourists are often caught in the crossfires of these warring factions that control a large portion of the central and western parts of the country.
In addition, powerful gangs can control entire neighborhoods or cities in the region.
#3. Don’t Travel Alone in El Salvador!
Violent crimes happen on an everyday basis at all hours of the day or night in dangerous cities in El Salvador.
Therefore, if travel to El Salvador is unavoidable at this time, it is advisable for travelers to always travel in groups to avoid becoming victims of local street gang violence.
#4. Research Your Transportation and Accommodation Options in Advance
The high crime levels in El Salvador make it challenging to find reputable taxi services and accommodations for tourists.
In addition, a corrupt government and gang-controlled territory make it more likely to end up in an area that is controlled by warring gangs and corrupt politicians.
If you cannot avoid traveling to El Salvador, research your trip in advance and book transport and travel services with reputable and well-known agencies.
#5. Register Your Trip with the Embassy
US travelers in El Salvador can register their trip with the United States Embassy to activate local travel services.
Contact the embassy in El Salvador in cases of emergency or if you need to replace important identification documents for travel, including passports, birth certificates, and other US-based identification.
Sources
General Directorate of Statistics and Census (DIGESTYC) El Salvador. (n.d.). Global Health Data Exchange. https://ghdx.healthdata.org/organizations/general-directorate-statistics-and-census-digestyc-el-salvador
https://www.unodc.org/ropan/en/unodc-and-el-salvador-supreme-court-of-justice-organized-forum.html
El Salvador Safety Overview
READ THE FULL REPORT: El Salvador Safety Review
Safety Index:
- OVERALL RISK: MEDIUM
- TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: MEDIUM
- PICKPOCKETS RISK: HIGH
- NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: MEDIUM
- MUGGING RISK: HIGH
- TERRORISM RISK: LOW
- SCAMS RISK: HIGH
- WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: MEDIUM
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is it Dangerous to Travel to El Salvador?
The entire country of El Salvador is currently under a “State of Exception” due to the high levels of homicides, assaults, kidnappings, and extortions carried out by large street gangs who control many cities and territories within the country.
As such, US travelers shouldn’t visit El Salvador until the region has restored peace.
Who are the Mara Salvatrucha and the Barrio 18 in El Salvador?
The Mara Salvatrucha and Barrio 18 are well-known powerful street gangs that control much of the country of El Salvador.
These gangs have existed in El Salvador in large numbers since the early 2000s when the original Los Angeles-based members left the US to return to El Salvador after being deported.
These two international gangs drive insanely high amounts of violent crime in El Salvador.
What are the Most Commonly Reported Crimes in El Salvador?
According to local officials, homicide, robbery, theft, and aggravated assault are some of the most commonly reported crimes in the region.
Other crimes reported by local officials include kidnapping, extortion, drug trafficking, human trafficking, and extremely high levels of corruption.
I’m not sure how old this article is, but we recently went to El Salvador in April 2023 (specifically to Santa Ana, San Salvador, Aguachapan, Apaneca, Acajutla, Chalchuapa, Sonsonate & Antiguo Cuscatlán) and it was amazingly beautiful, beyond affordable and the safest we’ve seen it, EVER! We roamed the streets freely, exploring and the locals were so hospitable and welcoming. We absolutely loved it! SUPER SAFE!
Yes , I visited November 2022 and it was quite safe
El Salvador is now the most safety country to visit in Central America. Thanks to the President now you can enjoy the most beautiful places this country have without being mug. Is Safe, friendly and affordable.