Comments on: El Salvador: dealing with the elephant in the room

By: Barbara Weibel

Barbara Weibel — Fri, 28 Jan 2011 18:19:55 +0000

So glad to read your assessment that El Salvador is safe. I often hear these rumors of danger and when I get to the place that is supposed to be so dangerous I find no resemblance to the rumors. Sounds idyllic and I’m looking forward to reading about the natural attractions.

By: Andy Jarosz

Andy Jarosz — Fri, 28 Jan 2011 07:28:22 +0000

Thanks for sharing your valuable insights Fernando, and interested to learn about Malinche and the origins of malinchista. Like I said, El Salvador is one of the few places in the world where people smiled said hello to us in the streets, not only in little villages but even in big cities such as Santa Ana.

By: fernando vides

fernando vides — Thu, 27 Jan 2011 17:48:31 +0000

Very interesting comments and points of view… im a tour operator in Central America and i will try to figure out the reason why El Salvador has not as much tourism as the other countries.
First about Steve’s concerns, i do think you can compare El Salvador to New York, if Andy reffers that if you are walking in the middle of the night in the bronx, well something migth happen to you; Steve also points the fact of dedicated police force for tourism, well explain that its a little complicated, and we need to understand a little about local culture, Salvadoreans are what we call malinchistas (dont know a translation of this word in english) but this word refers to an attitude over white skin people, Malinche was an indegenous lady who helped cortez in the conquest of tenochtitlan, anyway what i mean is that violence as Andy said is confined in some areas and common thiefs target allmost only the salvadoreans. im not sure if the malinchismo is due the samall amont of tourists but as some of you mention here travelers almost never report eny problems; so the dedicated tourism police force was created to promote local tourism.
In fact El Salvador is the safest country of cnetral america for foreing travelers, in my opinion, and believe me deffinetely saffer than Costa Rica where i read reports that thiefs wwould even flat your tire pretend to help and rob you.
also want to point out that its probaly not that popular because fligth rates but if you enter trhu guatemala, nicaragua or honduras you avoid those rates
Whats deffinetely true is that salvadoreans are the most friendly of the region and the country is beatiful and like Bill says i think nothing to envy to Costa Rica.
Also let you know that This samall country will surprise the ones eager for history, El Salvador is one of the four most important countries en the continent for paleontology, for example mamooth has been found, and i bet in the near future will gain more importance in the roll that played for the maya culture, hard to prove because its vulcanogical history, but heres a link that you can check to see what i mean
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Climate_changes_of_535%E2%80%93536

By: Rob

Rob — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 22:00:28 +0000

Sounds like an interesting place. I’ve never really considered travelling to this part of the world so I look forward to reading the rest of your posts about El Salvador.

By: Andy Jarosz

Andy Jarosz — Mon, 24 Jan 2011 22:56:09 +0000

Walking with a sense of purpose – funny you say that Mark, I was continuously using those same words as we walked through Central America. I’m forever concious when we hesitate and look like lost souls, unsure of where to go. Better to walk confidently to another place, peek at the map and then walk on… like you say, this applies in the UK too!

Bill, thanks for the comparisons with Costa Rica – have heard similar from others, and agree with your views of so many of the beautiful aspects of El Salvador. I’m not a surfer, but I was impressed sitting on the beach at El Tunco and watching the pros riding the big waves!

By: mark pawlak

mark pawlak — Mon, 24 Jan 2011 11:24:18 +0000

Good advice from Andy.

Must also be true for several of the world’s most beautiful places.

I think it’s best to do your research – in some countries you can’t just wander aimlessly ; avoid tourist dress – convertible walking pants = moneybelt; and keep your head and camera down.

Something I’ve learned on my travels ( first picked this up walking through rough estates in the UK!) walk with a sense of purpose. Sounds ridiculous, but if you look as if you know where you are going, you look less out of place and people notice you less.

Imagine you live just a street or so away and you are on the way home: no need to be stopping and staring, or faffing with streetmaps. And never underestimate the locals; sometimes all it takes is a smile to break the imagined walls down.

By: Bill

Bill — Sun, 23 Jan 2011 12:06:31 +0000

El Salvador is Costa Rica. In the 1970′s. Costa Rica is now nearly as expensive as the U.S. and overrun with Americans. I am a Floridian who speaks just a little Spanish and who has been to El Salvador maybe 20 times. I have NEVER had a problem. Unlike Costa Rica you can fly into San Salvador and be at the beach in 20 minutes (try Hotel Casa de Mar near La Libertad). Great surfing. Cliffs over black sand or rocky beaches. Or, go to Costa del Sol and go deep sea fishing or walk along sugar sand beaches. Head up to Apaneca for coffee farms and zip lining (as good as any anywhere). Lake Coatepeque may be the most beautiful on earth. The capital is a much better city than San Jose and there are great hotels (try the Princessa). Modern malls (indoor and outdoor) and great museums. And the people are THE best.

By: Andy Jarosz

Andy Jarosz — Sun, 23 Jan 2011 09:53:33 +0000

Thanks for the thoughtful comments. Everyone I have met who has been to El Salvador speaks very highly of their time there and I haven’t met anyone who has had a problem (admittedly a very small sample). As JB points out, there are areas that are best avoided, particularly in San Salvador – local people avoid these areas too.
Steve, I agree that the presence of a tourism police force does suggest that there is a need for them – that said, the fact that they are there (and that as a tourist you are likely to go to the same places that they are concentrated) is a reassurance. I’m not a photographer but I can understand the frustration of not being able to carry your gear where you want. My frustration here was not having the freedom to walk where we wanted in the big cities; I guess we had to make some compromises in order to see what the country had to offer, and in the end these compromises did not detract from the trip in any significant way.

By: Sofia

Sofia — Sat, 22 Jan 2011 19:51:23 +0000

This is such a wonderful article. My mother is from El Salvador and we actually just got back from there last week. We go there every summer for a month and my parents bought a beautiful apartment there a few years ago. We are always trying to explain to our friends how wonderful the country is and how much we enjoy going there. The people are truly what makes this country so special. I look forward to reading more fo your posts!

By: Steve

Steve — Sat, 22 Jan 2011 19:01:01 +0000

Great info but it sounds like comparing El Salvador to NY and other US cities is a bit of a stretch. If the country has a dedicated police force for tourists there is obviously a need for this added protection. Also, not feeling safe being able to carry your nice SLR camera is a major bummer for any travel photographer and photography lover out there! Of course, El Salvador is one of many countries where this can be a risky endeavor.

I do look forward to reading the upcoming posts about all the treasures of the country though!