This advice has been reviewed and reissued. It includes new information under Entry and Exit requirements (Punishment for staying over 90 day period in Central American Border Control Agreement countries). The overall level of the advice has not changed.

Target Summary

Target Safety and Security

Target Terrorism

Terrorism is a threat throughout the world. You can find more information about this threat in our General Advice to Australian Travellers .

Target Civil Unrest/Political Tension

You should avoid demonstrations and protests as they may turn violent.

Foreigners participating in local political activities, demonstrations and protests may be detained and/or deported.

Target Crime

We advise you to exercise a high degree of caution in El Salvador because of the high levels of serious crime. Pay close attention to your personal security at all times and monitor the media for information about possible new safety or security risks.

Violent crime including armed robbery, banditry, assault, kidnapping, sexual assault, and carjacking is common, including in the capital, San Salvador. Avoid travelling alone and after dark when security risks associated with violent crime are heightened. Downtown San Salvador is dangerous, particularly at night.

Travelling on roads outside of San Salvador at night is dangerous. Criminals are known to target the road between San Salvador and the international airport and public buses. There have been reports of violent attacks on motorists travelling between El Salvador and Guatemala, particularly on the Guatemalan side of the border.

Extortion is becoming a more common practice throughout El Salvador. Intimidation related to extortion has included grenade attacks on buses, businesses and restaurants which have resulted in the death of innocent bystanders.

At all times avoid wearing jewellery and using expensive cameras, video cameras or portable music players. Victims have been seriously injured when resisting perpetrators.

Take particular care of your belongings at bus stations, airports, tourist areas and on public transport. Bandits and other criminals have targeted hikers and climbers in remote areas, including volcanoes.

Using ATMs on the streets puts you at high risk of robbery. See the Money and Valuables section below.

Target Local Travel

Public transport (including inter-city buses) is often overcrowded and poorly maintained with inadequate security around bus stops. Robberies often occur. The use of radio dispatched taxis or taxis stationed in front of major hotels may reduce risks associated with travel on public transport. Use only reputable tour companies when booking trips within El Salvador.

Driving in El Salvador is hazardous due to poorly maintained roads and vehicles, inadequate lighting and the presence of pedestrians and vendors on roads. Drive with doors locked and windows closed and avoid driving after dark particularly on rural roads due to the high risk of carjacking. Travel in convoy where possible. For further advice, see our Overseas Road Safety travel bulletin .

Unmarked landmines and unexploded ordnance remain a danger throughout rural El Salvador, especially in the Chalatenango and Morazan districts.

Some land border crossing points between El Salvador and neighbouring countries close at 6 pm.

Beaches in El Salvador, including on the Pacific coast, can be dangerous due to strong undertows and currents. The number of lifeguards is limited and swimming conditions can become dangerous without warning.

Target Airline Safety

Please refer to our travel bulletin for information about Aviation Safety and Security.

Target Natural Disasters, Severe Weather and Climate

Hurricanes: The hurricane (and rainy) season is from June to November when landslides, mudslides, flooding and disruptions to essential services may occur. In the case of a hurricane, monitor local media reports and follow the instructions of local emergency officials.

If you are travelling during hurricane season, you should contact your tour operator to check whether tourist services at your planned destination have been affected.

The direction and strength of hurricanes can change with little warning. You can check the latest hurricane information at the National Hurricane Center website.

In the event of an approaching hurricane, you should identify your local shelter. Flights in and out of affected areas could be delayed or suspended. Available flights may fill quickly. You should contact your airline for the latest flight information. The hurricane could also affect access to sea ports in the region. In some areas, adequate shelter from a severe hurricane may not be available to all who may choose to stay. You should familiarise yourself with your hotel or cruise ship evacuation plans. You should carry your travel documents at all times (i.e. Passport, picture identification, etc.) or secure them in a safe, waterproof location. We also suggest that you contact friends and family in Australia with updates about your welfare and whereabouts. For further information, see our Travel Bulletin: Severe Weather ? Cyclones, Hurricanes and Typhoons .

Information on hurricanes or other severe weather conditions can be obtained from the U.S. National Hurricane and Tropical Prediction Center , the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Response Agency and the Humanitarian Early Warning Service .

There are active volcanoes in El Salvador and the level of activity continues to increase. Hikers and climbers should seek local advice before trekking in any volcanic area. The Humanitarian Early Warning Service provides updates on volcanic activity.

El Salvador is regularly subjected to earthquakes and tremors.

All oceanic regions of the world can experience tsunamis, but in the Indian and Pacific Oceans there is a more frequent occurrence of large, destructive tsunamis because of the many large earthquakes along major tectonic plate boundaries and ocean trenches. See the Tsunami Awareness brochure .

If a natural disaster occurs, follow the advice of local authorities.

Travellers should keep informed of regional weather forecasts and plan accordingly.

Target Wildlife

Australians are advised to respect wildlife laws and to maintain a safe and legal distance when observing wildlife, including marine animals and birds. You should only use reputable and professional guides or tour operators and closely follow park regulations and wardens' advice.

Target Money and Valuables

Before you go, organise a variety of ways to access your money overseas, such as credit cards, travellers' cheques, cash, debit cards or cash cards. Check with your bank whether your ATM debit card and credit cards will work overseas. ATMs are not reliable in El Salvador. For security reasons you should only change money and use ATMs in controlled areas such as banks, hotels or shopping malls. You should avoid openly changing large amounts of money at border crossings due to the high risk of robbery.

The US dollar is the official currency in El Salvador. Other major currencies are not exchangeable.

Make two photocopies of valuables such as your passport, tickets, visas and travellers' cheques. Keep one copy with you in a separate place to the original and leave another copy with someone at home.

While travelling, don't carry too much cash and remember that expensive watches, jewellery and cameras may be tempting targets for thieves.

As a sensible precaution against luggage tampering, including theft, lock your luggage. Information on luggage safety is available from Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Authority .

Your passport is a valuable document that is attractive to criminals who may try to use your identity to commit crimes. It should always be kept in a safe place. You are required by Australian law to report a lost or stolen passport. If your passport is lost or stolen overseas, report it online or contact the nearest Australian Embassy, High Commission or Consulate as soon as possible.

You are required to pay an additional fee to have a lost or stolen passport replaced. In some cases, the Government may also restrict the length of validity or type of replacement passports.

Target For Parents

For general information and tips on travelling with children see our Travelling Parents brochure.

If you are planning on placing your children in schools or childcare facilities overseas we encourage you to research the standards of security, care and staff training within those establishments. You should exercise the same precautions you would take before placing children into schools or childcare facilities in Australia.

Ideas on how to select childcare providers are available from the smartraveller Children's Issues page , Child Wise and the National Childcare Accreditation Council .

Target Local Laws

When you are in El Salvador, be aware that local laws and penalties, including ones that appear harsh by Australian standards, do apply to you. If you are arrested or jailed, the Australian Government will do what it can to help you but we can't get you out of trouble or out of jail.

Information on what Australian consular officers can and cannot do to help Australians in trouble overseas is available from the Consular Services Charter .

Penalties for drug offences are severe and include lengthy imprisonment in local jails.

Drivers involved in road accidents resulting in death or injury are subject to arrest or detention until the courts have established responsibility.

It is illegal to take photographs of official buildings. If in doubt, check with local authorities beforehand.

Some Australian criminal laws, such as those relating to money laundering, bribery of foreign public officials, terrorism and child sex tourism, apply to Australians overseas. Australians who commit these offences while overseas may be prosecuted in Australia.

Australian authorities are committed to combating sexual exploitation of children by Australians overseas. Australians may be prosecuted at home under Australian child sex tourism laws. These laws provide severe penalties of up to 17 years imprisonment for Australians who engage in sexual activity with children under 16 while outside of Australia.

Target Information for Dual Nationals

Australian/Salvadorian dual nationals may be required to complete national service obligations if they visit El Salvador. For further information, contact the Embassy or Consulate of El Salvador before you travel.

Our Travel Information for Dual Nationals brochure provides further information for dual nationals.

Target Entry and Exit Requirements

Under the Central American Border Control Agreement, travellers may travel for up to 90 days between El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua and Guatemala without completing exit and entry formalities. This period begins at the first point of entry of any of those countries. Visitors who stay more than 90 days may be fined and expelled from any of the four countries. Visitors expelled from one country may be refused entry to the others.

Visa and other entry and exit conditions (such as currency, customs and quarantine regulations) change regularly. Contact the nearest Embassy or Consulate of El Salvador or the El Salvador Ministry of Internal Affairs (Gobernacion) for the most up to date information.

Any adult travelling with children may be required to show evidence of parental, custodial or access rights. Minors travelling on Salvadoran passports and who are travelling alone, with one parent or with a third party must have the written permission of the absent parent(s) or legal guardian to depart El Salvador. A Salvadoran notary must notarise this documents.

If you are travelling to El Salvador through the United States of America (USA), or if you are transiting in Honolulu or other USA points of entry, you are required to meet USA entry/transit requirements. Make sure you check with your nearest US Embassy or Consulate your visa requirements well in advance of your travel. You should also read our travel advice for the United States of America . For information about some recent changes to United States border entry procedures, including the use of Emergency Passports and Documents of Identity, please see our travel bulletin on entry into the United States .

Central American airlines will not accept passengers for destinations in the USA without proof of an onward or a return ticket, even if the traveller is eligible to enter the USA under the visa waiver program.

Make sure your passport has at least six months' validity from your planned date of return to Australia. You should carry copies of a recent passport photo with you in case you need a replacement passport while overseas.

Target Health Issues

Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 has spread throughout the world. The World Health Organization (WHO) provides useful information for individuals and travellers on its website . For further information and advice to Australians, including on possible quarantine measures overseas, see our travel bulletin on Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 .

We strongly recommend that you take out comprehensive travel insurance that will cover any overseas medical costs, including medical evacuation, before you depart. Confirm that your insurance covers you for the whole time you'll be away and check what circumstances and activities are not included in your policy. Remember, regardless of how healthy and fit you are, if you can't afford travel insurance, you can't afford to travel. The Australian Government will not pay for a traveller's medical expenses overseas or medical evacuation costs.

Your doctor or travel clinic is the best source of information about preventive measures, immunisations (including booster doses of childhood vaccinations) and disease outbreaks overseas. The World Health Organization (WHO) provides information for travellers and our 'Travelling Well' brochure also provides useful tips for travelling with medicines and staying healthy while overseas.

Medical facilities in El Salvador are basic. Many doctors and hospitals require cash payment prior to providing services, including emergency care. Medical emergencies may require evacuation to a third country, usually the USA where the cost of medical treatment can be extremely high. Medical evacuation can cost upwards of $A60,000.

Dengue fever and other insect-borne diseases (including Chagas' disease and leishmaniasis) are a risk to travellers, particularly during the wet season (April to November). Malaria is a low risk in rural areas throughout El Salvador, particularly in the northern Santa Ana region. We recommend you take prophylaxis against malaria where appropriate and take measures to avoid insect bites, including using insect repellent at all times.

Water-borne, food-borne and other infectious diseases (including HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, hepatitis, typhoid and rabies) are prevalent with more serious outbreaks occurring from time to time. Red tide, which affects shellfish and seafood, appears seasonally and is highly toxic. We encourage you to consider having vaccinations before travelling. We advise you to boil all drinking water or drink bottled water, and avoid ice cubes and raw and undercooked food. Seek medical advice if you have a fever or are suffering from diarrhea.

The World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) has confirmed cases of avian influenza in birds in a number of countries throughout the world. For a list of these countries, visit the OIE website . For information on our advice to Australians on how to reduce the risk of infection and on Australian Government precautions see our travel bulletin on avian influenza .

Target Where to Get Help

Australia does not have an Embassy or Consulate in El Salvador. By agreement between the Canadian and Australian governments, the local Canadian Embassy provides consular assistance to Australians in El Salvador. This service does not include the issue of Australian passports. The address is:

Canadian Embassy,
Centro Financiero Gigante,
Torre A, Lobby 2,
Alameda Roosevelt y 63 Avenida Sur,
Colonia Escalon,
San Salvador, EL SALVADOR
Telephone (503) 2279 4655
Facsimile (503) 2279 0765

You can also obtain consular assistance from the nearest Australian Embassy which is in Mexico:

Australian Embassy
Ruben Dario 55, (Polanco)
Colonia Bosque de Chapultepec
11580 Mexico D.F. MEXICO
Telephone (52 55) 1101 2200
Facsimile (52 55) 1101 2201
E-mail: consularpassports.mexico@dfat.gov.au

If you are travelling to El Salvador, whatever the reason and however long you'll be there, we encourage you to register with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. You can register online or in person at any Australian Embassy, High Commission or Consulate .
The information you provide will help us to contact you in an emergency ? whether it is a natural disaster, civil disturbance or a family issue.

In a consular emergency if you are unable to contact the Embassy you can contact the 24-hour Consular Emergency Centre on +61 2 6261 3305 or 1300 555 135 within Australia.

In Australia, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in Canberra may be contacted on (02) 6261 3305.