El Salvador Warnings Or Dangers

  Crowds in the downtown area
by mikey_e
 
  • Crowds in the downtown area
      Crowds in the downtown area
    by mikey_e
  • Shoppers and the vendors
      Shoppers and the vendors
    by mikey_e
  • More vendors, blocking the main thoroughfare
      More vendors, blocking the main...
    by mikey_e
  •   Warnings Or Dangers
    by gdilieto
  •   Warnings Or Dangers
    by gdilieto
 

Reviews from VirtualTourist Members

theft on the beach

by treblehook46

watch out my friends. . . me and my friends were on the beach in oasis de tasajeraenjoying the sun and the water. we left our stuff a few meters away from the water.when we came back to dry ourselves my little black bag was gone. gone was mynikon camera, my cellphone and ipod. luckily, they left my passport and wallet.all cash were gone too but credit cards were untouch. we reported the matter to the police and an investigation was conducted on the spot rightaway. threeyoung suspects were identified through eyewitnesses but the stolen items werenever recovered. i have come to this place (oasis de tasajera) several times andi think i will never come back again.

Unfortunately there are young...

by jepclg98

Unfortunately there are young men who belong to gangs and they are sometimes dangerous so it is not a good idea to wear jewelry when you come to visit my country, you can recognise them because the are tattooed with the number 13 or 18, I also recommend not to have much cash you´d better not forget your diner or visa card.I sometimes buy something to eat on the street but I am careful about the products because I have to check if the one who is handling the food has clean hands and if the product it´s cover because there are a lot of flies that contaminate and transmit sicknesses.Do not bring expensive gifts to give out to beggars or street children... This sets up false expectations for other families and travelers when they come to visit in the area. Many of the people you visit will be extremely poor, but the best thing to do is not to give them money, ESPECIALLY STREET CHILDREN WHO...

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Avoid the war and behave as normal

by wardski12

Fear not El Salvador is not as bad as people make out it to be. Sure San Salvador can be dangerous as can any Latin American city. but during my time there I found the people to be extremely friendly and welcoming. Don't mention politics; the history of US sponsored repression (el mozote etc) is still quite fresh in people's minds and had brutal consequences. (some 25,000 died between 1980-1982). The public buses I found to be fine and the food amazing. Its quite well developed compared to neighbouring Honduras although poverty is a big issue. You'll need a better command of Spanish than other Central American countries but the friendliness of the people means that they'll go to many lengths to help you. When I was there this guy insisted on driving me to Morazan, even though I told him I was getting a bus. I wouldn't worry any more than you would for any other resort.

Caution Salvadorean water

by weeddies

Dont drink their water!!!!!!! You will get so sick, that you wont be able to stop the diahrrea, vomiting, chills, fever and constant farting no matter what you do. As soon as I did when I got to the states is went straight to the doctors. Well actually take a shower and then went to the doctors.Yes, its that bad!

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Stray Dogs in Rural Villages

by gdilieto

In my visit to El Salvador's villages and rural communities I came across many stray dogs wandering the streets. None of them was aggressive or bothered me indeed, but many of them looked quite unhealthy. Be careful.

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Don’t Come Looking for Nature

by thelukey

This mural warns that “when the last fish has been fished; when the last river has been sucked dry; when the last tree has been cut; then you will understand.” It is very unfortunate that this mural no longer exists, itself a victim of “progress” and the construction of a larger house, because El Salvador desperately needs to heed its message. The country’s environmental devastation is so complete that even spotting a squirrel is a rare event. As such, nature lovers should expect to be disappointed, if not outright depressed, by a visit to El Salvador. The country has much to offer, but flora and fauna are down at the bottom of the list of attractions.

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The Famous “Suicide Shower”

by thelukey

If the contraption pictured above doesn’t look familiar, then you certainly haven’t spent much (if any) time traveling through Latin America on the cheap. This tip is for you. With a few exceptions (like the top of the line hotels in the capital), “hot water” does not mean the same thing in El Salvador as it does in the “developed” world. If you want to take a hot shower, chances are you’ll have to figure out how to work the electric shower without electrocuting yourself. Actually, it’s not as dangerous as it looks. Then again, nothing could be as dangerous as the electric shower looks. If you’re brave enough to give it a try, and if (like me) you’re much taller than the average Salvadoran, be careful not to bump your noggin into the shower head while you lather, rinse, and repeat. Believe me, it’s not a pleasant way to begin your day.

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Caution: Flying Cups of Urine (Part 2)

by thelukey

“After that initial humiliation, we sat down in the rain and DARK. Yes dark, because the stadium's lighting was not fully functioning. Just minutes before the Canadian referee assigned to the match was going to abandon it for darkness, God (or at least some electrician) said, "let there be light," and all was well. All except for the cold rain that continued to pour on the roughly 14,000 spectators who'd gathered to cheer for ‘la selecta.’ The match kicked off around 8:15.“El Salvador set up to defend and counter-attack, despite the fact that they were playing at home against a country that doesn't even particularly like soccer. Their cowardice was rewarded in the 7th minute, when one of their defenders managed to get his head onto the end of a free kick and put the ball past the Panamanian keeper to give El Salvador a 1-0 lead. After much relatively ineffective attacking, Panama pulled...

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Caution: Flying Cups of Urine (Part 1)

by thelukey

Generally speaking, Salvadoran fútbol fans are a peaceful, fun-loving bunch who arrive at the stadium to cheer on the local team, jeer the refs, and enjoy what is for many of them the only day in the week when they don’t have to work (like this group of my La Laguna friends and neighbors who made the trip to San Salvador to watch C. D. Chalatenango defeat Aspirante 2-1 to win the second division championship in 2003). As such, I assumed that watching the Salvadoran national team take on Panama in a World Cup qualifier would be fun, so I talked my friend Liam into going to the stadium with me. The following excerpts from an email message that I sent to a friend a few days after the game best capture the experience...“Last Wednesday I went to the Estadio Jorge "Mágico" González in San Salvador with my pal Liam to watch El Salvador take on Panama in their first match of the semi-final stage...

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Theft

by easterntrekker

Youcan't take the warnings lightly to watch your money and cameras in crowded El Salvador streets. I couldn't believe how blatantly we were being followed by a young guy, who had his eye on our camera, in the market of Zacateculuca. We were with a guide who told him to get lost and he still turned up on every corner trying to catch us off gaurd I can only imagine if it were in San salvador and we were alone what it would have been like!

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Top 3 Hotels in El Salvador

Marriott San Salvador  San Salvador

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Royal Decameron Salinitas  Sonsonate

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Comfort Inn San Miguel  San Miguel

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Reviews and photos of El Salvador attractions posted by real travelers and locals. The best tips for El Salvador sightseeing.

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Questions and Answers

LAtraveler72 profile photo

Q:  I will be travelling to San Salvador on a last minute whim this Fri-Tue. If anyone knows of any family memebers or friends that I... 

LAtraveler72 profile photo

A: I may consider that. How much do you charge? I'm looking more for dining, drinking and cultural stuff. Not interested in all day tourist sites. Let me know and I will... 

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