El Salvador
North America · Country #42
Did you know?
El Salvador is the smallest country in Central America and is known for its dramatic volcanic landscapes, including more than 20 volcanoes across its territory.
My Experience
I visited El Salvador during my freshman year of college, at a very different point in the country’s history, when it had one of the highest murder rates in the world because of gang violence. From the moment I arrived, you could feel the tension. My hotel was protected by a bulletproof gate, and when I joined a sightseeing tour, much of it was done from inside the vehicle because the guides said it wasn’t safe to spend much time walking around. Many of the restaurants and businesses we passed had private security guards carrying assault rifles outside. It was one of the few places I’d visited where fear felt like part of everyday life.
In the years after my visit, the country changed remarkably under President Nayib Bukele. El Salvador underwent a dramatic transformation and became one of the safest countries in the Western Hemisphere. Whatever people’s views on the politics behind that change, I’m genuinely happy that so many Salvadorans have the opportunity to live with far less fear of gang violence.
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