{"license":"CC BY 4.0 — attribution: IsMyTripSafe.com","source":"https://ismytripsafe.com/el-salvador/la-libertad","updatedAt":"2026-07-29T18:20:55.056Z","place":{"city":"La Libertad","country":"El Salvador","countryCode":"SV","lat":13.48833,"lon":-89.32222},"safety":{"score":62,"level":"MODERATE","answer":"Mostly — take normal precautions","saferThanPctOfCountries":60,"confidence":0.87,"caps":[],"databaseScore":61,"travellerSentiment":{"score":66,"label":"Cautiously Optimistic","summary":"Recent reports indicate a significant tourism boom and a perception shift, with some outlets calling El Salvador a 'vacation paradise' and 'crime capital no more.' However, older reports and government advisories suggest a need for continued caution.","weightInScore":0.18,"components":[{"label":"Reported feel","score":65,"weight":0.35},{"label":"Robbery risk","score":62,"weight":0.45},{"label":"Pickpocket risk","score":78,"weight":0.2}]},"categories":[{"key":"crime","label":"Crime","score":60,"tier":1},{"key":"sentiment","label":"Traveller Sentiment","score":66,"tier":1},{"key":"advisories","label":"Advisories","score":72,"tier":2},{"key":"stability","label":"Stability","score":61,"tier":2},{"key":"health","label":"Health & Air","score":61,"tier":2}]},"advisories":[{"source":"UK Foreign Office (FCDO)","level":1,"label":"No advisory against travel","updated":"2026-06-17T13:04:09Z","url":"https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/el-salvador"},{"source":"Government of Canada","level":2,"label":"Exercise a high degree of caution","updated":"2026-07-29T14:31:46.2003107-04:00","url":"https://travel.gc.ca/destinations/el-salvador"}],"indicators":[{"key":"homicide","label":"Homicide rate","value":7.89768799960639,"display":"7.9 / 100k","year":"2022","score":52,"source":"World Bank Open Data"},{"key":"crime_major_constraint","label":"Crime seen as a major business constraint","value":28.6,"display":"28.6%","year":"2016","score":42,"source":"World Bank Enterprise Surveys"},{"key":"terrorism_deaths_pm","label":"Terrorism deaths (latest year)","value":0.31419355233985435,"display":"0.31 / million","year":"2021","score":85,"source":"Global Terrorism Database"},{"key":"road_deaths","label":"Road traffic deaths","value":21.5,"display":"21.5 / 100k","year":"2021","score":39,"source":"WHO Global Health Observatory"},{"key":"stability","label":"Political stability & no terrorism","value":65.9991479,"display":"66/100","year":"2024","score":66,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"rule_of_law","label":"Rule of law","value":44.6872968,"display":"45/100","year":"2024","score":45,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"corruption","label":"Control of corruption","value":36.1837975,"display":"36/100","year":"2024","score":36,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"gov_effectiveness","label":"Government effectiveness","value":47.7787327,"display":"48/100","year":"2024","score":48,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"regulatory","label":"Regulatory quality","value":52.083202,"display":"52/100","year":"2024","score":52,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"voice","label":"Voice & accountability","value":43.0499183,"display":"43/100","year":"2024","score":43,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"city_population_scale","label":"Urban scale factor","value":16855,"display":"17k residents","year":null,"score":92,"source":"City Geocoding"},{"key":"safe_walking_dark","label":"Feel safe walking alone after dark","value":37.9,"display":"37.9%","year":"2019","score":32,"source":"UN SDG Global Database"},{"key":"human_trafficking_victims","label":"Detected human-trafficking victims","value":0.36,"display":"0.36 / 100k","year":"2022","score":87,"source":"UN SDG Global Database"},{"key":"bribery_contact_rate","label":"Bribery during public-official contact","value":14,"display":"14.0%","year":"2019","score":69,"source":"UN SDG Global Database"},{"key":"air_quality","label":"Air quality","value":58,"display":"US AQI 58 · Moderate","year":null,"score":86,"source":"Open-Meteo Air Quality"},{"key":"health","label":"Travel health notices","value":null,"display":"3 global notices","year":null,"score":92,"source":"CDC Travelers' Health"},{"key":"hospitals","label":"Hospitals nearby","value":12.0736196,"display":"12 beds / 10k · country avg","year":"2023","score":48,"source":"WHO Global Health Observatory"},{"key":"weather","label":"Extreme weather","value":34,"display":"July: highs ~34°C · high heat","year":null,"score":80,"source":"Open-Meteo"},{"key":"natural_hazards","label":"Natural hazards","value":2,"display":"2 active alerts · Earthquake (green)","year":null,"score":68,"source":"GDACS / USGS"},{"key":"advisory","label":"Government travel advisory","value":2,"display":"Level 2 — Exercise a high degree of caution","year":null,"score":72,"source":"Government of Canada"},{"key":"research_robbery_risk","label":"Mugging & robbery risk","value":3,"display":"Moderate risk","year":null,"score":70,"source":"City Web Research"},{"key":"research_pickpocket_risk","label":"Pickpocketing & theft risk","value":3,"display":"Moderate risk","year":null,"score":70,"source":"City Web Research"},{"key":"research_sentiment_score","label":"Visitor safety sentiment","value":65,"display":"65 / 100 (Cautiously Optimistic)","year":null,"score":65,"source":"City Web Research"}],"healthNotices":[{"level":"Alert","title":"Global Polio","url":"https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/level2/global-polio"},{"level":"Watch","title":"Global Dengue","url":"https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/level1/dengue-global"},{"level":"Watch","title":"Global Measles","url":"https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/level1/measles-globe"}],"hazardAlerts":[{"kind":"Earthquake","severity":"green","title":"earthquake (Magnitude 5.9M, Depth:35km) in Mexico 28/07/2026 05:35 UTC, 2.4 million in MMI IV.","distanceKm":367},{"kind":"Drought","severity":"green","title":"Drought is on going in Belize, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, El Salvador","distanceKm":368}],"fieldResearch":{"verdict":"Exercise a high degree of caution in La Libertad, El Salvador.","summary":"While El Salvador is actively promoting tourism and has seen a significant reduction in gang violence, La Libertad, like much of the country, still carries risks. Travelers should be aware of the potential for street crime and exercise vigilance, especially after dark.","robberyRisk":{"level":"Moderate","note":"While overall crime rates have reportedly decreased, muggings and armed robberies can still occur, particularly in less populated areas or after dark."},"pickpocketRisk":{"level":"Moderate","note":"Pickpocketing and bag-snatching are risks in crowded tourist areas, markets, and on public transport."},"safeAreas":["Playa El Tunco","Playa El Zonte"],"avoidAreas":[],"scams":["Overcharging by taxi drivers or tour operators.","Distraction theft, where a perpetrator creates a diversion to steal belongings."],"zones":[{"name":"Playa El Tunco","level":"safe","note":"Popular surf spot with a strong tourist presence and reported transformation from a gang area."},{"name":"Playa El Zonte","level":"safe","note":"Another well-regarded surf beach with a positive reputation among visitors."},{"name":"La Libertad City Center","level":"caution","note":"As with many city centers, exercise caution, especially after dark, due to general crime risks."},{"name":"Surrounding Coastal Areas","level":"caution","note":"While beaches are a draw, some less developed or remote coastal areas may carry higher risks."},{"name":"Rural Areas outside La Libertad","level":"caution","note":"General caution advised due to potentially lower police presence and higher crime rates in less populated zones."}]}}