
STATE DEPARTMENT TRAVEL ADVISORY - El Salvador
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El Salvador - Warning
 February 27, 1992

Summary:  The Department of State warns U.S. citizens to exercise
caution when traveling to El Salvador.

--  The government of El Salvador and the guerrillas of the
Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front (FMLN) signed peace
accords on January 16, 1992, ending an 11-year armed conflict.
Cessation of armed confrontation should result in a decrease in
internal travel restrictions and a lessened level of danger to
foreigners traveling in El Salvador.

--  It is too early to assess compliance with the negotiated
ceasefire, particularly in those eastern and northern parts of the
country where the guerrilla insurgency has been particularly active
and in the 15 zones where the former FMLN insurgents will be
concentrated during demobilization.  Travelers should continue to
exercise extreme caution if passing through or visiting those areas
until further notice.

--  U.S. citizens should avoid overland travel between El Salvador
and Honduras.  End Summary.

Security:  Indiscriminate attacks by the FMLN guerrillas against
civilian targets should no longer pose a particular threat to
travelers.  Common crime, however, is apparently on the increase
throughout El Salvador, including the capital, the beach areas and
the road from the capital to the International Airport.  While
United States citizens are not singled out for robberies or
assaults, travelers should exercise reasonable caution.

-- Travelers should drive with their doors locked and windows
partially raised.  Travel via car on roads or highways outside of
the capital or other metropolitan areas between 6:00 p.m. and 6:00
a.m. is strongly discouraged because of the crime situation and
general road safety conditions.  Travelers should be alert to the
situation around them, particularly in deserted park or beach areas.

-- Travelers into back country regions should be particularly
attentive to the danger of land mines which have caused numerous
unintended casualties and which will continue to pose a threat until
extensive demining occurs.

Former Conflictive Zones and Safe Conduct Passes (Salvaconductos):
The government of El Salvador has not yet revised its requirement
that foreigners seeking to travel into conflictive zones obtain
prior clearance, called a salvaconducto, from the military high
command before entering such zones.  Until the salvaconducto
situation is clarified, travelers into former conflictive zones
should check with the Salvadoran military high command or the
American Citizen Services Section of the U.S. Embassy on the
necessity of obtaining such a clearance.

Involvement in Domestic Politics:  The Salvadoran constitution
prohibits foreigners from participating in domestic political
activities, including public demonstrations.  The government of El
Salvador considers such involvement to be a violation of the
participant's tourist visa status.

Visas:  U.S. citizens are required by the government of El Salvador
to hold a valid passport and to obtain a visa before traveling to El
Salvador.  There are no airport visas or tourist cards available for
last-minute entry to El Salvador.  U.S. citizens should consult with
the nearest El Salvador Consulate or the Embassy in Washington, D.C.
for the most current visa information and application procedures.

For Information:  All U.S. citizens visiting El Salvador are
strongly encouraged to contact the consular section of the U.S.
Embassy upon arrival in El Salvador.  The Embassy is located at 25
Avenida Norte No. 1230, San Salvador, tel: 26-7100.

 No. 92-031

This replaces the advisory issued February 1, 1991 to reflect
changes brought about by the signing of the January 1992 peace
accords between the government of El Salvador and the FMLN.

