The US State Department recently issued a statement confirming that the United States is committed to partnering with the people of Central America to strengthen democracy, improve the rule of law and fight corruption.
And on July 21, 2022, the State Department commented: “Central American citizens deserve and expect governments that respect their human rights, uphold the rule of law, and create conditions for individuals and communities to thrive.”
To warn visitors of the potential dangers, the State Department reissued Level 3: Reconsider travel advisories for the countries of El Salvador and Honduras.
In Honduras, the State Department says, ‘don’t travel to the Department of Gracias a Dios because of crime.’
The US government has ‘limited ability to provide emergency services to US citizens in Gracias a Dios as US government employees are restricted from traveling to the area.’
US citizens can get assistance at the US Embassy in Tegucigalpa when visiting Honduras.
In El Salvador, areas that experience higher levels of crime are often located near lower crime areas or must be passed when moving between locations.
And local police may lack the resources to effectively respond to serious crime incidents.
However, the concentration of resources in tourist areas means that these tend to be better policed than urban areas.
When visiting Central America, the State Department suggests registering with the Smart Traveler Registration Program.
It’s a free service for US citizens and nationals traveling and living abroad to easily register their trip at the nearest US embassy or consulate.
From a health perspective, the US CDC recently issued travel advisories regarding outbreaks of COVID-19 and the mosquito-borne spread of dengue virus in these countries.
Travel vaccination suggestions are posted at Vax-Before-Travel.com/disease.
Note: Government information was manually curated for international travelers.
