“El 80 por ciento de nosotros aplaudimos al presidente; siempre habrá opositores. Les guste o no, estamos seguros y la muerte ya no es nuestro mayor temor. El cambio tiene que empezar en algún lugar.”
“Por primera vez en años, nos sentimos seguros. Tengo familiares que murieron debido a la violencia de pandillas que se apoderó de estas calles hace años. Ahora, puedo salir de noche, puedo llevar a mi hija a la escuela con seguridad.”
“El debido proceso es un privilegio hermoso, tanto en Estados Unidos como a nivel global. Pero nosotros teníamos gente muriendo en nuestras calles todos los días. No tenemos aún el lujo de contar con el debido proceso. Sin embargo, hay un plan en marcha, y aquellos que están encarcelados tienen previsto tener sus audiencias. Estábamos tan hundidos que algo tenía que hacerse de inmediato.”
“Yo aplaudo al presidente. Ningún otro presidente en América Latina ha tenido el valor de hacer esto. ¡Míranos ahora! Construyendo, desarrollando... ¡por fin puedo tener un negocio y comprar comida para mi familia!”
Make it stand out
El Salvador- the present-day take on a future with hope in Latin America.
Just facts, research for yourself….
Discovering El Salvador: A Nation on the RISE!
El Salvador often carries a reputation that makes many—especially Americans—hesitant to visit. But behind the headlines lies a country courageously redefining its future. From adopting Bitcoin as legal tender to transforming public safety, El Salvador is one of the most innovative and fast-changing countries in Latin America.
BITCOIN FASCINATED ME EVERYWHERE I WENT
In June 2021, El Salvador became the first country in the world to adopt Bitcoin as legal tender alongside the U.S. dollar (Decreto Legislativo No. 57). The law stated that:
ALLLLLLLLLLLLLL businesses must accept bitcoin when offered for payment.
Taxes could be paid in bitcoin.
Bitcoin exchanges were exempt from capital-gains tax.
In 2023–2024, the government amended the law, removing the requirement that all businesses accept bitcoin and ending its use for taxes or government debts (Reason, 2025). From my take, it seems that some business just didn’t have those customer OR did not want to (nor need to) purchase a working transaction machine (valid). Today, use is optional—but many businesses continue to accept it, especially in tourist areas. I met roadside vendors proudly displaying bitcoin payment machines, proving that innovation isn’t just happening in offices—it’s part of daily life. Literally- ROAD-side folks as in, dirt road shacks with bitcoin-accepting-payment machines.
El Salvador also launched the Chivo Wallet, a government-backed app for digital payments, and installed hundreds of bitcoin ATMs nationwide. This bold economic experiment shows a country willing to take risks for long-term growth.
Safety and Security
In March 2022, the government declared a state of exception (régimen de excepción) to combat gang violence. This emergency measure temporarily suspended some constitutional rights, including the right to free association and immediate legal counsel (U.S. Congress Report). Critics abroad see this as controversial—but for many Salvadorans, it changed daily life dramatically.
The homicide rate dropped from 53 per 100,000 people in 2018 to 1.9 per 100,000 in 2024, according to official data (AP News, 2025).
Over 75,000 alleged gang members were arrested under the crackdown.
While human-rights organizations have raised valid concerns about arbitrary arrests (The Guardian, 2024), many citizens now say they finally feel safe walking the streets or sending children to school.
For people who have only known the security of stable democracies, it’s hard to understand the reality El Salvador faced—where simply leaving home could be dangerous. Many Salvadorans view the president’s firm approach not as oppression, but as liberation from fear.
Human Rights and Progress
Every human deserves safety and dignity. El Salvador is still navigating how to balance both, but progress is visible:
Construction and infrastructure projects are everywhere—new highways, beaches, and city restorations.
Tourism hit a record 3.4 million visitors in 2024, up nearly 30 percent since 2019, according to the Ministry of Tourism.
International investment is returning, especially in energy, fintech, and hospitality.
Criticism exists, and it should—but understanding must include the Salvadoran perspective. For those who once couldn’t leave their homes after sunset, the ability to walk freely is a kind of human right in itself.
Why You Should Visit
El Salvador is small but full of life: black-sand beaches on the Pacific coast, lush volcano hikes, world-class surf towns like El Tunco and El Zonte, colorful mountain villages, and the warmth of people eager to share their country’s new chapter.
Whether you support every policy or not, one truth stands out: Salvadorans themselves believe in the direction they’re heading. Their optimism is contagious. Go see for yourself—a nation rebuilding, innovating, and rising with courage.