Every October, Honduras celebrates “Semana Morazánica”, a special extended holiday named after Francisco Morazán, the Central American national hero who symbolizes unity and regional identity. It’s a time when many Hondurans take a well-deserved break to travel, relax, and explore destinations across the region.
This year, many of them chose El Salvador — not only for its proximity, but for its vibrant mix of beaches, mountains, cities, and gastronomy, which continues to attract more regional visitors each year.
According to the Ministry of Tourism of El Salvador (MITUR), from September 27 to October 5, 2025, a total of 48,768 Honduran visitors entered the country. This represents a 14% increase compared to 2024, and a remarkable rise from previous years — 16,792 in 2022, 28,860 in 2023, and 42,840 in 2024.
MITUR’s Minister Morena Valdez highlighted this consistent upward trend:
“The Honduran market has grown since 2022, just like the Guatemalan one. Our Central American neighbors are visiting us more—especially Honduras and Guatemala. Of course, the one that surpasses them all is the United States, because that’s where most of our diaspora lives,” she explained.
Valdez also noted that the government implemented several tourism activations and experiences aimed specifically at visitors from neighboring countries:
“We created experiences for them as well, and in our tourist sites we had promotions, offering the same prices as for Salvadorans.”
The General Directorate of Migration and Foreign Affairs (DGME) reported that 95% of Honduran arrivals entered by land, showing the ease of regional connectivity. The El Amatillo border crossing was the busiest, accounting for 58% of entries, followed by El Poy with 27%, while 5% arrived by air through El Salvador International Airport.
While many Hondurans traditionally visit the eastern region close to their border, this year more travelers explored other destinations such as Surf City, the Historic Center of San Salvador, Puerta del Diablo National Park, and Lake Coatepeque.
The combination of safety improvements, tourism infrastructure, and warm hospitality has helped El Salvador gain visibility as a go-to destination in Central America. Hondurans who once limited their trips to nearby border towns are now exploring further, discovering the country’s natural diversity and cultural vibrancy.
As tourism between neighbors continues to grow, El Salvador strengthens its reputation as a small but dynamic nation offering big experiences — a place where travelers can surf in the morning, hike a volcano in the afternoon, and enjoy local coffee or pupusas while watching the Pacific sunset.
The steady rise in Honduran visitors is a clear signal: El Salvador is no longer just a stop on the map — it’s becoming a must-see destination for Central American travelers.
