El Salvador Encounter

What is an El Salvador Encounter?

• A faith-based learning experience for those visiting El Salvador, typically lasting 7 to 10 days. It offers participants the opportunity to explore a different reality and build relationships with the people of El Salvador.

How does the faith-based component influence the Encounter?

• Encounters involve reflections on faith and spirituality. Participants will meet Salvadorans who draw from their spirituality or faith in their work and everyday life.

Can we lead our own reflections or religious services?

• Yes, we can help plan reflections and religious services, allowing your group to integrate your faith practices into the Encounter.

How many people can participate and can we customize our experience?

• Minimum 7, maximum 20+ with extra planning. Yes, custom themes and participant input on the itinerary are encouraged.

What is a typical “El Salvador Encounter” like?

• Please look at the sample itinerary.

How do I schedule and what are the costs?

• Contact our program coordinator, Andreina Barrientos, at andy@crispaz.org or call our U.S. office at 502-592-5295.
• Fees include pre-Encounter planning materials, including a participant’s manual; itinerary and logistics set up; interpretation/translation, ground transportation, all meals, and housing in El Salvador. Each group is responsible for finding and purchasing their plane tickets.
• A $1,500 deposit is required 6 months before the Encounter.

CRISPAZ’s price is calculated per night and includes all in-country transportation, accommodations, meals, speaker fees, workshops, CRISPAZ group leader/interpreter, and community visit support.

Can CRISPAZ help form or facilitate a relationship with a Salvadoran community?

• Yes, we can help explore possibilities and plan visits and orientations. Focus is on learning and solidarity, not work projects.

Can CRISPAZ help form a relationship with a Salvadoran community?

• We are available to assist in exploring a range of possibilities.

Can CRISPAZ set up a trip for an existing relationship?

• Yes, we are able to plan visits and orientations.

What kind of work projects can we do?

• The focus of the encounter is on learning and solidarity, not work projects.

What is your approach to security and safety?

2025 Security Letter, updated April 08, 2025

CRISPAZ is excited that you plan to visit with the people of El Salvador and are ready to welcome you. In preparation for your visit, we would like to address specific issues regarding the safety of your group.

CRISPAZ prioritizes the safety of your delegation. Our staff in El Salvador continuously monitors situations that may impact delegation safety.

For over 40 years, our delegations have always been safe. We have taken, and continue to take, active security measures to provide a safe and meaningful experience in El Salvador. Throughout the years, we have not experienced any incidents where the well-being of our delegation participants has been threatened due to security risks or natural disasters.

In 2023, the official numbers from the Salvadoran government reported 3.4 million visitors to El Salvador. As of June 2024, 3.9 million tourists visited the country. In 2025, it is expected that 4.2 million will do so, most coming from the United States and the rest from Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Canada.

U.S. Department of State Travel Advisory (level 1) Updated April 8, 2025

On April 8, 2025. The United States Department of State updated its travel advisory level. It was lowered to a 1 to reflect the changes in crime in El Salvador.

While we recognize that El Salvador is still recovering from a prolonged civil war that ended in 1992 and continues to face challenges such as poverty, violence, and other social issues, the country is generally safe for residents and even safer for visitors. Gang activity and crime have significantly decreased, with violence primarily occurring in specific areas. CRISPAZ consistently monitors local conditions to ensure our delegations avoid these high-risk areas.

Delegation Safety

From 1984 until March 2020, CRISPAZ hosted hundreds of delegations. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the country was closed. Between 2015 and 2020, CRISPAZ hosted 102 delegations with 1,303 participants. In 2022, we resumed in-person delegations and hosted 12 with 147 participants. In 2023, 23 delegations with 280 participants; in 2024, we hosted 26 delegations with 328 participants. Thus far in 2025, we have hosted 16 delegations with 189 participants, and 10 more groups are expected. It’s important to note that all these CRISPAZ delegations have been free from violence or criminal activity.

Though no program can ensure complete safety, the well-being of CRISPAZ participants is always the top concern. What sets our staff leadership team apart is that they are Salvadorans based in El Salvador. Their local expertise allows them to stay vigilant and gather up-to-date information on potential risks.

CRISPAZ Safety Measures: Delegation members are always accompanied and never left to wander on their own. The organization intentionally avoids locations and situations that might be prone to violence, especially those affected by crime, as these have been one of the most common reasons behind the violence.

Housing: Participants are accommodated in a secure guesthouse and accompanied by a CRISPAZ representative. Contact details for the guesthouse and the representative are provided before the trip. Accommodation in rural areas is meticulously arranged in communities where enduring and well-established partnerships have ensured a long-standing absence of violence.

Transportation: CRISPAZ exclusively partners with a single certified company that undergoes annual certification for this service. This company operates well-maintained, modern microbuses to ensure there are no breakdowns. Additionally, all buses have air conditioning to prevent windows from being opened while in transit.

Program: A CRISPAZ representative consistently accompanies the group, ensuring participants remain together and move in pairs or groups, particularly in unfamiliar urban or foreign settings. The group will not be taken into any recognized hazardous areas. The Executive Director maintains continuous communication with the CRISPAZ program director and delegation leader while the group is in El Salvador and periodically joins them during their visit.

We would be happy to offer further assurance regarding the safety of our delegation to El Salvador by connecting you with any of our Board Members or the organizers from the groups that travel with us to El Salvador.

“State of exception”

El Salvador is not under a state of emergency, as the U.S. media occasionally misreports it. The government is under a “State of Exception” aimed at gang members, which consists of three components.

• It limits the right to assembly, specifically in gang-related areas.

• The authorities can detain suspected gang members and hold them in jail with no legal representation

          for 15 days rather than the 72 hours established by law. 

• The government can engage in wiretapping without the need for a warrant.

          During the State of Exception, the operation of religious institutions, sports facilities, commercial establishments,  academic institutions, restaurants, shopping centers, gyms, movie theaters, concerts, and other regular activities  have remained unaffected.

CRISPAZ wants to reassure you that the safety of your delegation is our top priority. Our El Salvador staff constantly monitors situations that may affect visiting groups.

Download our  April 8, 2025, Security Letter  to learn more.