Introducing La Libertad
Many people think of El Salvador as dangerous and chaotic. For 90% of the country, it's a bogus reputation, but for La Libertad, it's pretty accurate. And, as it happens, La Libertad is the one place in El Salvador that receives a steady flow of foreign visitors, so the negative stereotype is constantly being reinforced.
La Libertad does have flashes of gritty vitality - the market, early-morning surfers, lone fishermen plying the rocky shoreline - but the overall atmosphere is that of a grimy and decaying port town. La Libertad has a serious drug problem, which is the cause of most theft and assaults here. Foreigners are occasionally targeted; sometimes it's random, but usually the victim was buying or using drugs. Follow normal precautions - like not walking around at night or leaving valuables on the beach - and you should be fine.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Village on Pacific coastline.
- Kraig Lieb
- Lonely Planet photographer
