Tourism statisticsCountry2026
El Salvador Tourism Statistics: 3.2M Arrivals in 2024
El Salvador recorded 3.2 million international tourist arrivals in 2024, UN Tourism reports, via Our World in Data. This counts people crossing a border, so domestic trips are not in it. AirROI estimates 127,977 Airbnb stays in El Salvador in the 12 months to October 2026, with San Salvador the most booked city. The busiest month was December.
Airbnb figures are AirROI estimates for the 12 months to October 2026. Read the method
- Estimated Airbnb nights
- 556,300
- Typical Airbnb stay
- 4.3 nights
- Busiest Airbnb month
- December
- From abroad, among guests who left a review
- 75%
Key facts
El Salvador Tourism Facts
Each sentence names its place, period and source, so it can be quoted alone.
Official
- UN Tourism puts El Salvador at 3.2 million international tourist arrivals in 2024, via Our World in Data.
Airbnb stays
- AirROI puts Airbnb stays in El Salvador at 127,977 in the 12 months to October 2026.
- AirROI estimates Airbnb stays in El Salvador added up to 556,300 nights in the 12 months to October 2026.
- AirROI estimates a typical Airbnb stay in El Salvador lasted 4.3 nights in the 12 months to October 2026, booked about 25 days ahead.
Busiest months
- AirROI ranks December the busiest Airbnb month in El Salvador in the 12 months to October 2026, followed by March and February, with September the quietest.
- AirROI estimates the four busiest Airbnb months in El Salvador ran unbroken from December to March in the 12 months to October 2026.
- AirROI estimates Airbnb stays in El Salvador in December were booked furthest ahead, about 32 days, against 17 days for September, in the 12 months to October 2026.
Guests
- AirROI estimates 75% of El Salvador Airbnb guests who left a review as of October 2026 came from abroad, led by the United States at 40% and Guatemala at 11%.
By place
- AirROI ranks El Salvador 60th for Airbnb stays among the 157 countries in the 12 months to October 2026.
- AirROI estimates San Salvador had the most Airbnb stays of the 13 towns it lists in El Salvador in the 12 months to October 2026, at 42,965, ahead of La Libertad and Santa Ana.
Official numbers
How Many Tourists Visit El Salvador?
UN Tourism counted 3.2 million international tourist arrivals in 2024, via Our World in Data.
| Figure | What it counts | Year | Publisher |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.2 millionInternational tourist arrivals | Trips by visitors arriving from abroad who stay at least one night, each arrival counted separately | 2024 | UN Tourism, via Our World in Data |
Airbnb stays
Airbnb Stays in El Salvador
El Salvador had 7,116 Airbnb homes in the 12 months to October 2026. They took an estimated 127,977 stays and 556,300 nights. A typical stay lasted 4.3 nights and was booked about 25 days ahead. AirROI's figures cover the 57 towns it tracks in El Salvador; places it does not track are not counted, so every total is a floor.
- Airbnb homes
- 7,116
- Airbnb stays, estimate
- 127,977
- Airbnb nights, estimate
- 556,300
- Typical stay
- 4.3 nights
- Booked ahead
- 25 days
Busiest months
When Is the Busiest Time in El Salvador?
On Airbnb, December was the busiest month in El Salvador in the 12 months to October 2026, then March and February. September was the quietest. The four busiest months run unbroken from December to March.
December ranks first, September last
Airbnb months in calendar order, 12 months to October 2026. The number is the month's rank, and 1 is the busiest. The bar shows its part of Airbnb nights.
- Three busiest months
- Other months
From busiest to quietest: December, March, February, January, July, November, June, August, October, May, April, September.
Month by month: rank, typical stay and days booked ahead
| Month | Share of nights | Booked ahead |
|---|---|---|
| December | 9.9% | 32 days |
| March | 8.8% | 22 days |
| February | 8.8% | 28 days |
| January | 8.7% | 26 days |
| July | 8.6% | 29 days |
| November | 8.5% | 29 days |
| June | 8.4% | 21 days |
| August | 8.4% | 27 days |
| October | 7.6% | 22 days |
| May | 7.5% | 20 days |
| April | 7.4% | 24 days |
| September | 7.3% | 17 days |
Share is each month's part of the year's Airbnb nights. Typical stay and days booked ahead are AirROI estimates for stays in each month.
Where guests come from
Where Do El Salvador Airbnb Guests Come From?
Among El Salvador Airbnb guests who left a review as of October 2026, 75% came from abroad, led by the United States at 40% and Guatemala at 11%, AirROI estimates. Among the same guests, San Salvador was the top origin city at 15%, ahead of Guatemala City at 8.7%. The figures rest on 401,285 reviews, written over many years.
75% from abroad
Among guests who left a review, as of October 2026
- From abroad 75%
- From within El Salvador 25%
Top countries abroad
Among guests who left a review
Top origin cities
Among guests who left a review
By town
Most Booked Towns in El Salvador
San Salvador, La Libertad and Santa Ana took 47% of Airbnb stays in El Salvador in the 12 months to October 2026. December is the busiest Airbnb month in 7 of the 13 towns, led by San Salvador, and March in 2, led by El Tunco. Among guests who left a review, the share from abroad across these towns runs from 46% in Municipio de Juayúa to 93% in El Tunco.
| San Salvador | 42,965 |
| La Libertad | 10,454 |
| Santa Ana | 6,585 |
| Santa Tecla | 6,416 |
| Antiguo Cuscatlán | 5,423 |
| San Miguel | 5,319 |
| El Tunco | 4,159 |
| Municipio de San Luis La Herradura | 4,158 |
| Xanadu | 2,907 |
| Municipio de Chiltiupán | 2,423 |
| San Luis La Herradura | 2,297 |
| Concepción de Ataco | 1,826 |
| Municipio de Juayúa | 1,480 |
* Among guests who left a review. Stays, nights and other figures are AirROI estimates for the 12 months to October 2026, and cover Airbnb only. Lists the 13 of El Salvador's 57 towns with 100 or more Airbnb homes. A town with no tourism page of its own links to its Airbnb market page.
FAQ
Questions About Tourism in El Salvador
How many tourists visit El Salvador?
El Salvador had 3.2 million international tourist arrivals in 2024, according to UN Tourism, via Our World in Data. Domestic trips are not in that count. AirROI estimates 127,977 Airbnb stays in El Salvador in the 12 months to October 2026, which is a separate count of bookings.
When is high season in El Salvador?
The busiest Airbnb month in El Salvador in the 12 months to October 2026 was December, then March and February. The four busiest months run from December to March.
What is the quietest month in El Salvador?
September was the quietest Airbnb month in El Salvador in the 12 months to October 2026, ranking 12th of 12, and April ranked 11th. Stays in September were booked about 17 days ahead, against 32 days for December.
How long is a typical Airbnb stay in El Salvador?
A typical Airbnb stay in El Salvador lasted 4.3 nights in the 12 months to October 2026, booked about 25 days ahead. By month, stays ran from 3.5 nights in September to 6.1 nights in July.
Where do Airbnb guests in El Salvador come from?
Of El Salvador Airbnb guests who left a review as of October 2026, 75% came from abroad, AirROI estimates. The largest groups were the United States at 40% and Guatemala at 11%. Among the same guests, the top origin city was San Salvador at 15%, ahead of Guatemala City at 8.7%.
What is the most booked town in El Salvador on Airbnb?
San Salvador was the most booked town in El Salvador on Airbnb, with an estimated 42,965 stays in the 12 months to October 2026, ahead of La Libertad and Santa Ana.
Are Airbnb stays the same as tourists?
No. UN Tourism counts international tourist arrivals (3.2 million in 2024). An Airbnb stay is one booking on one platform, however many guests it holds. AirROI's 127,977 stays are estimates for the 12 months to October 2026.
Method
How These Numbers Are Made
Official figures come from their publishers, linked above, and were last checked in November 2026. Stays and nights are AirROI estimates for the 12 months to October 2026, built from Airbnb listing data, and cover Airbnb only. Nights add up each town's stays times its typical stay, across 57 towns. Month ranks compare each month's part of Airbnb nights. Origin rests on 401,285 reviews and describes guests who left a review, not everyone who stayed. Read the method page.