Regional Information - Foreign Ownership > El Salvador, Central America

Feature Island

Regional Information

El Salvador is nestled between Honduras and Guatemala, on the Pacific side of Central America. Because El Salvador is the smallest country in the Americas, it has been dubbed the Tom Thumb of the Americas - it's just slightly smaller than Massachusetts. Despite El Salvador's small stature, the country is the most industrialized in Central America. Private islands in El Salvador are most likely to be found along its 300-kilometre coastline or maybe on an inland lake. Owning an island in El Salvador makes it possible to enjoy year round access to sandy beaches(and surfing), crystal clear lakes, lush volcanic landscapes and the lively city of San Salvador, the country's economic hub. Most of the volcanoes in El Salvador are now extinct, but the country still experiences earthquakes and hurricanes. El Salvador has been trying to diversify its economy since the end of the civil war and the fall of coffee prices in the 90s. In keeping pace with the rest of Central America, the country has looked to tourism as a viable industry. El Salvador isn’t quite ready to embrace the masses, but the good news is that there's barely a tourist in sight. If you’re looking to own an island off the beaten track for now, than El Salvador’s the place for you.

El Salvador, Central America

Foreign Ownership of Islands in El Salvador, Central America

Some said that at the end of the civil war in El Salvador in 1992, real estate was almost worthless. When the fighting stopped, prices began to rise and over the past 10 years, land values have risen accordingly. There are some restrictions on buying real estate in El Salvador; no one in El Salvador, citizen or foreigner, is allowed to own more than 605 acres. Foreigners from countries where Salvadorans do not enjoy the same right cannot acquire rural land.
In El Salvador, working with an agent you don’t know can be risky. Real estate agents are not licensed in El Salvador, and few laws protect buyers. If you plan on buying a private island in El Salvador, you are advised to conduct a thorough search of the property’s title before buying. Foreign investors should be aware of the need to be cautious about property rights in El Salvador. Although the laws of the country protect private property, difficulties in enforcing property rights do occur. Judicial reform is under way in El Salvador, but there are rumours that money can buy decisions or lack of enforcement.

Regional Statistics for El Salvador, Central America

Location:: Central America, bordering the North Pacific Ocean, between Guatemala and Honduras
Population:: 6,822,378
Languages:: Spanish, Nahua
Capital:: San Salvador
Currency:: U.S. dollar
Climate:: tropical; rainy season (May to October); dry season (November to April); tropical on coast; temperate in uplands
Temperature Range:: +16 to +36
Terrain:: mostly mountains with narrow coastal belt and central plateau
Natural Hazards:: known as the Land of Volcanoes; frequent and sometimes destructive earthquakes and volcanic activity; extremely susceptible to hurricanes