El Salvador Gay Travel Index 2026
Score = Legal 37/60 + Scene 11/40 = 48/100
Updated 7 Oct 2026 · release 2026.3.
A live score, not an annual report — it recomputes as laws, rulings and the scene itself change. See what moved in 2026.
Legal composite · Legal milestones · Scene on the ground · Plan your trip · Frequently asked questions
Legal composite — 37/60 points
| Criminalization | Legal |
|---|---|
| Partnership | ● No not recognised |
| Anti-discrimination | ● No |
| Gender recognition | — |
| Enforcement reality | — |
Legal composite, five components
Fulfilment per component (100 = maximum). Weights: criminalisation 35% · partnership 20% · enforcement 20% · anti-discrimination 15% · gender recognition 10%.
Legal milestones
Background, not travel advice — how the current status came to be. For planning a trip, rely on the current score, tier and scene sections above; 2026 movements are tracked in the sourced change log.
- 1822Same-sex sexual activity became legal, and El Salvador never criminalized it in the two centuries since. ↗
- 2010President Funes issued a decree banning discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity in the public sector. ↗
- 2015Parliament passed a hate crime law adding sexual orientation and gender identity to the Criminal Code. ↗
- 2022The Constitutional Chamber ruled the Name Law unconstitutional, ordering reforms to let transgender people change their legal names. ↗
- TodaySame-sex activity stayed legal with some anti-discrimination rules, but marriage, adoption, and legal gender change remained unrecognized. ↗
Sources: ILGA World · Human Dignity Trust · Equaldex. Each milestone links to a reference source ↗.
Scene on the ground — 11/40 points
Detailed scene metrics (for researchers)
| Gay bars per million | 0.47 |
|---|---|
| Saunas per million | 0.16 |
| Events per million | 0.16 |
| Coverage grade | A |
| Scene score | 11/40 (raw scene index 27/100) |
Frequently asked questions
Is El Salvador safe for gay travellers?
El Salvador is rated Some caution on the GayOut Gay Travel Index 2026, scoring 48/100 overall with a legal safety component of 37/60.
Is same-sex marriage legal in El Salvador?
No. Same-sex marriage is not legal in El Salvador. Overall legal status: Legal.
Does El Salvador have a gay scene?
Yes. GayOut lists 18 LGBTQ+ venues in El Salvador, including 3 dedicated gay bars, across 1 cities with a scene, and tracks 0 Pride parades there.
Which city in El Salvador has the biggest gay scene?
San Salvador has the largest documented LGBTQ+ scene in El Salvador, with 7 venues listed in the GayOut directory.
How many gay bars and saunas are there in El Salvador?
GayOut currently lists 3 dedicated gay bars and 1 gay saunas in El Salvador. Counts exclude venues that are merely gay-friendly.