What should you buy for drinking?
Use bottled drinking water and check that its seal is intact. [source] [source] Do that before opening it, including when a bottle is handed to you with a meal or left in your room.
Put drinking water on your arrival shopping list. Keep a bottle accessible during a transfer and set some aside for the following morning.
Can I drink tap water in San Salvador?
For a stay in San Salvador, use bottled drinking water and check that the seal is intact. [source] [source] Use bottled or disinfected water to brush your teeth. [source]
These are national travel precautions, not a rating of the city’s water network or any neighborhood. Ask about ice before ordering and skip it unless you can establish that it was made with safe water. [source]
What should you ask at your accommodation?
Ask which water is intended for drinking and where to get it. If someone points to a dispenser, ask what fills it. Keep the question specific: “Where can I get bottled drinking water?” is more useful than asking whether the hotel’s water is “good.” Use bottled drinking water for your trip. [source]
For brushing your teeth, use bottled or disinfected water. [source] Keep that water beside your toothbrush for your morning and evening routine.
How do you handle ice?
Skip ice when you cannot establish that it was made with safe water. [source] Ask before the drink is prepared. The question in Spanish is “¿El hielo está hecho con agua purificada?” — “Is the ice made with purified water?” If you do not get a clear answer, order without ice.
Ask about the ice before ordering a blended drink, too. Skip ice when you cannot establish that it was made with safe water. [source]
What about food and fruit?
Use safe water to wash fruit, or peel it yourself. [source] For meals, choose food that is thoroughly cooked and served hot. [source] The food safety page covers the other questions to ask when ordering.
Keep the medical care page and emergency information available before leaving for a day out.
Common questions
Can I brush my teeth with tap water?
Use bottled or disinfected water to brush your teeth. Keep that water beside your toothbrush so you do not reach for the tap out of habit. Use bottled water for drinking in El Salvador, and check that the seal is intact before opening a bottle. [source] [source] [source]
Should I ask for drinks without ice?
Skip ice if you cannot establish that it was made with safe water. Ask the person preparing the drink before ordering, including when ordering a blended drink. For bottled drinking water, check that the seal is intact before opening it or pouring it into your glass. [source] [source]
Can I drink tap water in San Salvador?
For a stay in San Salvador, use bottled drinking water and check the seal. [source] [source] Use bottled or disinfected water for brushing your teeth. [source] These national travel precautions do not rate the city’s water network or any neighborhood. Ask about ice before ordering and skip it unless you can establish that it was made with safe water. [source]
Sources
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- Use bottled drinking water in El Salvador.
- Check that bottled drinking water has an intact seal.
- Skip ice when you cannot establish that it was made with safe water.
- Use bottled or disinfected water to brush your teeth.
- Peel fruit yourself or wash it with safe water.
- Choose food that is thoroughly cooked and served hot.
Travel information only; for medical or legal decisions, consult a qualified professional.