Seeking to use some expiring travel credits, I booked a quick visit to El Salvador last month. With $160 roundtrip non-stop fares from Washington Dulles, easy and cheap local connectivity using Uber, and an impressive Jewish community, this seemed like a no-brainer.

There must be a catch, I thought. Why was it so cheap? Was El Salvador dangerous? Initial research showed that El Salvador was in fact – but is no longer – among the most dangerous countries in Latin America. In a complete recent turnaround, it is now considered among the safest! Having visited much of Central America years earlier but avoiding El Salvador due to safety, I was excited to finally add this country to my list. With the goal of minimizing time away from the family – and missing no more than two morning drives to TA – I planned for a very short visit.