The Salvadoran Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (MARN) has announced the temporary closure of all Protected Natural Areas across the country due to severe weather conditions forecasted for the coming days. Authorities confirmed this preventive measure aims to eliminate safety risks for visitors, urging both locals and international tourists to postpone any scheduled visits until official reopening updates are provided.
The restrictions directly impact El Salvador’s most popular eco-tourism destinations under ministerial administration. While a definitive list was not released, the closure covers renowned locations such as El Boquerón, Los Volcanes, El Imposible, and Montecristo National Parks, alongside major ecological sites like the Jiquilisco Bay and the Los Cóbanos Complex.
Simultaneously, coastal safety measures have tightened significantly. Emergency services from Comandos de Salvamento confirmed that Acajutla Beach has been closed to the public due to dangerous surf and high waves recorded in the area. Local rescue units issued an urgent call to the population to “comply with all recommendations issued by lifeguards and emergency response bodies,” though no specific timeline for reopening has been established.
This widespread shutdown comes as the Directorate General of Civil Protection elevated the national disaster alert from yellow to orange. The decision follows official meteorological reports warning of a massive influx of Pacific moisture, driven by the close trajectory of Tropical Storm Cristina along the Central American coastline.
Formerly classified as Tropical Depression Three-E, Tropical Storm Cristina is currently moving north at 7 kilometers per hour, packing sustained winds of 75 kilometers per hour. Civil Protection warned that the system will continue to generate heavy cloud cover and intense rainfall across El Salvador, making immediate travel to outdoor or coastal areas highly hazardous.