Peru's president, Keiko Fujimori, travels to El Salvador from October 28 to 31, 2026, to meet President Nayib Bukele and learn about his security policy, including a visit to the Terrorism Confinement Center (CECOT). The Senate authorized the trip, which continues from November 2 to 6 in Madrid for the 30th Ibero-American Summit; in her absence, First Vice President and Prime Minister Luis Galarreta takes charge of the presidential office, according to Infobae and El Mundo of El Salvador.
It is Fujimori's second trip abroad since taking office on July 28; the first was to the UN General Assembly in New York in September. Here is the schedule, who goes with her and why the trip is stirring debate in Peru.
Keiko Fujimori's schedule in El Salvador
| Day | Activity |
|---|---|
| Wednesday, October 28 | Arrival in El Salvador |
| Thursday 29, 11:00 | Meeting with Justice and Public Security Minister Gustavo Villatoro and visit to CECOT |
| Thursday 29, 17:00 | Private meeting with Nayib Bukele at the Presidential House, then an expanded meeting with ministers and a dinner hosted by Bukele |
| Friday 30, 11:00 | Meeting with Health Minister Francisco Alabi and visit to Rosales Hospital |
| Friday 30 | Meetings with education officials and visit to a public school |
| Saturday 31 | Return |
Source: Infobae, based on the official documents sent to the Senate. La República reports that the CECOT, school and hospital visits had no confirmed day yet, so the order may change. Fujimori has said the trip focuses on security and also covers health, education and a future free trade agreement.
Who travels with Keiko Fujimori and what it costs
| Minister | Replaced by | Trip cost |
|---|---|---|
| Carlos Espá, foreign minister | Marco Vinelli (Agrarian Development and Irrigation) | US$1,031.80 in airfare and US$472.50 in per diem |
| Ernesto Álvarez, Justice | Juan Carlos Requejo (Production) | US$1,962.21 in airfare and US$472.50 in per diem |
| Interior and Health ministers | Will hand their portfolios to other ministers | Not reported in the sources consulted |
Sources: La República, based on resolutions published in El Peruano on October 24. El Salvador's government pays for Espá's and Álvarez's lodging. The addition of the Interior and Health ministers was reported by El Peruano and El Comercio on October 27; those resolutions were not read.
What CECOT is
| Fact | Figure |
|---|---|
| Location | Tecoluca, 74 kilometers from San Salvador |
| Capacity | 40,000 inmates |
| Area | 236,000 square meters |
| Homicides in El Salvador (official figures) | Over 1,000 in 2019; 114 in 2024 and 82 in 2025 |
Source: Infobae, citing official documents and Minister Villatoro. Homicide figures come from the Salvadoran government. Human rights organizations and outlets such as El Faro have questioned El Salvador's state of exception and detention conditions; this article does not assess those complaints.
Criticism of Keiko Fujimori's trip to El Salvador
| Who | What they said |
|---|---|
| Ruth Luque, senator (Ahora Nación) | "Security is not imported, it is built, and that is the Executive's responsibility" |
| Jorge del Castillo, APRA leader | "Mr. Bukele is another reality"; he would not agree with the trip |
| Rosa Bartra, former Fujimorist lawmaker | "If she is going to look at the walls of CECOT, I really don't see much benefit for the country" |
| Alejandro Aguinaga, senator (Fuerza Popular) | "What better time to gather those positive experiences" |
| José Luis Pérez Guadalupe, former interior minister | The trip shows that "there is no team, there is no plan" |
Source: BioBioChile, which gathers statements to RPP and the Andina agency. The Senate approved the permit with 38 votes in favor, 11 against and one abstention according to Infobae (37 in favor, according to BioBioChile). Chile's president, José Antonio Kast, also met Bukele, in January.
The trip comes in an election year for El Salvador: according to Infobae, presidential and legislative elections will be held in 2027. Bukele has been in power for seven years over two terms. Fujimori mentioned him during her campaign and after winning, and in July told Semana magazine she wanted to build four large prisons "a little faster" than the eight months it took El Salvador, according to BioBioChile.
Next: the Ibero-American Summit in Madrid
From November 2 to 6, Fujimori will be in Madrid for the 30th Ibero-American Summit of Heads of State and Government, held on November 4-5, marking 35 years since the Guadalajara Declaration and bringing together 22 countries. The Madrid Declaration is expected to be signed, covering sustainability, digital transformation and artificial intelligence, education, social cohesion and culture, plus a chapter on transnational organized crime and El Niño disaster risk, according to El Mundo and Infobae. More on Fujimori's government: her approval according to Ipsos and the Binational Cabinet with Ecuador.
Frequently asked questions
When does Keiko Fujimori travel to El Salvador?
From October 28 to 31, 2026. The meeting with Nayib Bukele is scheduled for Thursday 29 at 17:00.
Who governs Peru while Fujimori travels?
Luis Galarreta, first vice president and prime minister, takes charge of the presidential office.
What is CECOT?
The Terrorism Confinement Center, a maximum-security prison in Tecoluca, El Salvador, with capacity for 40,000 inmates.
Did Congress authorize the trip?
Yes. The Senate approved it with 38 votes in favor, 11 against and one abstention, according to Infobae.
Where does she go next?
To Madrid, from November 2 to 6, for the 30th Ibero-American Summit.
