How to Get Around El Salvador

The country is small enough that nowhere is more than about four hours from anywhere else, and there are no domestic flights or passenger trains. You go by road.

Chicken buses — retired American school buses, repainted and very loud — run everywhere for a few cents and are how most Salvadorans travel. They are slow, crowded and entirely usable; keep your bag on your lap and avoid them after dark.

Tourist shuttles connect San Salvador, the Ruta de las Flores, Suchitoto, El Tunco and the Santa Ana area for $20-35, and are worth it for the time saved and the door-to-door convenience.

Renting a car is the most flexible option and the roads are in good condition by regional standards, with the Pan-American Highway running the length of the country. Drive in daylight — unlit roads, livestock and pedestrians make night driving the main risk — and park in guarded lots.

In San Salvador, use ride-hailing apps rather than flagging taxis; they are cheap, and the fare and route are recorded.

Overland borders to Guatemala and Honduras are straightforward, but see the CA-4 note about your visa days before planning a loop.