El Salvador

Getting around

Boat

You'll need to use a boat to get around the Bahía de Jiquilisco in eastern El Salvador for any trips in the Golfo de Fonseca, near La Unión. There is a passenger boat and car ferry service across Lago Suchitlán, connecting Suchitoto to Chalatenango (though taking the bus is usually faster). Otherwise, water transportation is rare.

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Bus & tram

Bus

El Salvador has an extensive intercity bus service, which uses mostly old American school buses painted in vivid multicolored designs. Most of the bus terminals are chaotic and dirty, as is the area around them. Information about routes and timetables is rarely posted, but anyone in the terminal can point you in the right direction. As with everywhere else in Central America, it can be hard to determine which bus on any given route is leaving first - often men will try to shoo you onto their own bus - but try following the crowd, or asking a taxi driver, food vendor or fellow passenger. Most intercity bus service begins between 4am and 5am and ends between 6pm and 7pm.

Costs

There are no ticket offices or reservations; purchase your ticket on the bus after you're seated. Fares are very cheap, usually US$0.40 to US$1.50, with a few US$2 to US$4 fares on longer especial routes. Weekend fares are 25% higher on some routes

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Car & motorcycle

Driving around the country allows you to see more in less time and offers opportunities to see small villages with infrequent bus service, but navigating through areas where roads and turnoffs are not marked can be frustrating. Gas can be found in the smallest villages but it's not cheap; a gallon of regular unleaded is over US$3.

Drivers license

Foreign drivers should carry a valid drivers license from their country of residence at all times.

Hire

Travelers can rent vehicles in San Salvador and at the international airport, as well as in San Miguel.

Insurance

You always should get automobile insurance when you rent. Agencies typically make it easy by including coverage in the daily rate. However, American Express, Visa and Mastercard often offer insurance if you use your credit card to pay for the rental. Doing so could save you at least US$10 per day but certain restrictions apply: coverage does not usually extend to pick-up trucks and may not include driving on dirt roads or rentals longer than 15 days.

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Local transport

Taxi

Taxis are found in most cities in El Salvador; none have meters, so you should agree upon a price before you get in the car. Also, to assure that you're not getting a ride from a random driver in a yellow car, take a look at the license plate; all registered cabs have plates that begin with the letter 'A'.

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Air

There is no regular domestic air service in El Salvador.

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Bicycle

It is possible to bike around El Salvador - a mountain bike or all-terrain bike is recommended as roads can be rough in places. Western El Salvador is best overall, in terms of the quality of road, the amount of traffic, temperature and humidity, and possible routes - come prepared for some serious climbing! All the challenges of biking in a developing country apply here - be aware of narrow shoulders, heavy trucks and varying road conditions.

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