From Nicaragua to Honduras and El Salvador: Where to Cross the Borders?

Hi there, after my trip to Nicaragua in January, I’m planning to visit Honduras and El Salvador during the same journey. Can anyone tell me where to cross the border from Nicaragua to Honduras by bus? Is it doable? Safe? And most importantly, what’s a good route to take and what’s worth seeing in Honduras in a safe way?

Is it better to travel with a group (through an agency) or is solo travel no problem?

P.S.: And for El Salvador, same question—what’s a good route and what’s generally worth seeing? Is it better to start in the south (El Salvador) and then head north to Honduras before continuing to Guatemala, or...?

Thanks for the tips!

Hi there,

Regarding safety, I spent two months alone in El Salvador in 2024, and I was told that Salvadoran "mareros" had fled to Honduras to avoid prison in El Salvador, so I’m not sure if it’s safe to travel across all of Honduras.

For El Salvador, I think it’s now the safest country in Latin America. It’s small, but you can easily spend several weeks there without getting bored—there are beaches, volcanoes, mountainous areas, cultural visits with villages tied to the civil war, and more...

I used the *Petit Futé El Salvador* guide, which is very comprehensive. In January, I’ll be posting a travel journal on MyAtlas.

Nicaragua also has a lot to see, and Guatemala even more. How much time are you planning to spend in each country?

I always travel by bus in Central America—they go everywhere, and there are always options.

If you’re interested, here’s my travel journal on Guatemala:

https://www.myatlas.com/borboleta/guatemala-deux-mois-au-pays-de-la-couleur

https://www.myatlas.com/borboleta

Thanks for all the info.

Hi there,

For El Salvador, the "must-sees" would be: Lago Coatepeque, a beautiful lake; Suchitoto, a lovely little colonial town; the Santa Ana volcano, which you can climb (there are other volcanoes in the country); the Ruta de las Flores with its typical small villages; and the beaches famous for surfing like El Tunco. This is more or less the "classic" route.

You can also add the mountainous regions of La Palma, Perquin, and the San Miguel area (Conchagua volcano), among others.

The El Salvador Tourism Office’s website, El Salvador Travel (available in Spanish and English), is very well done for getting ideas on routes and accommodations.

Thanks.

Did you guys end up visiting El Salvador?

If you're interested, I just finished my travel journal on MyAtlas: https://www.myatlas.com/borboleta/el-salvador-petit-pays-hors-des-sentiers-battus