Getting to El Salvador by Land or Sea

By Land

Borders

The country shares borders with two countries: Guatemala (203 km) and Honduras (391 km).

From Neighboring Countries

Since 2006, there has been an agreement between Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, and Nicaragua called the "Central American Border Control Agreement" (C-4). This allows free movement of nationals from these countries within this area without border checks, and in theory, any foreign visitor as long as they travel directly from one of these four member states to another. Otherwise, there are several land crossing points between El Salvador and its neighbors, notably via the Pan-American Highway.

Bus Connections

Several bus companies provide direct international routes. If you want to spend slightly less and have time, you can also choose to take a local bus to the border and then another one once you’ve crossed it.

Fuente del Norte: serves Belize, Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras.

Linea Pezza Rossa: Salvadoran buses to Guatemala.

Platinum: luxury buses with Wi-Fi for routes between Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, and Nicaragua.

Pullmantur: routes between El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras.

Tica Bus: the most well-known for their presence and transport across Central America (excluding Belize).

Trans Galgos: western Guatemala, as well as service to El Salvador and the Mexican border.

By Sea

Ferries

There is only one real international service, which is actually carried out by small boats rather than ferries as we typically imagine them. This is the connection between El Salvador (La Unión) and Nicaragua (Potosi), which has been operating since 2009 by boat via Gulf of Fonseca. The company Ruta del Golfo manages the bi-weekly route with options that include the boat trip alone ($65 round trip) as well as combined "boat + bus" packages to and from various cities in both countries.

Cargo

Acajutla is the country’s main commercial port and thus allows for arrival by cargo ship.

Cruises

El Salvador is not traditionally a cruise destination.