How To Get From San Salvador to El Tunco: ALL Options 2023

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Looking for the best ways to get from San Salvador to El Tunco in El Salvador? You’re in the right place! San Salvador is the capital of El Salvador and is one of the main hubs of transport in the country.

Then there’s El Tunco; a popular, sleepy beach town with epic weekend nightlife. Both locations may be on your El Salvador backpacking trip, so let’s discuss how to travel between the two of them!

This post outlines everything you need to know about getting from San Salvador to El Tunco, from safety concerns, journey times, prices, drop-off points and more. But as always, if you still have a burning question to ask, be sure to drop me a message on Instagram to ask.

So, let’s start and discuss all the possible ways to travel from San Salvador to El Tunco (and vice versa).

Did you know I’ve written an in-depth guide about backpacking El Salvador? Check it out for what to do, public transport, where to stay, what to eat, how to stay safe and everything in between! ➡️ View the backpacking El Salvador guide now!

🇸🇻 Other El Salvador posts:

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San Salvador to El Tunco: A Summary

Contents

In summary, there are three ways to get from San Salvador to El Tunco.

The options are:

Shuttle bus (easiest, recommended option)
Public bus (cheapest option)
Private transfer (most expensive but the quickest option)
Hiring a car and driving yourself

If you’re backpacking El Salvador, the most common, safest and easiest way to travel between San Salvador and El Tunco is by shuttle. The shuttles hold around 16 people and are full of other backpackers.

They’re slightly more expensive than the public bus, but involve a lot less hassle and drop you off in El Tunco where you can walk to your hostel. They’re a safe, easy and reliable way to travel in El Salvador.

BOOK YOUR SHUTTLE NOW!

1. San Salvador to El Tunco by shuttle

The best and safest way to travel from San Salvador to El Tunco is via shuttle bus. Shuttles run all over El Salvador and are the most popular and safe way for backpackers to travel around.

Shuttles in El Salvador can either be pre-booked online or booked by a travel agent. There are many travel agents all over San Salvador (especially in the areas where your hostel will be) where you can book your shuttle.

Your hostel should have options to book shuttles to anywhere in El Salvador.

🚌 Can’t find a suitable shuttle booking online? Use this shuttle company number: Go Travel: +503 7607 3435.

Simply send them a Whatsapp, and they’ll be able to tell you the timings of shuttles. They’re safe, reliable and run shuttles for backpackers through Guatemala and El Salvador!

Santa Ana To El Tunco — ***Shuttle buses in El Salvador***

Semuc Champey from Antigua — ***Shuttle buses in El Salvador***

2. San Salvador to El Tunco by public bus

Public buses in El Salvador are also a popular backpacker option. They’re cheap and will save you the most amount of money. However, they can be chaotic, busy and hot (don’t expect any A/C), so you’ll want to weigh up your options!

If you are getting the public bus from San Salvador to El Tunco, you will need to take a 1-2 hour journey by doing the following:

➡️ Get the 102A bus. This bus runs between Sunzal and San Salvador, but you can depart at El Tunco on the way.

📍 Catch the bus from San Salvador to El Tunco here.

3. San Salvador to El Tunco by private transfer

The next option is to travel via private transfer. This is perfect if there are more than four of you, you want your own space or you are short on time.

Similar to a taxi, private transfers will pick you up from your hotel or hostel in San Salvador and take you directly to your accommodation in El Tunco.

Private transfers from San Salvador to El Tunco take around 55 minutes (depending on traffic). Most hostels and hotels can organise this, or you can book a private transfer online here.

Hiring a private driver to get around El Salvador is one of the most popular and safest ways to see the country.

4. San Salvador to El Tunco by hiring your own car

Driving in El Salvador is safe, straightforward and easy. One of the best ways to travel around the country is by hiring a car.

The distance between El Tunco and San Salvador is around 38 km, and will take 55 minutes to drive (on a good day). The roads between San Salvador and El Tunco are safe, well-maintained and smooth to drive on. You may just experience some traffic when leaving San Salvador.

➡ Check car hire prices in El Salvador now!

San-Salvador-to-El-Tunco-driving-map — ***San Salvador to El Tunco driving map***

San Salvador Airport to El Tunco

The airport in El Salvador is not near the capital city San Salvador. It is around 70 minutes away and 45 kilometres. For instructions of how to get from San Salvador airport to El Tunco, check out my complete El Tunco guide.

Where to stay in San Salvador

There are some really great hostels in San Salvador to have a look at if you are staying overnight. Whilst most backpackers only use San Salvador as a gateway to other locations in the country, if you have the time, staying overnight gives you the chance to see more of the city.

If you’re staying in San Salvador, I recommend the following hostels as they are safe, in busy areas and have excellent reviews. As always, be sure to check Hostelworld before booking, as things change fast!

Hotel Oasis: perfect for solo travellers (including solo females) in a great location in San Salvador. ➡ Check dates and prices now!
La Zona Hostel: in a great safe location, and a one-minute walk from the Tica bus station. ➡ Check dates and prices now!

🌈 Recommended tour in San Salvador: The Rainbow Slide! Slide down a colourful rainbow slide – a must-do for any adrenaline junkies in El Salvador! ➡ Check prices now!

Where to stay in El Tunco

There are two hostels that I recommend for staying in El Tunco. They are Papaya Lodge and Canuck’s Guest House. Both are centrally located in El Tunco, are safe, and are perfect for backpackers.

🇸🇻 Papaya Lodge is suited for backpackers who want to socialise and party. It’s just minutes away from all of the best nightlife and attracts young, solo backpackers.

🇸🇻 Canuck’s Guest House is perfect for digital nomads, couples and backpackers who want to surf, chill and socialise. It’s a new hostel with rave reviews – I think it may slowly overtake Papaya Lodge with being the best hostel in El Tunco!

➡ Book a stay in Papaya Lodge here, or a stay in Canuck’s Guest House here!

San Salvador to El Tunco: FAQs

1) How much is a taxi from San Salvador Airport to El Tunco?

Hiring a private driver to travel from San Salvador to El Tunco is one of the easiest ways to travel between the two locations. Prices range between $40-50 USD per car.

➡ For a full guide on how to get from San Salvador airport to El Tunco, check out my post here.

2) What is San Salvador known for?

San Salvador is known for being the capital of El Salvador and the largest city in the country. It is home to grand buildings, bustling markets, large shopping malls, wild nightlife and Salvadorian monuments. San Salvador is a great base for tourists wanting to explore more of the country.

⚠️ For more information about safety and staying safe in El Salvador, particularly on public buses, please read the following UK Government advice.

3) How to get from San Salvador to Suchitoto?

San Salvador is around 120 minutes away from Suchitoto. To travel between the two locations, you can either take a tour, hire a car, board a tourist shuttle or hire a private driver. If you only want to visit for the day, I highly recommend booking a tour.

🚎 If you would like to visit by yourself, you can take the public bus from Terminal de Oriente to Suchitoto. Board the 129 bus, which terminates in Suchitoto. The journey takes around 1 hour and 45 minutes, and buses run every 30 minutes.

4) How safe is San Salvador for tourists?

There are some areas in San Salvador that are safe for tourists. However, it’s important to stick to the busy, tourist areas in San Salvador and not to wander off the beaten track. As enticing as it may sound, there are still some areas in San Salvador that have high crime and attack rates.

Of course, most trips to San Salvador will be trouble-free. I hope in the future tourists feel more comfortable travelling and staying in San Salvador, as I believe it is a city that has so much to offer!

Related post: Check out my honest opinion about safety in El Salvador here 🫣

5) Do I need a car to travel around El Salvador?

This is down to personal preference. We found El Salvador easy enough to travel around via buses and shuttles, but one of the preferred modes of most backpackers is hiring a car.

You can hire a car and drive around the entire country at your own pace. Driving in El Salvador is safe and straightforward. Some of the main towns and cities are a distance away from each other, so to maximise your time in the country, you may want to hire a car.

🇸🇻 If you’re looking to hire a car in El Salvador, we rent our cars from this company. They’re reliable, cheap and have car rentals all over the world! ➡ You can check out the prices for car hire in El Salvador now!

Best backpacker travel insurance for Central America

If you’re visiting Central America as a backpacker, or even for a short vacation, it is so important to have travel insurance. And if you ended up on a post that’s called ‘epic party tips’, you know (just as well as I do) that you definitely need travel insurance.

Personally, I recommend SafetyWing. As a digital nomad and world traveller myself, I can confirm it is the best travel insurance out there. And one of the cheapest – they have deals that start at just $42 USD per month.

I know, I know, you’re thinking ‘but I can’t afford that!’. I was the same! It’s tough to fork out $42 a month on something ‘you might not need’. But what if something DOES happen? That extra Mezcal shot results in you falling down the stairs, or you eat something dodgy from a street food van.

If you need medical help at any point whilst in Central America, you need travel insurance.

With SafetyWing, you’re covered on travel emergencies, basic medical costs and medical expenses throughout your trip, so you can travel without worry (at a backpacker’s price!)

Don’t even think twice about getting travel insurance for Central America. Trust me, I have heard enough horror stories about backpackers who haven’t had insurance and have ended up in a lot of debt. Don’t be that person!

If you’ve been putting the job off because it takes a lot of time and effort to research the best travel insurance companies, I understand. That’s why I’ve done the hard work for you. Sign up for SafetyWing, and the job is done!

San Salvador to El Tunco: In a Nutshell

So, there you have it! Everything you need to know about getting from San Salvador to El Tunco. When you’re planning a trip to El Salvador, make sure you let me know over on Instagram or in the comments below!

And don’t forget I’ve written a comprehensive, easy-to-read guide about backpacking El Salvador, so be sure to check it out before you visit!

If you haven’t seen my blog before, I write posts aimed at first-time backpackers on a budget. I’m currently travelling around the world with my boyfriend (read more here!), creating guides and itineraries for you to follow in our footsteps!

Keep an eye out for more El Salvador content, all written from a personal and realistic point of view. You can sign up for my newsletter and juicy travel updates here!

As always, thanks for reading and supporting the blog!

Happy travelling 🙂

Jennie x

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MEET THE AUTHOR!

Jennie

TRAVEL BLOGGER

Hi! I'm Jennie! As a part-time travel blogger based in London, I'm using my 10+ years of travel expertise to encourage & inspire you to step out of your comfort zone through sustainable, mindful and purposeful travel.

If I'm not writing, I'm either reading, drinking coffee or taking a wild swim (all at the same time if I'm feeling impressive).