How To Get From Santa Ana To El Tunco: COMPLETE Guide 2023

Some links in this post contain affiliate links. I receive a small commission if you use the links at no extra cost to you! Happy reading 😀

Looking for the best ways to get from Santa Ana to El Tunco in El Salvador? You’re in the right place! Both Santa Ana and El Tunco are popular locations when backpacking El Salvador, and are both worth visiting on your backpacking trip.

But how do you travel between Santa Ana and El Tunco? This post outlines everything you need to know about the two locations, 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 Santa Ana to El Tunco (and vice versa).

🇸🇻 Other Central America posts:

Want to see epic photos and videos from these experiences?

Follow me on Instagram! As we travel, I post everything live on Instagram, so check out my recent highlights and posts. If you can’t find what you’re looking for, drop me a DM!

Need help planning your El Salvador trip? Check out this detailed route and itinerary for 7 days in El Salvador!

How To Get From Santa Ana To El Tunco: A Summary

Contents

In summary, there are three ways to get from Santa Ana to El Tunco.

The options are:

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

If you’re backpacking El Salvador, the most common, safest and easiest way to travel between Santa Ana 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 EL SALVADOR SHUTTLES NOW!

Getting around El Salvador

You can travel around El Salvador in multiple ways, depending on how much time you have, your budget and where you want to visit. The most common way for backpackers to travel around El Salvador is via rental car or shuttle.

🚗 GETTING AROUND EL SALVADOR BY CAR

One of the easiest and most popular way to travel around El Salvador is by rental car. Driving in El Salvador is safe, straightforward and easy. Driving in between towns like El Tunco and Santa Ana will save a lot of time on shuttles. You can also drive the Rutas De Flores at your own pace if you have your own car.

➡ Check car hire prices in El Salvador now!

🚖 GETTING AROUND EL SALVADOR BY A PRIVATE DRIVER

Hiring a private driver to get around El Salvador is one of the most popular and safest ways to see the country. Private drivers can be hired for different amounts of time.

➡ Check prices and bookings for your own private driver in El Salvador here.

🚌 GETTING AROUND EL SALVADOR BY SHUTTLE BUS

If you aren’t hiring a car in El Salvador, you can travel via shuttle bus. This is another easy and safe way to travel around El Salvador. Shuttles in El Salvador will be with other backpackers, and can either be booked online or via your hostel. I recommend pre-booking your shuttles in advance.

➡ Check shuttles in El Salvador now!

1. Getting from Santa Ana to El Tunco by Shuttle

The best and safest way to travel from Santa Ana to El Tunco is via shuttle bus. Shuttles run all over El Salvador and are the most popular 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 Santa Ana where you can book your shuttle. Alternatively, your Santa Ana hostel should have options to book shuttles to El Tunco.

The shuttle between Santa Ana to El Tunco must be pre-booked via your hostel, online or a travel agent. It should not cost more than $21 USD (£18) per person, and will take around two to three hours depending on traffic.

Every day, the shuttle arrives in Santa Ana from Antigua, Guatemala, at around 5pm. You then arrive in El Tunco by 7.30 pm (again, depending on traffic).

🚌 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!

2. Getting from Santa Ana to El Tunco by public bus

The next most popular option amongst backpackers travelling from Santa Ana to El Tunco is to get the public bus. A word of warning – public buses in El Salvador can be chaotic. But, if you get the hang of them, they’ll save you a lot of money.

🚌 Getting to El Tunco from Santa Ana by public bus route:

➡️ Travel to the Santa Ana Metrocentre.

➡️ Take a one-hour bus from Santa Ana to San Salvador (the capital). You will pay on the bus. Ask the driver to let you know when you have arrived at Estación Ceiba de Guadalupe. This is a stop on the highway, where many other buses travel to different parts of El Salvador.

➡️ Cross the road from where you have departed the bus. Wait for a 102A bus going to Sunzal. Buses come every 20 minutes, and take around one hour to reach El Tunco.

3. Getting from Santa Ana to El Tunco by private transfer

The final option is to travel via private transfer. This is perfect if there are more than four of you and you are short on time.

Private transfers from Santa Ana to El Tunco take around 90 minutes (depending on traffic). They are $90 per car. 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.

HIRE A PRIVATE DRIVER NOW!

Public buses in El Salvador: What are they like?

Public buses in El Salvador are similar to the chicken buses in Guatemala (just with less decoration!). They are an easy and common way to get around the country, mainly because they are so frequent and cost-effective.

As a backpacker in El Salvador, it is important to stick to buses that take safe and well-known routes. It is still common for buses in El Salvador to be targeted by criminals in unsafe neighbourhoods.

Policing isn’t common on buses, so there is also the issue of reckless bus drivers and speeding on roads in bad conditions.

Again, most of the time, public buses in El Salvador are safe. But to be even safer, make sure you are taking a well-known route, keep your belongings close to you and use common sense.

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

📲 Don’t forget to download your eSim for El Salvador! ESIMs are easy to download and ready to use within a few minutes of purchasing, so there’s no longer a need to hunt down free Wifi! ➡ You can check out the prices and packages for eSIMs here!

Where to stay if you’re backpacking El Salvador

Knowing where to stay in El Salvador is important. Although the majority of areas in El Salvador are now safe, you want to be somewhere where you feel secure and surrounded by like-minded travellers.

Below I have listed some of the best hostels in certain locations in El Salvador. These have all been personally tried by myself or another travel blogger that has recommended it.

🇸🇻 One word of advice when finding accommodation in El Salvador. Stick to the main areas. We accidentally booked somewhere away from one of the main tourist areas and didn’t enjoy it. We felt unsafe and it ruined part of our experience. We ended up leaving halfway through to move to a more touristic area. Do your research, and stick to the busy areas.

Best hostel in Santa Ana: Casa Verde or Casa Vieja Guest House

Best hostel in El Tunco: Canuck’s Guest House or Papaya Lodge

Best hostel on Lake Coatepeque: Captain Morgan

➡ View all El Salavor hostels now!

Santa Ana to El Tunco: FAQs

1) What is Playa El Tunco known for?

Playa El Tunco is well-known for its surfing. It’s a good location for advanced surfers and those who have surfed in the past. If you’re a keen (and good) surfer, El Tunco is worth visiting for the waves!

Related post: Complete El Tunco, El Salvador Guide

2) Is El Salvador safe for backpackers?

Yes, El Salvador is safe for backpackers, but I would advise sticking to the tourist-focused and busy areas. Whilst most trips will be trouble-free, there are still violence and crime areas, and some feel less safe than others.

However, the main backpacker locations (Santa Ana, El Tunco) are safe. To add extra safety precautions, stay in the main backpacker hostels in these areas.

🛌 As a reminder, these are:

Best hostel in Santa Ana: Casa Verde or Velvet Hostal

Best hostel in El Tunco: Canuck’s Guest House or Papaya Lodge

Best hostel on Lake Coatepeque: Captain Morgan

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

3) How much does backpacking cost in El Salvador?

Backpacking in El Salvador is relatively cheap, and you can live off around £30-40 ($35-45) per day. This includes eating street food such as pupusas, staying in shared dorm rooms and walking as the main mode of transport. Days on the beach in El Salvador can be free, and even if you want to take a surfing lesson, it’s cheaper than some other locations in Central America.

If you’re a mid-range backpacker (like us), and would like to stay in private rooms and apartments, budget around £50-60 per night for accommodation. Then add money on top for food, drink and activities (roughly £30/$35 a day).

4) Where do backpackers go in El Salvador?

If you are backpacking El Salvador for the first time, I recommend sticking to Santa Ana, El Tunco, El Zonte and Lake Coatapeque. These are the most popular areas amongst backpackers in El Salvador in 2023. Most backpackers do not stay in the capital city, San Salvador, due to safety concerns. However, this is a personal preference.

Need help planning your El Salvador trip? Check out this detailed route and itinerary for 7 days in El Salvador!

5) How many days is enough for El Salvador?

If you are backpacking El Salvador for the first time, visit for a minimum of 7 days. This will give you enough time to experience the culture in Santa Ana, hike the volcano, do some activities and head down to the beaches in El Tunco. El Tunco is also a great place for a crazy night out, so you may want to budget in a hangover day!

I recommend 3-4 days in Santa Ana (including Lake Coatapeque and the Rutas De Flores) and 3 days in El Tunco (including El Zonte).

Related post: Complete El Tunco, El Salvador Guide: where to eat, what to do, what to see and how to stay safe!

6) What is the best time to visit El Salvador?

El Salvador has a tropical climate. Its wet season is from May until October, and dry season is from November to April. If you would like to avoid torrential rain, head to El Salvador between the months of November to April. This is also a great time for cheap flights in El Salvador.

7) Is El Salvador worth going to?

Yes if you would like to do some of the adventurous activities El Salvador has to offer. For example, hiking the Santa Ana volcano, sliding down the famous Rainbow Slide, swimming in Lake Coatapeque and jumping in waterfalls at Tamanique.

El Salvador is also well-known for its surfing and is an excellent location for advanced surfers. If you’re a keen (and good) surfer, El Tunco is worth visiting for the waves.

8) How long can a tourist stay in El Salvador?

If you are from either the UK, you are granted a tourist visa that lasts for 180 days on arrival. If you’re from the USA, you will have 90 days on your visa.

Travelling to Nicaragua after El Salvador? Check out my complete guide on El Tunco to Leon here!

9) Do I need a SIM card to travel around El Salvador?

Yes, I highly recommend downloading an eSIM on your phone to ensure you can use it for directions and safety in El Salvador. We found most of the cities to be chaotic and difficult to find local SIM cards.

ESIMs are easy to download and ready to use within a few minutes of purchasing, so there’s no longer a need to hunt down free Wifi! ➡ You can check out the prices and packages for eSIMs here!

Santa Ana to El Tunco: In a Nutshell

So, there you have it! Everything you need to know about getting from Santa Ana 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!

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

🇸🇻 Where to next?

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).