Here comes the answer to the million dollar question: how do I get to and from the El Salvador International Airport by bus? It’s really pretty easy.
San Salvador to the Airport
You have two options from San Salvador:
Option 1: Microbus #138 which leaves from the city centre and takes you all the way to the airport for $0.60. It takes about 50 minutes, depending on time of day it could be a bit longer. The main station for this bus is here (see photo below). A taxi to this station from the San Bentio area (Tica Bus Station) is about $7.
Here is where the 138 is located (open in Google Maps). You can see Terminal de Oriente off to the right.
See below for more photos of the terminal 138.
Option 2: If you are in San Benito area you can leave from a closer location on bus #8-A and go to the Terminal del Sur first (30 minutes). There are both regular buses ($0.20) and microbuses ($0.60) leaving from the spot below (see map). When you arrive at the Terminal del Sur, get off the bus and cross to the other side of the highway. (see photos below) The 138 microbus from option 1 is going to pass here. Make sure you get on the correct 138, there are two and one doesn’t go all the way there. If it says ARCO, it’s not the one you want. The rest of the journey will take about 45 minutes and cost $0.60.
Here is where the 8-A is located (open in Google Maps) You can see Terminal de Occidente to the right.
If you are staying at the Tica Bus station in San Benito or staying at La Zona hostel across the street then the map below shows the route to walk to the 8A. Or, you can grab the city bus #30-B from in front of the Pizza Hut at the main rotunda (Plaza Italia) at the intersection of Avenida de La Revolución and Bulevar Del Hipodromo. This bus will pass by parada 8-A.
See below for more photos of the stop for bus 8A.
*** See comment below from Higo in Dec 2021 about the route in grey through Comunidad Las Palmas – this route is unsafe according to this traveller. Always ask your hostel or a local before walking through any community****
**READ ME**
A taxi to the airport from San Salvador will cost about $30, and by bus it’s less than a $1. BUT, before you choose the bus consider this: how much luggage do you have? The microbus is FULL of people. If you have a huge backpack or several bags then this may not be the best option for you. If you can hold your bag on you lap, then this option may be good for you, if you have several pieces then you’ll have to ask yourself if you feel comfortable purchasing a seat for your luggage instead of it being available for a local to sit in.
Airport to San Salvador
Walk out of the airport, walk over the crosswalk to the parking lot and continue on towards a building with a brown(ish) roof about 100 meters in the distance. On the other side of this building is a bus stop where the 138 will pass heading to San Salvador. It takes 50minutes in light traffic and costs $0.60. This bus is going all the way to the final terminal in the centre (see map). We didn’t do it but we are told that you can hop on a bus not too far away that takes you to San Benito. We will update this when we can. But a taxi should cost about $7.
El Tunco to the Airport
To get to El Tunco, take the bus to La Libertad. This will be the #80 (usually blue) but also any bus (192, 192A, 192B, 347, etc) will get you to La Libertad if it is going in that direction. Switch to the bus going to Comalapa. Let the driver know you are switching to the bus going to the airport. When you get off ask a local to point you in the direction to the 138 heading to the Airport. You will need to get to the other highway going to the Airport (more details and photos coming soon)
Airport to El Tunco
Walk out of the airport, walk over the crosswalk to the parking lot and continue on towards a building with a brown(ish) roof about 100 meters in the distance. On the other side of this building is a bus stop where the 138 will pass heading to San Salvador. The last microbus is at 5:30pm. Tell the driver to drop you off in Comalapa. From here, get off the bus and ask a local where you need to go to switch to the 187 going to La Libertad. You will need to get to the other highway going to La Libertad (more details and photos coming soon). Once in La Libertad take bus 80. This bus goes back and forth between Sunzal and La Libertad passing El Tunco and runs every 15 to 20 minutes from 4:30am -6pm. The cost is $0.25. Alternately, you can take the 192, 192A, 192B which passes La Libertad and continues on to Zonte.
**Alternate (and maybe better) option: The last time I did this, the microbus driver dropped me near what I think was San Luis Talpa on the side of the road on the main highway heading towards La Libertad. My guess is that some buses leave the airport and go one direction towards Comalapa and other towards San Luis Talpa. From there I waited for another bus to pass heading for La Libertad. There were several other people waiting with me and the bus came soon after being dropped off. I lost the photos for this, sorry!!
Airport to Cuco
Coming soon.
El Cuco to the Airport
Coming soon.
Help your fellow traveller
If you have taken any of the buses on this page, please drop us a comment below about how the trip went, what time you left, how long it took and what it cost. And, definitely let us know if we have anything wrong.
Lets help each other in our travels!
La Libertad to Airport
best way imo is taking bus 187 to San Luis Talpa and getting a uber from there (~2 USD). I had to take a uber because 6 pm was already too late, apparently the last bus 138 to the airport leaves at 5 pm according to some locals.
Hi. I’m landing in San Salvador on Nov19, at 10PM. Are there still any buses going from the airport to the city centre? Thank you for any help
I am landing on 15th September 2023 in SAL Airport. Heard that it is a holiday in San Salvador. Will the buses still run from Airport to the City?
Thanks for the information!
I took the microbús to the airport this morning from el centro. It still costs $0.60.
Another location update on the departure point:
The bus now leaves from an empty lot next to Iglesia Mesías Asembleas de Dios. It’s about a block and a half south of the Punto de microbuses 138 on Avenida Cuscatlan. Before the ramp, on the west side of the street. My taxi dropped me off in the wrong spot and I asked a local woman who appointed me an escort to walk me over, and I was grateful because it would’ve been hard to find otherwise.
I was staying in the San Benito area but decided to go to the terminal to make sure I got a seat, and because from other comments it seemed possible that the route could’ve changed since this post was written. It was a good hunch. We DID NOT pass Parada 8A that’s listed as Option 2 above. And all seats were taken when we left the lot.
Ah I see that I misread the info about Option 2. We did pass by Terminal del Sur.
Thanks for new information.
Please tell me one thing.
Is it mean the bus terminal was changed?
I’m going to take this microbus 138 to airport few month later. I want to stay near bus terminal ,because I take the bus early morning in my plan.
Does anyone know what time the first bus departs from San Salvador to the airport?
I left at about 6 AM, but not sure of the schedule earlier than that
I took the route you provided yesterday from San Salvador Airport to El Tunco
Got the small microbus from the airport $0.30
Ask local where to get off. It was under the an under pass then you have to walk up the stairs at the side to get to the next road.
Cross the road turn left over the bridge and find the bus stop. I got there 17.45 and last bus is 18.00. No.187 and cost $0.60
Dropped me on the main road in La Libertad then took the 102A $1.50 to El Tunco
Thanks for the info
Used this information the other day in San Salvador and saved some money so thank you. Just wanted to give a heads up – the location on Google Maps “Terminal De Microbuses Al Aeropuerto” is incorrect, it is one block south and one block west now. If you search “Punto de microbuses 138 aeropuerto” it will have the correct location. That terminal has 138 buses and 138 ARCO buses, but the 138 to the airport is very clearly labeled AEROPUERTO on the front. Thanks again!
Hey!
The map that shows how to walk from La Zona San Benito /Ticabus to the 8-A bus stop has a gray line/alternate route through Comunidad las Palmas. That Comunidad is unsafe for visitors and should not be used.
Thanks for that info! I have added it to the content above.