Note to readers: parts of this page may now be out of date. There have been some changes to the terminals since we wrote this post. Please read the update below provided by a traveller and read the comments to see what others are saying. Some of the information on this page may be out of date if referring to the old terminal. Sorry and we will update next time we go through, but rely on your help for now 🙂

Important updates for Terminal Oriente

READ: One very helpful person named Tony has given some important updates about this Terminal. He writes:

Starting on 8/25/2018, the former Terminal de Oriente will only host bus routes headed to the northern departamentos, such as Chalatenango and Cabañas. Most routes headed to Oriente (East) will depart from a new terminal, located at Bulevar del Ejército, in the municipality of Soyapango.

The new terminal is called Plaza Nuevo Amanecer and it’s run by a corporation called SUTRANS. To reach the new terminal by bus, you can take the BTR, known as SITRAMSS (USD $0.33). More info here (resource only in Spanish): http://www.subes.com.sv/index.php/servicio-sitramss/informacion

SITRAMSS leaves from El Salvador del Mundo, with stops at Metrocentro, hospital Médico Quirurgico, Parque Infantil, Former Terminal de Oriente, and Plaza Mundo. From here on, the SITRAMSS is supposed to head towards the Terminal de Oriente. There are other routes to get there, but the new terminal is in a more dangerous area than the previous one, so SITRAMSS is a relatively safer option.

Update: buses that will use the NEW terminal:

Cabañas: 111, 112, 181, 507, 142 y 518

San Vicente: 110, 176, 116, 411, 499, 501 y 511

San Miguel: 301, 302, 308, 428 y 442

Usulutan: 302, 303, 309 y 311

La Union: 304, 306, 346 y 446

Morazan: 305

The buses to Chalatenango (e.g. 125) will continue to use the old terminal.

City bus to the Terminal de Oriente

From the San Benito area in San Salvador city, the 34-B will take you to Terminal de Oriente. San Benito is where the Tica Bus station and La Zona hostel are located. Bus 34-B passes a bus stop about 1 block away, check this city bus stop location here on Google Maps.

From the Ceiba de Guadeloupe take the 34-A.

Terminal de Occidente both the 34-A and 34-B pass by but you can also take the 7-C. The 7-C will drop you right in front of the Terminal and the others across the street.  All buses $0.20.

Note that these buses goes through one of the less desirable areas of San Salvador and the Terminal de Oriente is in a less desirable area too. Be aware, keep your phone and valuables in your bag and don’t arrive or leave as it’s getting dark.

Terminal de Oriente to Suchitoto

Ruta 129 – Suchitoto. This bus doesn’t pull into the actual station, instead it passes on the main highway outside of the station and it is coming from the Punta de Microbuses 140 in the centre – here is where it is in Google Maps. As for the bus, you have two options. You can either take the 129 full size bus with a/c for $1,  or the 140 microbus $0.90. Very important: there are several 140 microbuses that pass here so be sure you get on the one labeled Suchitoto. I am told some of the other routes go to some less safe areas. Both buses take about the same time.

Update from a traveller:  The 129 and 140 to Suchitoto now pass by the main road outside the new terminal.

Suchitoto to Terminal de Oriente

When in Suchitoto you can grab either the 129 full size bus with a/c for $1,  or the 140 microbus $0.90 (~1hr). All buses pass in front of the Mercado Municipal. Check the Suchitoto page for more info. Very Important Info: on the return trip this bus passes close but not right at the Terminal de Oriente. You are likely to be let off in the same spot I was and I am not sure I recommend it. Essentially you left at a little side street that leads to a staircase that cuts up to the station and through a back road. This little back road has a high military presence and probably for good reason. Remember, the area around the Terminal de Oriente is not a good one, and my guess is a little back alley like this is low on the safety list. So what to do instead? Stay on the bus until the last stop and grab a really cheap taxi to the terminal.

Suchitoto to San Miguel

**moved to a new terminal – see note above about important information. 

From San Miguel to San Salvador there are two options: 1) regular bus for $1,  or 2) Super Especial for $5. The regular bus, also called the Directo, leaves about every 15 minutes and takes about 2.5hrs and starts around 3am until 5pm. The Super Especial takes about 2hrs and leaves less frequently – the current schedule (2017) is 5am, 6am, 7am, 8am, 11am, 12:20pm, 1:40pm and 3pm (see photo of ticket below).

Suchitoto to Usulután

**moved to a new terminal – see note above about important information. 

There is only one bus a day, at 6am to Usulután from this terminal.  This bus (302) also leaves the from the Terminal del Sur many times per day. You can get either a directo bus ($1, 2.5+hrs ) or a super especial ($3, ~2hrs).

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!