Panajachel to El Salvador Shuttle: San Salvador, Santa Ana, El Tunco
Shuttles from Panajachel into El Salvador, to San Salvador, Santa Ana, or the surf town of El Tunco, cost Q500 to Q525 (roughly $65 to $69 USD) and all depart at 05:00. Because this involves an international border crossing, you'll need to submit a photo of your passport's information page and a WhatsApp number when you book.
Why this route asks for your passport in advance
Unlike our domestic routes, or even our Mexico border crossing to San Cristóbal de las Casas, these Central America crossings require your passport photo and WhatsApp number submitted ahead of time, shared with the operator handling the crossing. That's specific to this corridor, not a general policy across every border route we run.
How the trip actually runs
You leave Panajachel at 05:00, connect through Antigua, and switch onto the cross-border service around 10 AM. That means you have usually a bit of time in Antigua, before your journey continues. Build in the full day for this, it's not a quick hop.
Schedule and pricing by destination
| Destination | Time | Price | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| El Tunco, El Salvador | 05:00 | Q500 (~$65 USD) | Not specified |
| San Salvador, El Salvador | 05:00 | Q525 (~$69 USD) | 13 hours |
| Santa Ana, El Salvador | 05:00 | Q525 (~$69 USD) | 13 hours |
Book to El Tunco → Book to San Salvador → Book to Santa Ana →
Going further: Panajachel to León, Nicaragua
If Nicaragua is the goal, there's a route for that too: Q675 (~$88 USD), departing at 16:00, but only Tuesday through Friday. This one involves an overnight stop in Antigua at your own cost before continuing at 2 AM the next day, so budget for a night's accommodation on top of the fare.
Booking requirements
- A photo of your passport's information page and a WhatsApp number are required at booking for all these Central America routes.
- No return shuttle currently runs from these destinations back to Panajachel, these are one-way bookings.
FAQ
Do I need to submit my passport in advance? Yes, for these Central America routes specifically, a photo of your passport information page plus a WhatsApp number, which is requiered on the booking page.
How long does it take to San Salvador? 13 hours, including the bus switch around 10 AM in Antigua.
Is there a return shuttle from El Salvador to Panajachel? Not currently in our system, these are one-way bookings.
What about going to Nicaragua? Yes, via León, but only Tuesday through Friday, with an overnight stop in Antigua at your own cost.
Photo by Luis Rodriguez
