Central American countries like El Salvador aren’t known for having the best infrastructure. If you’re planning a trip, you’re probably curious about what the roads are like and if driving in El Salvador is feasible.
I visited El Salvador for one week and spent hours on its roads, getting around entirely by car. Here’s more about my experience, including reputable rental car agencies, road conditions, and standard driving times to and from the country’s most popular destinations.
Renting a Car in El Salvador
There’s just one international airport in the country, so if you’re renting a car in El Salvador, you’re almost definitely going to be doing so at the San Salvador Airport.
There are several well-known rental companies at the airport like Hertz, Avis, and Enterprise. However, I went through locally owned Agencia Josue. After reading about people’s experiences online, I learned that local agencies often forgo hefty deposits that the big-name agencies charge, and that insurance prices are cheaper as well.
My experience renting a car with Agencia Josue was seamless from start to finish. I’d been in touch with the representative over WhatsApp before and after my flight landed in San Salvador. Once at the airport, he greeted me in the lobby with a sign and brought me to the car. From there, we both took photos of the car, and I was on my way to El Tunco straight from the San Salvador Airport.
I received communication during my trip to make sure the car was OK, along with drop-off instructions. At the end of the trip, I met another representative in an airport parking lot. No extra or hidden fees were added. He then graciously drove me to the departures terminal from the parking lot.
My rental car in El Salvador cost $45 per day. Not too bad!
How Is Driving in El Salvador?
I expected driving in El Salvador to be a little stressful since I didn’t have a ton of experience driving internationally. I also speak little to no Spanish, so I couldn’t read every road sign. However, it wasn’t too bad, and the only stressful factors actually had nothing to do with the road conditions.
The main thing to know about driving in El Salvador is that there are plenty of people walking alongside the streets, including busy highways, and stray dogs roaming along quieter streets. Because of this, you really need to be focused on the road at all times. We drove from El Tunco to Juayua our first night in El Salvador, and with the sun down and no street lights, it was difficult to see dogs or people on the roads. So just stay glued to the road, especially if driving at night.
How Are the Roads in El Salvador?
The Salvadoran government has put a lot of money into re-paving frequently trafficked roads and highways. For example, the Ruta de las Flores route had very smooth roads. The road from Santa Ana to San Salvador was also pretty up-to-date and smooth, despite a couple massive construction projects causing traffic in a few areas. Popular colonial towns like Ataco and Juayua have cobblestoned streets, so you’ll be forced to drive slowly.
In the non-touristy parts of the country and on more local roads, you will definitely have to pay attention to the constant potholes, though. We had to take a detour off the main road from San Salvador to El Tunco due to construction, and driving on some of the side streets was… an experience. It felt like a roller coaster at times!
Still, the majority of your time spent driving in El Salvador will be on decent roads.
Final Tips and Considerations for Driving in El Salvador
- Driving in El Salvador is very doable, even if you don’t have much international driving experience. Just stay alert and don’t be in a hurry.
- Be extra cautious when driving at night. It can be hard to see pedestrians and stray dogs, especially on roads without street lights (most of them).
- Watch out for potholes on smaller or less travelled roads. Some can be rough and do damage if you’re not expecting them.
- Consider renting from a local agency. In my experience, it was cheaper and more flexible than the big-name companies.
- Download offline maps before your trip. Cell service can be spotty in certain areas.
- Don’t rely too much on road signs, especially if you don’t speak Spanish. Navigation apps will be your best friend.
- Plan extra time for drives. Traffic, construction, and unexpected detours can slow things down.
- Stick to daytime driving when possible, especially if it’s your first time in the country.
- Take photos or videos of your rental car before and after your trip to avoid any disputes.
- Overall, don’t stress too much. Driving ended up being one of the best ways to explore the country and gave me a lot of flexibility.
