Where the airport is
El Salvador International Airport Saint Óscar Arnulfo Romero (SAL) is in Comalapa, about 34 kilometres from San Salvador. It isn’t in the city: the drive is by highway and normally takes between forty-five minutes and an hour to the Zona Rosa.
It’s the country’s only international airport, so if you fly to El Salvador, this is where you land.
Your options
Transfer arranged by the hotel
The simplest option, especially if you arrive at night or it’s your first time: the driver waits for you with your name and the price is agreed in advance. It’s arranged with your flight number, and it’s best to request it a day ahead. In our case the front desk handles it.
Airport taxi
There are authorised taxis outside the terminal, with fixed rates by zone. They’re reliable and need no booking. Confirm the price before you get in.
Ride-hailing apps
They work at the airport and are usually somewhat cheaper, with the downside that at certain hours the wait is long and the pick-up point is signposted away from the main exit. At 5:00 in the morning or after midnight, they aren’t always the best bet.
Rental car
The agencies are at the airport. It makes sense if you’ll be driving a lot or leaving the capital —the Costa del Bálsamo, Santa Ana, the Ruta de las Flores—. If you’re only staying in San Salvador, you probably won’t need one: you can rent later, from the hotel, just for the days you need it.
If you land in the middle of the night
Several flights land very late or very early. Make sure your hotel has a 24-hour front desk before you book: not all of them do, and arriving at three in the morning to a locked door ruins the trip. Suites Las Palmas has its front desk and security open all day, every day.
On the way into the city
The airport road runs along the coast and climbs towards the capital. If you land in daylight and aren’t in a hurry, it’s a beautiful drive. It’s also the road to the beaches of the Costa del Bálsamo: El Tunco is 27 km from San Salvador and works as a day trip.
Practical details on landing
- Currency: El Salvador uses the US dollar.
- Distance to the hotel: 34 km from the airport to Boulevard del Hipódromo, in Colonia San Benito.
- Estimated time: 45 to 60 minutes, depending on traffic and time of day.
- Luggage: if you arrive before the 15:00 check-in, most hotels will hold your bags. So do we.