EL SALVADOR REPORT TRAVEL.

  

El Poy customs post in El Salvador is less than 300 meters from the Honduran one. Here, too, customs operations are quick and easy. Furthermore, you are not given the entry stamp as Nicaragua, Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala are part of the Central American Community and therefore there are open borders like those of the European Community. Then you have to walk about 400 meters before reaching a large pitch on the right where buses leave approximately every hour for the Bus de Oriente Terminal in the capital San Salvador (3h 30 '), at a price of 1.70 USD. The clerk passes by to collect the money after departure. The bus stops often and willingly to pick up and drop off passengers.

 

Arrived at the Bus de Oriente Terminal of the capital San Salvador, located about 2 km east of the center, I hire a taxi after a long negotiation for 10 USD, for the visit of the city, including transport to the Terminal dei Bus de Occidentale, where I take a bus x Sonsonate (2.75 USD, 2h 00 '), since there are no direct buses to Ataco. It is Saturday afternoon and the bus is packed. The clerk passes by to collect the money after departure. The bus stops often and willingly to pick up and drop off passengers.

 

Arriving at the Sonsonate Bus Station I take a bus to Ahuachapán at a price of 0.50 USD, which in theory should stop in Ataco but instead takes another road and after I realized I get off after about 40 minutes of travel to Jujutla, where I take a bus, from the opposite side of the roadway, which in about 30 minutes, at a price of 0.50 USD, takes me to the southern outskirts of Ataco, less than 1 km from the central park. You pay the driver when you get on as there is a turnstile.

 

I arrive in Ataco on Saturday evening and the weather is very cool as the beautiful colonial town is located in the middle of the mountains. Not even the shadow of tourists even though the streets are teeming with people and the hotels are packed. And in fact, I struggle to find a room in a hotel at the price of 25 USD, per night in a triple room with bathroom (the last one left). Less than that it is almost impossible to find as there are no hostels in this town. However, the Hotel is very clean and comfortable even if a little cold to tell the truth.

 

Ataco, with its ancient colonial charm, appears safe even in the evening and can be easily explored on foot.

 

From Ataco I go to the bus stop of the previous day where frequent buses go to nearby Ahuachapán. The ride takes just under 30 minutes and costs $ 0.40. The clerk passes by to collect the money after departure.

 

The bus leaves you in the center of Ahuachapán, about 400 meters from Parquè Menèndez where very frequent buses leave for Las Chinamas, the border post with Guatemala. The ride takes just under 30 minutes and the fare is $ 0.50. The clerk passes by to collect the money after departure.

 

Once in Las Chinamas, you have to walk for about 200 meters to reach the Customs. I arrived on a Sunday and found a queue of about 40 minutes. For the rest, customs operations are quick and easy. You are not given the exit stamp as Nicaragua, Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala are part of the Central American Community and therefore there are open borders like those of the European Community. You pay nothing to leave El Salvador.

My complete travel report with map, photographs and videos is available at this link:

http://vivendosalendo.blogspot.com/2016/04/traversata-del-centro-america-da-panama.htm