Are you in a Layover in El Salvador International Airport? Looking for what to do during this time? A lot of people do! So we have prepared a simple guide for you to follow. It is simple! Let´s discover how you can make the most of your time and explore the beauties of our country starting from just 4 hours! Learn how to save money and time!
It does not matter if you have a short or a long layover, there are two options you can take to go out and discover the beauties of our country. These options are: go out on your own or hire a profesional tour company. We explain below both options.
How to take a Layover in El Salvador?
1. Go out on your own! – you can always choose to discover by yourself! Igt is fun and independent. Once out of the airport you can hire a taxi or independent trasportation. Nevertheless you need to take into account that you will have to pay airport taxes (worth of usd 37 per person), tourism visa (another usd 12 per person) and go to the normal inmigration process and queues which can make you waste time (30 to 45 mins) and reduce the duration of your trip considerably.
2. Take a guided or non guided tour – If you are open to this option, this could probably be your best decision while on a connecting flight. Why? Keep reading and learn how to discover El Salvador in a whole new different way!
Why taking a Layover in El Salvador?
Because its strategic location, you can take short trips and tours from El Salvador International Airport and, in just 45 mins, experience city tours, volcano hikings, beach relaxing, culinary workshops or visiting museums and mayan sites.
You can even have the opportunity to visit a local craft beer or eat the famous Pupusas before going back to the airport and take your flight back home on time.
What we recommend to visit?
– Short layover –
In one hand, if you are looking for a quick city escape, San Salvador City is definitely your destination. With its new refurbished beautiful city center, this destination cannot be missed. Its churches and impressive Boqueron Volcano, makes this a great destination for city lovers, church hunters or volcano hikers (soft and hard).
El Tunco Beach is a great option! It offers a bohemian ambient: bars & restaurant areas, local shops, surf lessons and beach escape. A must if you want to relax at the beach instead of waiting at the airport.
– Long layover –
On the other hand, if you have a 12 hours layover or more, the options are endless!
If you are looking for culture, then you need to head to The Flower´s Route – an amaing destinations of colonial style towns, local handicrafts and coffee culture.
If you are looking for adventure and amazing sightseeings, then you need to head to the majestic Santa Ana Volcano – a nice hike at the top of the crater of the highest volcano of El Salvador with its last eruption at 2005.
– 2 days layover –
If you are able, look for a 2 days layover in El Salvador and mix all these destinations in one single but interesting trip.
What to expect of a stopover tour experience?
When you hire a tour service in advance, there are many advantages that will help you take the most of your trip.
First of all, you will have a special Meet & Greet service. In this service one representative will be waiting for you inside the gates to help you with a fast and personalized customs clearance. Then, this person will help you find your professional authorized tour guide outside the airport. Finally we will also coordinate the tax exemption with the local authorities so you will save money while traveling with us!
As a result, with this service the long waitings are gone and you only will have to worry about taking the most of your layover tour in El Salvador.
Most of all you will discover the best places and the best local experiences according to your flight schedule.
Is it safe to take a layover in El Salvador?
This is one of the most frequent questions we are asked while assisting travelers considering the different travel advisories out there.
Wether you have a short airport layover or a long airport layover, it is completely safe to take a guided tour from El Salvador International Airport to San Salvador City and/or surroundings. All the destinations visited that we have chosen complies with international standards of service regarding safety, hygiene and sustainability.
Take the example of the travel bloggers Nomadic Boys visiting El Salvador in a layover tour in the past or feel free to read all the TripAdvisor comments of our recent travelers.
So what are the advantages of this type of tours?
Taking a layover El Salvador in time allows you to apply to the program benefits which are:
- Exemption of Airport Taxes – we will coordinate with the local authorities the exemption of these taxes with a value por U$D 37 per person.
- Fast Customs Clearance – Our team will be waiting for you inside the airport to escort you to a fast VIP customs lane. You will have an express process and take the most of your tour. For this we will need your traveler information on time (name, passport number, nationality and flight information).
- Great Experience– Upon your arrival everything will be ready for you. After clearing customs our guide will be waiting with the vehicle outsire the airport. You don´t have to worry about anything. Just arrive and have fun.
- Professional tour guides – certified guides and drivers ready to assist you in the best way possible.
This being said, just book your StopOver in El Salvador in advance and save more than just money!
Airlines that offer StopOver in El Salvador
Our travelers are currently taking stopover tours when traveling with Avianca, Aeromexico. Interjet, Volaris and United Airlines.
What information will you need to share?
Once your tourism service is booked with a professional in advance, you will have to share the following information:
- Full name
- Complete flight itinerary (both arrival and departure)
- Passport number
- Nationality
This information MUST be shared at least 24 hours before your arrival in order to make the necessary arrangements with the airport authorities.
Fast, easy and reliable.
Frequently asked questions of layovers in El Salvador
The requirements are very few: having at least 4 hours available for connection (if you have more is better), check the immigration requirements according to your citizenship here and have the desire to discover a new destination.
According to the Ministry of Health of El Salvador, identified travelers from the following yellow fever endemic countries must carry a vaccination certificate (more information here):
AFRICA: Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon, Ghana, Gambia, Guinea. Liberia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone and Sudan.
SOUTH AMERICA: Bolivia, Venezuela. Brazil, Peru, Colombia, Ecuador, Argentina and Guyana.
CENTRAL AMERICA: Panama
According to your nationality you can verify the immigration requirements according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs here. Normally, if you have an American visa we have no problem, the nationality you have.
El Salvador International Airport is 45 minutes from the city. Around the airport there is not much to do. We suggest you at least take a transport to San Salvador or El Tunco or a guided laypver tour like our express stopover city tour in San Salvador from $ 39 per person.
It is quite safe to leave, just make sure the company hires a responsible company to the sea.
This is the program that the Government has agreed with AVIANCA in order to encourage tourism in the country eliminating the costs of air tickets when a stopover is included in El Salvador as well as the exemption of airport and migratory taxes at the time that Acquires a tourist service in the country.
Of course! There are many guided and unguided options to enjoy.
a) On the one hand, take a taxi – Around USD 35 per way for 2 people – in this option you should consider the cost of migration and tourism taxes for a total value of $ 49 per person.
b) On the other hand, hire a layover tour or “stopover” in El Salvador – Prices range from USD 39 per person to more than USD 200 per person affected by the experience you choose – This option, if you do it in time, It includes a tax exemption thanks to the StopOver El Salvador program.
This is one of the most common questions. So do not worry, we have many experience doing this, mots common schedule for stop overs are:
a) 7-7:30 hrs – 13 hrs or later
b) 13-13 :30 hrs- 18:30 hrs or later
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Which are the short or long stopover tour options?
There are many options for you to take! From 4 hrs to 7 hours, or even 48 hours, check below some of our best tour experiences in El Salvador are:
Tien says:
I have a layover from 1pm to 8pm. Do you have any tours available?
rodrigo says:
We do have! Have you check our especial layover section https://salvadoreantours.com/el-salvador-layover-tours/ ?
Elizabeth says:
Hello, I have a layover in San Salvador on December 23 and would like to take the 9am short tour of the city, but what time does it usually arrive back to the airport? Because my flight leaves at 2pm.
Thanks!