Antigua To Santa Ana El Salvador COMPLETE Guide! 2023
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Looking for the best ways to get from Antigua to Santa Ana in El Salvador? You’re in the right place! Both Antigua and Santa Ana are popular locations when backpacking Guatemala and El Salvador, and are both worth visiting on your backpacking trip.
In fact, Antigua Guatemala was one of our favourite places in all of Central America!
But how do you travel between Antigua and Santa Ana? This post outlines everything you need to know about the two locations, from safety concerns, journey times, prices, drop-off points and more. But as always, if you still have a burning question to ask, be sure to drop me a message on Instagram to ask.
So, let’s start and discuss all the possible ways to travel from Antigua (Guatemala) to Santa Ana (El Salvador) and vice versa.
Did you know I’ve written a full guide about backpacking El Salvador? From where to stay, what to do, where to eat and staying safe, you can check out my complete backpacking El Salvador guide here!
🇸🇻 Other Central America posts:
- How To Get From Santa Ana To El Tunco: COMPLETE Guide
- Best Time to Visit El Salvador: Complete Guide
- BEST & Safest Hostels In El Tunco, El Salvador
- El Tunco El Salvador: COMPLETE Guide
- How To Get From Santa Ana To El Tunco
Antigua To Santa Ana: A Summary
It’s important to note that Antigua is in Guatemala, and Santa Ana is in El Salvador. These two countries are commonly on a Central American backpacking trip, and are easy to travel between.
Most backpackers, when travelling from Guatemala to El Salvador, depart from Antigua and enter El Salvador at Santa Ana. This is because Santa Ana is close to the border, and it’s one of the first main stops on an El Salvador trip.
In summary, there are three ways to get from Antigua to Santa Ana:
- Shuttle (most common backpacker way)
- Public bus (cheapest option but with the longest duration)
- Private transfer (most expensive but quickest option)
If you’re backpacking El Salvador, the most common, safest and easiest way to travel between Santa Ana and Antigua is by shuttle. The shuttles hold around 16 people and are full of other backpackers.
They’re slightly more expensive than the public bus, but involve a lot less hassle and drop you off in Santa Ana where you can walk to your hostel. They’re a safe, easy and reliable way to travel in El Salvador.
⚠️ Note that there is a border crossing on this journey. This means you are travelling out of one country, and into another – specifically in this case, by land. Please refer to the section ‘the border crossing between Guatemala and El Salvador‘ if you need advice on how the border crossing works.
Need help planning your El Salvador trip? Check out this detailed route and itinerary for 7 days in El Salvador!
Getting around El Salvador
You can travel around El Salvador in multiple ways, depending on how much time you have, your budget and where you want to visit. The most common way for backpackers to travel around El Salvador is via rental car or shuttle.
🚗 GETTING AROUND EL SALVADOR BY CAR
One of the easiest and most popular way to travel around El Salvador is by rental car. Driving in El Salvador is safe, straightforward and easy. Driving in between towns like El Tunco and Santa Ana will save a lot of time on shuttles. You can also drive the Rutas De Flores at your own pace if you have your own car.
➡ Check car hire prices in El Salvador now!
🚖 GETTING AROUND EL SALVADOR BY A PRIVATE DRIVER
Hiring a private driver to get around El Salvador is one of the most popular and safest ways to see the country. Private drivers can be hired for different amounts of time.
➡ Check prices and bookings for your own private driver in El Salvador here.
🚌 GETTING AROUND EL SALVADOR BY SHUTTLE BUS
If you aren’t hiring a car in El Salvador, you can travel via shuttle bus. This is another easy and safe way to travel around El Salvador. Shuttles in El Salvador will be with other backpackers, and can either be booked online or via your hostel. I recommend pre-booking your shuttles in advance.
➡ Check shuttles in El Salvador now!
1. Getting from Antigua to Santa Ana by shuttle
The best and safest way to travel from Antigua to Santa Ana is via shuttle bus. Shuttles run all over Guatemala and El Salvador and can be easily pre-booked online or by a local travel agent.
If you are already in Antigua, you will find many travel agents in the main town. There are signs to book shuttles in every direction – it won’t take more than a few minutes walk to find one! Or, you can book a shuttle directly with your hostel.
We took the shuttle from Antigua to Santa Ana, and it was safe, easy and straightforward. We were picked up from our hostel at 10 am and arrived in Santa Ana by 4 pm. Our shuttle was full of other backpackers, most all staying at the same hostel (Casa Verde).
The shuttle from Antigua to Santa Ana cost £35 ($40) per person and was paid in cash when booking the shuttle in Antigua (prices of May 2023).
⚠️ Note that there is a border crossing on this journey. This means you are travelling out of one country, and into another – specifically in this case, by land. Please refer to the section ‘the border crossing between Guatemala and El Salvador‘ if you need advice on how the border crossing works.
🚌 Can’t find a suitable shuttle booking online? Use this shuttle company number: Go Travel: +503 7607 3435. Simply send them a Whatsapp, and they’ll be able to tell you the timings of shuttles. They’re safe, reliable and run shuttles for backpackers through Guatemala and El Salvador!
2. Getting from Antigua to Santa Ana by public bus
Getting a public bus from Antigua to Santa Ana will take a full day. As the direct journey takes at least 6 hours, you can expect to be travelling for at least 8 hours on a public bus (including the border crossing). Leave as early as possible!
🚌 If you are travelling from Antigua to Santa Ana by public bus, you will need to do the following:
➡️ At the main bus station in Antigua, ask for a bus going to Escuintla. You will get off the bus in Escuintla. This journey should take just over an hour.
➡️ From the same stop, get a two-hour bus to La Frontera.
➡️ From La Frontera, you will be dropped at the border crossing. This is where you will need to get your passport stamped, and checked by immigration to enter El Salvador.
➡️ You will then walk across the bridge (it’s straight ahead, you can’t miss it), and then find the next bus stop for the bus to Sonsonate. This is around a one-hour and 45-minute bus.
➡️ At Sonsonate, you will need to get the bus to Santa Ana. This is one of the easiest stops to find your bus, as it’s a large bus station. This is your final journey (yay!) and should take again, one hour and 45 minutes.
Related post: 21 EPIC Things To Do In Santa Ana, El Salvador
3. Getting from Antigua to Santa Ana by private transfer
The final option when travelling from Antigua to Santa Ana is via private transfer. This is perfect if there are more than four of you and you are short on time. Note, it’s the most expensive option, and you will still need to do the same procedures when crossing the Guatemala/El Salvador border.
Private transfers from Antigua to Santa Ana will still take around 6 hours (or more, depending on the line at the border crossing). Most hostels and hotels can organise this, or you can book a private transfer online here.
Hiring a private driver to get around El Salvador is one of the most popular and safest ways to see the country.
The border crossing between Guatemala and El Salvador
Crossing the border between Guatemala and El Salvador is easy and straightforward. Whether you are on a shuttle, public bus or private transfer, you will need to be stamped out of Guatemala, and go through immigration in El Salvador.
The first part of the border crossing involves being ‘stamped out’ of Guatemala. You will need to depart your shuttle/transfer or the bus and stand in line to be stamped.
The second part of the border crossing is across the bridge separating Guatemala and El Salvador. This time, in our shuttle, we were not asked to depart the vehicle. Of course, this depends on many factors – so just be prepared to disembark if asked! We simply showed our passports through the window and were waved on. We then stopped for the toilet in El Salvador!
At the time of writing this (May 2023), there is no departure fee for exiting Guatemala by land crossing. There is also no arrival fee for entering El Salvador by land crossing.
🤑 TOP TIP: There will be many locals asking to exchange currency at the border. Note that El Salvador accepts US Dollars only. If you have leftover cash from Guatemala, it is worth exchanging here! They surprisingly give a really good exchange rate – and we found it near enough impossible to exchange cash in Santa Ana!
Public buses in El Salvador: What are they like?
Public buses in El Salvador are similar to the chicken buses in Guatemala (just with less decoration!). They are an easy and common way to get around the country, mainly because they are so frequent and cost-effective.
As a backpacker in El Salvador, it is important to stick to buses that take safe and well-known routes. It is still common for buses in El Salvador to be targeted by criminals in unsafe neighbourhoods.
Policing isn’t common on buses, so there is also the issue of reckless bus drivers and speeding on roads in bad conditions.
Again, most of the time, public buses in El Salvador are safe. But to be even safer, make sure you are taking a well-known route, keep your belongings close to you and use common sense.
Check out my honest opinion about safety in El Salvador here 🫣
Related post: Best and safest hostels in El Tunco, El Salvador
Where to stay if you’re backpacking El Salvador
Knowing where to stay in El Salvador is important. Although the majority of areas in El Salvador are now safe, you want to be somewhere where you feel secure and surrounded by like-minded travellers.
Below I have listed some of the best hostels in certain locations in El Salvador. These have all been personally tried by myself or another travel blogger that has recommended it.
🇸🇻 One word of advice when finding accommodation in El Salvador. Stick to the main areas. We accidentally booked somewhere away from one of the main tourist areas and didn’t enjoy it. We felt unsafe and it ruined part of our experience. We ended up leaving halfway through to move to a more touristic area. Do your research, and stick to the busy areas.
Best hostel in Santa Ana: Casa Verde or Casa Vieja Guest House
Best hostel in El Tunco: Canuck’s Guest House or Papaya Lodge
Best hostel on Lake Coatepeque: Captain Morgan
➡ View all El Salavor hostels now!
Related post: Best and safest hostels in El Tunco, El Salvador
Where to stay in Antigua Guatemala
There are so many amazing hostels to choose from in Antigua that it’s hard to pick the best one! However, after staying in some myself, and talking to other backpackers, we’ve found these are the most popular choices.
Remember: things change quickly when it comes to hostels! Make sure you always read the reviews first.
- Somos: a social hostel with amazing rooftop views
- Hostel Antigueno: another social hostel with a large communal garden
- The Purpose Hostel: beautiful rooftop views of all 3 volcanos
- Barbara’s Boutique Hostel: the most expensive hostel in Antigua, but also one of the most luxurious!
- Casi Casa: a ‘home away from home‘ kind of hostel with comfy beds, a roof terrace and homemade breakfast
- Tropicana: best for solo travellers wanting to party in Antigua!
🤩 Related post: Backpacking El Salvador: Complete Guide
Antigua to Santa Ana: FAQs
1) How to get from Santa Ana to Antigua?
The easiest and most time-efficient way to get from Santa Ana to Antigua is via a shuttle bus. Shuttles in Guatemala and El Salvador are the easiest and most common way to travel around. You can check out more information and the prices for El Salvador shuttles here.
📲 Don’t forget to download your eSim for El Salvador! ESIMs are easy to download and ready to use within a few minutes of purchasing, so there’s no longer a need to hunt down free Wifi! ➡ You can check out the prices and packages for eSIMs here!
2) Is El Salvador safe for backpackers?
Yes, El Salvador is safe for backpackers, but I would advise sticking to the tourist-focused and busy areas. Whilst most trips will be trouble-free, there are still violence and crime areas, and some feel less safe than others.
However, the main backpacker locations (Santa Ana, El Tunco) are safe. To add extra safety precautions, stay in the main backpacker hostels in these areas.
🛌 As a reminder, these are:
Best hostel in Santa Ana: Casa Verde, Casa Vieja Guest House or Velvet Hostal
Best hostel in El Tunco: Canuck’s Guest House or Papaya Lodge
Best hostel on Lake Coatepeque: Captain Morgan
⚠️ For more information about safety and staying safe in El Salvador, particularly on public buses, please read the following UK Government advice.
Related post: Check out my honest opinion about safety in El Salvador here 🫣
3) How much does backpacking cost in El Salvador?
Backpacking in El Salvador is relatively cheap, and you can live off around £30-40 ($35-45) per day. This includes eating street food such as pupusas, staying in shared dorm rooms and walking as the main mode of transport. Days on the beach in El Salvador can be free, and even if you want to take a surfing lesson, it’s cheaper than some other locations in Central America.
If you’re a mid-range backpacker (like us), and would like to stay in private rooms and apartments, budget around £50-60 per night for accommodation. Then add money on top for food, drink and activities (roughly £30/$35 a day).
Related post: 21 EPIC Things To Do In Santa Ana, El Salvador
4) Where do backpackers go in El Salvador?
If you are backpacking El Salvador for the first time, I recommend sticking to Santa Ana, El Tunco, El Zonte and Lake Coatapeque. These are the most popular areas amongst backpackers in El Salvador in 2023. Most backpackers do not stay in the capital city, San Salvador, due to safety concerns. However, this is a personal preference.
Related post: One Week in El Salvador: Full Itinerary: Full Backpacker Route and Guide
5) How many days is enough for El Salvador?
If you are backpacking El Salvador for the first time, visit for a minimum of 7 days. This will give you enough time to experience the culture in Santa Ana, hike the volcano, do some activities and head down to the beaches in El Tunco. El Tunco is also a great place for a crazy night out, so you may want to budget in a hangover day!
In summary, I recommend 3-4 days in Santa Ana (including Lake Coatapeque and the Rutas De Flores) and 3 days in El Tunco (including El Zonte).
Related post: Best time to visit El Salvador for backpackers
6) What is the best time to visit El Salvador?
El Salvador has a tropical climate. Its wet season is from May until October, and dry season is from November to April. If you would like to avoid torrential rain, head to El Salvador between the months of November to April. This is also a great time for cheap flights in El Salvador.
Related post: How To Get From Santa Ana To El Tunco
7) Is El Salvador worth going to?
Yes if you would like to do some of the adventurous activities El Salvador has to offer. For example, hiking the Santa Ana volcano, sliding down the famous Rainbow Slide, swimming in Lake Coatapeque and jumping in waterfalls at Tamanique.
El Salvador is also well-known for its surfing and is an excellent location for advanced surfers. If you’re a keen (and good) surfer, El Tunco is worth visiting for the waves.
Related post: One Week in El Salvador: Full Itinerary: Full Backpacker Route and Guide
8) How long can a tourist stay in El Salvador?
If you are from either the UK, you are granted a tourist visa that lasts for 180 days on arrival. If you’re from the USA, you will have 90 days on your visa.
9) Do I need a SIM card to travel around El Salvador?
Yes, I highly recommend downloading an eSIM on your phone to ensure you can use it for directions and safety in El Salvador. We found most of the cities to be chaotic and difficult to find local SIM cards.
ESIMs are easy to download and ready to use within a few minutes of purchasing, so there’s no longer a need to hunt down free Wifi! ➡ You can check out the prices and packages for eSIMs here!
Related post: Best time to visit El Salvador for backpackers
Santa Ana to El Tunco: In a Nutshell
So, there you have it! Everything you need to know about getting from Antigua to Santa Ana. When you’re planning a trip to Guatemala or El Salvador, make sure you let me know over on Instagram or in the comments below!
If you haven’t seen my blog before, I write posts aimed at first-time backpackers on a budget. I’m currently travelling around the world with my boyfriend (read more here!), creating guides and itineraries for you to follow in our footsteps!
Keep an eye out for more Guatemala and El Salvador content, all written from a personal and realistic point of view. You can sign up for my newsletter and juicy travel updates here!
As always, thanks for reading and supporting the blog!
Happy travelling 🙂
Jennie x
🇸🇻 Where to next?
- El Salvador Itinerary: One Week In El Salvador
- BEST & Safest Hostels In El Tunco, El Salvador
- Best Time to Visit El Salvador: Complete Guide
- El Tunco El Salvador: COMPLETE Guide
- How To Get From Santa Ana To El Tunco: COMPLETE Guide
- How To Get From El Tunco to Leon (Nicaragua): FULL Guide
MEET THE AUTHOR!
Hi! I'm Jennie! As a part-time travel blogger based in London, I'm using my 10+ years of travel expertise to encourage & inspire you to step out of your comfort zone through sustainable, mindful and purposeful travel.
If I'm not writing, I'm either reading, drinking coffee or taking a wild swim (all at the same time if I'm feeling impressive).
