In and out of Guatemala City

Our attempt to get to El Salvador from Guatemala would have been full of confusion and frustration were it not for Marina, a Spanish force of nature, who happened to be on our bus from San Pedro. Amid the chaos of shouting and bag grabbing, as we entered Guatemala City, we found that we shared the aim to get to San Salvador. From then on Marina took control, smiling and chatting to overly touchy-feely men, she guided us through the city. And this enabled us to follow and take in the congested, industrial and smoggy centre of Guatemala’s capital.

These Guatemalans, they really don’t like to give you an answer related to your question. That is until you’ve asked it at least four times! With our limited Spanish, we’d have been totally lost. As it was, even Marina (did I mention she’s Spanish?) was having difficulty.

The crux of the problem is that there are several bus terminals that operate a service to San Salvador. Some go once a day, some twice. Getting the relevant information isn’t all that easy. Or, you can go with one of the guys hassling you and telling you that their way is cheaper. What they don’t want to say is that they don’t go further than the border. And do you really need to be trying to sort out transport at the El Salvador border in the dark? No.

Of course, for a good few Quetzales, you could get a taxi and let them take you to the bus station. But that just wouldn’t be any fun now would it?!

In all seriousness, if you find yourself needing to do that very journey and your Spanish isn’t fluent, getting a taxi is the best way. From what we found there are four main bus companies: Melva International, Ticabus, King Quality and Pulmantur. Ticabus goes once a day and the other twice. I’d put some addresses down here too, but my research pulled up at least two different addresses for each one!