The airport: SAL
El Salvador International Airport Saint Óscar Arnulfo Romero y Galdámez (IATA code SAL) is in San Luis Talpa, La Paz, near the Pacific coast, and about 42 km by motorway from San Salvador[1]. It is a hub for Avianca El Salvador and Volaris El Salvador, and U.S. carriers such as American, Delta and United serve it from several U.S. hubs, per the airport's Wikipedia route list[1]. Routes change, so check airlines directly.
Entry for U.S. citizens
- Visa: not required for stays of 90 days or less[2].
- Passport: must be valid at entry[2]. Your airline may apply stricter rules.
- CA-4: El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua share a border-control agreement; U.S. citizens can travel among them for up to 90 days in total[2].
- Tourist fee: a $12 tourist card was charged on arrival in the past. A third-party site reports it was eliminated in 2025[3]. We could not confirm this on an official page; check with your airline or the Dirección General de Migración y Extranjería before you fly.
- Cash limits: $10,000 USD on entry and exit[2].
- Do not pack: guns, ammunition and spent casings are illegal to bring in. So are THC items, including most CBD products[2].
Money
The U.S. dollar is the official currency[2]. Since an April 2025 reform, businesses accept bitcoin only if they choose to[4]. Carry cash for boats, tips and small restaurants; ATMs are often out of order and may charge high fees[2].
From the airport to the coast
Costa del Sol is the closest fishing base to SAL. Los Cóbanos (west) and the Gulf of Fonseca (east) are at opposite ends of the coast and are much longer drives. We have not published drive times; check a mapping app for your dates.
- Pre-arranged transfer: the simplest option. Many hotels and charters arrange pickups[5].
- Taxis and ride-share: the State Department advises using radio-dispatched taxis, taxis stationed at major hotels, or app-based ride-share, and avoiding buses[2].
- Driving yourself: a foreign licence is valid for 30 days. El Salvador has zero tolerance for drinking and driving: any blood-alcohol level is a criminal offense[2]. Avoid driving at night[6].
Time zone
Central Standard Time all year, with no daylight saving time[2].
Sources
- Wikipedia, El Salvador International Airport (SAL). Checked Oct 22, 2026.
- U.S. Department of State, El Salvador International Travel Information. Checked Oct 22, 2026.
- OnMeTravel, "El Salvador Tourist Card: The $12 Fee Was Abolished" (third-party; confirm before travel). Checked Oct 22, 2026.
- La Prensa Gráfica, "Reforma a Ley Bitcóin entrará en vigencia el 1 de abril 2025" (Feb 13, 2025). Checked Oct 22, 2026.
- El Salvador Surf Company (Sunzal), "Fishing – Close to Shore". Checked Oct 22, 2026.
- U.S. Department of State, El Salvador Travel Advisory (Level 1, issued June 25, 2026). Checked Oct 22, 2026.