Border crossing: El Salvador to Honduras
Most backpackers race through Honduras as fast as they can. Unfortunately, this Central American country continues to rank at the top of the list of the world's most dangerous places. Due to political unrest, drug trafficking, and gang violence, Honduras is usually avoided by most backpackers. Despite being home to ancient ruins, beautiful beaches, and rich cultures like the Garifuna, this country's violent reputation precedes everything else it has to offer. We spent a few weeks in Honduras years ago, and unfortunately, as conditions remain very unstable, we decided it was best to avoid seeing more of it this time around.
For those going from El Salvador to Nicaragua, this guide will get you from El Tunco, El Salvador to Honduras and then you can use this guide here to get from Honduras to León, Nicaragua.
Public bus or private shuttle?
Public bus: Head to the highway just outside of El Tunco and hop on a bus heading to La Libertad, which should cost less than $1 USD (El Salvador's currency is the dollar) and take about 20 minutes. Once in La Libertad, take a bus to San Salvador, which costs about $1.25 USD and takes about 1.5 hours.
From San Salvador, you can take the express bus or the local bus to Santa Rosa de Lima. The express bus costs $6 USD and takes about 3 hours. The local bus costs $4 USD and takes 3-4 hours. Once in Santa Rosa de Lima, take bus 330 to la frontera for $1 USD, which is about a 20 minute ride. Go to El Salvador immigration (you still have to do this even though they don't stamp you out). Walk across the border to Honduras. You're now in Honduras!
Check in at Honduras immigration, where you have to pay $3 USD and get stamped in to the country. If you're going to another part of Honduras, take one of the chicken buses at the border to your destination (you likely will have to transfer in Tegucigalpa). If you're just passing through Honduras and trying to get to Nicaragua, hop on a shuttle bus that will take you from border to border for about $6 USD, which takes about 2 hours.
Total cost: $16-18 USD per person to get from El Tunco to the Honduras-Nicaragua border
Private shuttle: Depending on your starting point in El Salvador, there may or may not be many agencies offering shuttle service to Honduras. While we saw plenty of shuttle options from Antigua, Guatemala to major backpacking spots in Honduras like Copán and La Ceiba, there were virtually no shuttle agencies around El Tunco going to Honduras. Since we were heading to León, Nicaragua, we were able to book a shuttle at El Tunco Lodge that would take us through Honduras and to León. The shuttle from El Tunco to León costs $30 USD per person.
Total cost: $30 USD per person to get from El Tunco to León, Nicaragua, but no shuttles from El Tunco to hot spots in Honduras.
Border fees
There is no fee to exit El Salvador. The fee to enter Honduras is $3 USD and can be paid in dollars or lempiras, Honduras' currency.
Avoid future border issues
Even though you do not get a stamp when you leave El Salvador, you still need to stop by immigration to officially exit. On the Honduran side, you need to pay the entrance fee and get stamped in and out when you enter and exit the country.