How to Easily Cross the El Salvador Honduras Border

When traveling through the wonders of Central America, every traveler will at some point be faced with crossing borders. Fortunately, crossing the El Salvador – Honduras border at either of its two land connections is simple as long as you’re prepared. Which you will be after reading this blog. Continue on to see how easy it is for yourself. 

Important Disclaimer: Though every effort has been made to provide the most current and up-to-date information, please keep in mind that international border crossings and their entry and exit requirements are subject to change. Be sure to check with your country’s embassy (and your destination country) before you leave for your trip.

Crossing the El Salvador – Honduras Border

El Salvador and Honduras share a 402-kilometer (250-mile) border. There are two official border crossing points along this line—El Poy in the north and El Amatillo in the east. 

Both locations share the same entry and exit requirements, though each has its own geographical reasons for passing through.

El Poy, El Salvador to Ocotepeque, Honduras

The border crossing at El Poy, El Salvador, is along the primary route between the El Salvadoran capital of San Salvador and the famous Mayan ruins at Copan in Honduras.

The immigration offices’ open hours and availability at the border of all CA-4 Treaty countries (El Salvador, Honduras, Guatemala and Nicaragua) are 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, so you can cross anytime. 

The only variable is documentation. Residents of those countries can freely pass through any of the borders using only their local identification as proof of citizenship. Citizens of other countries must provide additional documentation (see later in the article) to cross from El Salvador to Honduras.

Your first step is, of course, reaching the border. You can book a shuttle for the greatest level of convenience, or you can hop on chicken bus #119 for an approximately three-hour ride from San Salvador to the border at El Poy—all for a mere $2!

Upon arrival, a friendly guard will point you to a building in no man’s land which is the El Salvadoran immigration office. After the usual questions and formalities, you’ll then exit on foot for a few minute walk to the next checkpoint, which is Honduras’ border control. The wait time to pass through is usually rather fast.

At this point, you’ll have to undergo a fingerprint scan, have your photo taken, and pay a $3 fee to enter Honduras. Be sure to get your receipt. Don’t be alarmed—this is legit.

Once through customs, you’re free to head further into the country. Catch a shuttle or taxi to the nearby town of Ocotepeque. From the bus station there, you can then continue on to the destination of your choice.

Ocotepeque, Honduras to El Poy, El Salvador

Crossings from the Honduras side to the El Salvador side using this border access point is an easy undertaking. There is no daily limit to the number of people entering/exiting.

From the town of Ocotepeque, you’ll need to take a shuttle or taxi to the border, which will cost about $1 for a shared taxi. 

On the Honduras side, wait times are also usually low. You should be able to get through the process of showing your passport, having your fingerprints scanned, and your photo taken in minutes.

Once through, you’ll walk less than five minutes to the El Salvador immigration control building in blue and white (the national colors). Here you’ll be asked the usual questions about how long you’re staying in the country and where you intend to visit, but you will not be asked to produce any paperwork beyond your passport. 

US and UK citizens must buy a $12 tourist card to enter. It’s not required of citizens of the European Union.

Note that proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test is no longer required to enter El Salvador.

Now you’re free to continue your travels independently, or you can hop on local Bus 119 for a three-hour ride into San Salvador for the low cost of just $2.

El Amatillo Crossing

If your travels are bringing you eastward out of El Salvador, and you’re passing through Honduras on your way to Nicaragua, then the El Amatillo crossing is the one for you.

The basic details are the same as at El Poy. There’s no fee to leave El Salvador, but you’ll need to fill out the Honduras pre-check immigration form and pay $3 to enter the country. The only real difference is the setting.

Once you go through customs on the El Salvador side, you’ll walk across a bridge spanning a river and go through the procedure on the Honduras side. From there, you can move about the country. Check out the capital, Tegucigalpa, and beyond, or continue towards Nicaragua and points south.

What Do You Need to Cross the Border?

Here’s a list of the essential details you’ll need to ensure a quick and easy border crossing. Just keep in mind that the list below is always subject to change.

Passport 

No matter which side of the border you’re coming from, you’ll need your passport. 

To enter El Salvador, there is no specific time period of validity required for US citizens. However, you must pay for a tourist card ($12US).

To enter Honduras, visitors must have a passport that will be valid for at least three months, as well as a properly filled-out pre-check form.

Pre-Check Form: Before attempting to cross the border, be sure to fill out and print out a pre-check form to present to the officials at immigration. You can find the form online by clicking here.

In each case, having a blank page in your passport for an entry stamp is necessary.

Visa

US, UK and EU citizens do not require a visa to enter either El Salvador or Honduras for stays up to 90 days.

Departure Tax

There are no fees required to exit either Honduras or El Salvador.

Proof of Exit

With no departure fees, no proof of exit is required at the borders.

Proof of Onward Travel

Border officials in El Salvador will not ask for proof of onward travel. Though Honduras technically requires proof of onward travel, in practice, this is rarely encountered at either border crossing. But have your air ticket home on hand to produce evidence if needed.

Proof of Economic Stability

At the time of writing, there are no requirements to show proof of economic stability in either country. While customs agents might ask your occupation and where you’ll be staying in the country, as a tourist, you shouldn’t be asked anything beyond that. 

Entry Fee

To enter El Salvador, US and UK nationals (and those of several other countries) will need to purchase a tourist card for $12. It’s not required for citizens of the EU.

It will cost $3 to enter Honduras.

Important: Regardless of your nationality, all visitors to Honduras must fill out a pre-check immigration form, which you can find here.

Cash

Having cash in small denominations in US dollars (El Salvador uses USD) and Honduran lempira is necessary. You can exchange currency at the border crossings for reasonable (and comparable) rates. Since nothing will cost you too much, small denominations are handy.

Safety Tips

The border crossings between El Salvador and Honduras have a good reputation for being straightforward and safe. Customs agents are generally friendly and helpful, though you won’t always find one who speaks English. Therefore it’s useful to have some basic Spanish, but if not, that’s where their helpfulness comes into play.

The straightforward process doesn’t leave much room for scammers, but as always, using your head, keeping an eye on your belongings, and dealing only with official personnel is a good recipe to keep yourself and your possessions safe.

COVID-19 Restrictions

At the time of writing, there are no vaccination or COVID-19 requirements to enter El Salvador or Honduras. 

However, if you have recently traveled to Panama or any South American country, you may be asked to provide proof of a yellow fever vaccination.

Map of the El Salvador-Honduras Border 

Here is a helpful map to assist you in visualizing the locations in this blog. 

Getting Around El Salvador and Honduras

Getting around El Salvador and Honduras by land can be done either by public or private bus routes or shuttles with varying levels of comfort.

Local buses—also called chicken buses due to local passengers bringing livestock and chickens on board—are the cheapest option. But they offer the least amount of comfort and flexibility. Nevertheless, for dedicated budget travelers, this form of transportation will literally cost just a few dollars to cover long distances, and public transportation networks extend to all corners of both countries.

If you plan to capital-hop, you can arrange a transfer from San Salvador to Tegucigalpa—for reasonable prices and greater comfort. A reputable operator is Pullmantur, which offers a comfortable ride between the two cities.

The El Salvador-Honduras Border Final Say

Though the idea of crossing borders in Central America might stir initial feelings of anxiety, you can relax knowing that traveling between El Salvador and Honduras is about as tame as a border crossing can be. 

With all the cultural and natural attractions these countries have on tap, your greatest concern won’t be crossing the border but fitting them all into your itinerary.

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