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Voykit pocket guide · El Salvador
La Unión
Skip La Unión unless you are crossing to Nicaragua by boat: the town itself has little for a tourist. Half a day is enough to catch the ferry or bus onward.
La Unión is a port town and transport hub in eastern El Salvador, best known as the departure point for the Ruta del Golfo ferry to Nicaragua. The town has a few seafood restaurants and pupuserías but no major sights. Most travellers pass through in a few hours. Nearby Santa Rosa de Lima, El Cuco and San Miguel offer more to do.
- Country
- El Salvador
- Best months
- Nov–Apr (dry season)
- Avoid
- May–Oct (rainy season, ferry may be rougher)
- Stay
- 0 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- USD
- Money
- Currency is the US dollar (USD, $). Bitcoin keeps a legal status, but since a 2025 reform nobody has to accept it; dollars (cash and cards) are what you will use.
- Daily spend
- Budget $25–40 excl. bed · Mid $50–80 excl. bed · High $100+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Claro, Tigo, Movistar and Digicel sell SIMs at the airport and malls; passport needed.
- Emergency
- Police, fire, ambulance 911
- Plugs
- Types A, B · 120 V · 60 Hz · US plugs fit.
- Tipping
- Restaurants: 10% often added; check the bill.; Surf instructors and guides: US$5–10.; Hotel staff: US$1–2 per bag.
- Water
- Do not drink tap water; bottled and filtered water everywhere.
- Toilets
- Paper in the bin; bring your own for buses.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Pupusa (one) | $0.50–1.00 |
| Seafood plate (fish or shrimp) | $8–15 |
| Bus from La Unión to Santa Rosa de Lima | $0.50–1.00 |
| Taxi within town | $2–5 |
| Comfort Inn Real La Unión, double room per night | $70–90 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- SAL · San Salvador International Airport (El Salvador International Airport)
- About 2.5–3 h by bus or car; the nearest major airport.
Typical fares
- La Unión → Potosí (Nicaragua), Ruta del Golfo ferry
- about $40, 2 h (check)
- La Unión → San Miguel, bus
- about $1–2, 1 h
- La Unión → Santa Rosa de Lima, bus
- about $0.50–1, 20 min
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
The town is walkable. Taxis and mototaxis cover short distances; buses connect to Santa Rosa de Lima, San Miguel and the Honduran border.
See and do
Known for
- Ferry to Nicaragua (Ruta del Golfo)
- Seafood and pupusas
- Gateway to eastern El Salvador and Honduras
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Santa Rosa de Lima | Bus from La Unión, about 20 min | About 30 min |
| El Cuco | Bus via San Miguel, about 1.5 h | About 2 h |
| San Miguel | Bus, about 1 h | About 1.5 h |
| Potosí, Nicaragua (ferry) | Ruta del Golfo motorboat, about 2 h | About 2.5 h including check-in |
Sleep
- Near the ferry terminal
- Closest to the dock; Comfort Inn Real La Unión is the main option, about 2 km (1.2 mi) from the terminal.Closest to the dock; Comfort Inn Real La Unión is the main option, about 1.2 mi (2 km) from the terminal.
- Santa Rosa de Lima
- The departmental capital, 15–20 min by bus; more accommodation and services.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | Hola |
| Thank you | Gracias |
| How much? | ¿Cuánto? |
| Where is the ferry? | ¿Dónde está el ferry? |
| I need a taxi | Necesito un taxi |
| Do you accept dollars? | ¿Acepta dólares? |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Handshake, 'buenos días'; avoid: Skipping greetings in shops
- Checkpoints: Hands visible, calm, ID ready; avoid: Arguing or filming
- Conversation: Food, surf, football; avoid: Gangs, prisons and politics with strangers
Scams and watch-outs
- The ferry to Nicaragua runs daily but schedules change: confirm with Ruta del Golfo in advance.
- Cash only in most of the town; ATMs are limited and may run out of money on weekends.
- Checkpoints are common on the Pan-American Highway; carry your passport and entry card.
- The ferry terminal is at the north end of Avenida Norte; taxis from the centre cost about $2–3.
La Unión is generally safe during the day, but like much of rural El Salvador, avoid walking alone after dark. Keep valuables out of sight and carry only the cash you need for the day. Checkpoints are routine; have your passport ready.
One and two days
No timed day plan for La Unión yet. Suggested stay: 0 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Ferry to Nicaragua (Ruta del Golfo)
- Seafood and pupusas
- Gateway to eastern El Salvador and Honduras
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Ruta del Golfo ferry: www.rutadelgolfo.com
- Comfort Inn Real La Unión: www.choicehotels.com/el-salvador/la-union/comfort-inn-hotels/sv006
- Wikivoyage: La Unión, revision 5034994 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5034994
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
La Unión
Lléveme a la terminal de ferry, por favor
Take me to the ferry terminal, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
- Police, fire, ambulance911
The US embassy is in San Salvador; most other countries also have embassies there.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/la-union). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.