Border. Guatemala - Alvarado El Salvador | Customs and Immigration

The border instructions listed here are still good. We were happiest to know ahead of time that: 1. You can and should go around the parked train of trucks (4.5 kms from crossing). It’s a little scary because you overtake them while cars and trucks are coming at you but it’s doable. Just squeeze into the left shoulder. Our sprinter van managed. You have to do this two separate times. 2. You will have to get copies made of your stamped passport. Also, if you see a guy in red on a moped pointing in the direction you should go, he’s legit!

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Very quick passage, we left Guatemala and entered into El Salvador in 1h30! Cancellation of TIP Guatemala in 30 min. On the Salvador side we paid nothing (Switzerland), for the dog a simple certificate from the veterinarian and the vaccination record were sufficient. Novody checked our van inside. Very warm welcome to El Salvador, it must be emphasized 😊

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New Updates - crossed on Oct 2 2023
Guatemala —> El Salvador
Total Time: ~ 2 hours

Guatemala:
1. Park in area to right of migration building
2. First visit the window that says “Salidas” to get your passport stamp out of Guatemala
3. Next go to the office on the other side of the building to cancel the TIP at this point we only handed our current TIP (we waited a bit here and I had to ask if we could approach the window soon)
4. Next the lady walked out to our van to check the VIN and remove our sticker. She put this on our paperwork
5. She told us to make copies of the TIP w/ sticker and of the drivers passport photo page and the page with the exit stamp (we also had to give copy of registration and Drivers license which we already had)
6. Copy place was a little red building by the parking
7. Return to office and hand documents to the agent. They keep all the copies and return a stamped (canceled TIP)
8. Drive 1 km to El Salvador

El Salvador
1. We were stopped as we approached the migration building.
2. They informed us there is now a $12 fee per person depending on nationality. We are USA and Australia. Fee can only be paid in cash
3. Agent stamps passport and collects cash. They gave us 180 days in our passport (dumb because still part of the 90 day C4 visa)
4. Next we went to the Aduana office. Very friendly but they were doing a shift change so we had to wait about 20 mins.
5. We filled out a form with our vehicle details and handed the lady our TIP from guatemala, copy of passports, real passports, copy of License and copy + original car title.
6. She came out to the van to check the VIN
7. Few more minutes waiting for her to finalize the document. We received 60 days for our TIP (apparently the max).
8. Free to leave, as you drive through the border they will stop you one more time to stamp the TIP

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El Salvador to Guatemala: Easy as pie. Didn't even ask for vaccination or pcr. took less than 10 minutes to cross.

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Traversée du Guatemala vers El Salvador

Arrivée vers 8h un mercredi matin.
- Passer la longue ligne de camions
- Se stationner devant le bâtiment bleu et blanc.
- Aller à la fenêtre Migracion et obtenir les estampes de sortie du Guatemala.
- Traverser de l'autre côté du bulding: aller au SAT du Guatemala pour obtenir la sortie temporaire (salida temporal) puisque nous repassons par le Guatemala pour notre retour. Ça a été super long. J'ai dû aller voir le gardien en lui disant que j'avais 2 fillettes dans le VR et que j'étais inquiète pour elles. 20 minutes plus tard, j'avais ma sortie temporaire pour le véhicule d'approuvée.
- Les photocopies nécessaires du côté Guatemala:
- passeport du conducteur, immatriculation du véhicule, TIP du Guatemala, estampe de sortie du Guatemala dans le passeport du conducteur.

- On se dirige ensuite vers les douanes du Salvador. Ça va super bien. Les gens sont gentils.
- La douanière du Salvador arrête notre véhicule. Vérifie nos passeports. Pas d'estampes du Salvador pour l'entrée.
- Aller au bureau Aduana.
20-25 minutes en tout du côté du Salvador

- Photocopies nécessaires côté El Salvador:
- Passeport du conducteur, immatriculation du véhicule, permis de conduire du conducteur, TIP du Guatemala AVEC estampe de salida.

Ça nous aura pris 2h30 pour sortir du Guat et entrer au Salvador.
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Crossing from Guatemala to El Salvador

Arrival around 8am on a Wednesday morning.
- Pass the long line of trucks
- Park in front of the blue and white building.
- Go to the Migracion window and get the exit stamps from Guatemala.
- Cross to the other side of the building: go to the SAT of Guatemala to get the temporary exit (salida temporal) since we are going back through Guatemala for our return. It was super long. I had to go to the caretaker telling him that I had 2 little girls in the RV and that I was worried about them. 20 minutes later, I had my temporary exit for the vehicle approved.
- The necessary photocopies from the Guatemala side:
- Driver's passport, vehicle registration, Guatemala TIP, Guatemala exit stamp in driver's passport.

- We then go to the customs of El Salvador. I'm great. People are nice.
- The El Salvador customs officer stops our vehicle. Check our passports. No El Salvador prints for entry.
- Go to the Aduana office.
20-25 minutes in total on the El Salvador side

- Photocopies required on the El Salvador side:
- Driver's passport, vehicle registration, driver's license, Guatemala TIP WITH salida stamp.

It took us 2h30 to leave the Guat and enter El Salvador.

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As stated before, skip past the long line of trucks...
Once you manage to get to the border through the traffic, park up (we parked in front of the blue and white building.
All other instructions listed correct and are easy to follow. NOTE... you definitely don't need a fixer, sir Alex mentioned here did try to help us but we kindly declined. It was a slow process in the Aduana to cancel out TIP, but simple with lots of waiting.
DOGS, there is a small window to the left of the immigration window where you can show them the import paperwork you received upon entering. He took a quick look, scanned the QR code and said all was good to go.
Once we were fully cleared we got into the long line of trucks entering no man's land towards El Salvador. There was 0 room to bypass this line for a long way so we had to sit patiently and move slow here, took about 1.5 hours. Entering El Salvador was easy and is detailed in the other post.

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The covid test is no longer needed if you have been fully vaccinated. Please see photo for reference. Otherwise an easy border. Make sure, as with every border, you bring your photocopies, money, and patience.

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From Guatemala to El Salvador.. Extremely easy border crossing!! Don't wait in line with the trucks but just drive carefully past them to the front of the line. Everything else as explained bbefore. We got our temperature checked but nobody wanted to see any Vaccination Records. Also, didn't have to pay anything in either country which was surprising...

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Guatemala -> El Salvador
Think about overtaking all the trucks to get to the border. We were blocked a few meters away and took a road to the right to bypass and reach the border post. We parked then we went to the window, the gentleman stamped our passports and gave us a piece of paper with the exit date. If you have a vehicle remember to go to the other office to declare your exit because we forgot and lost some time at the border of El Salvador.

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GUA->ES. Luck of the draw, we had a rude Aduana guy on the El Salvador side, so it took us a bit longer, but another overlander couple had great luck and was out quickly. No one checked our vaccines or covid tests (only took temp) and for our dog, they accepted a Certificado de Salud from a year ago. The other couple did not have to show any dog papers. Luck of the draw!

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Do not use a fixer, easy border
Drive past line of trucks, use back streets is easy
Right side of blue and white building, park in left lane
Go to immigration window, passport stamped out
Make copies of 'out' stamp, have copies of driving license, passport main page, vehicle registration doc
vehicle import permit
With copies go to other side of building, Guatemala end, "Ingresso" to have TIP cancelled
Official will check VIN on vehicle, will say 'dont cancel your TIP' incase El Salvador do not let you in
Exchange remaining Q's to USA dollars
Cross no man's land
TIP documents will be scrutinised
Drive to and park on right hand side of blue white building
Immigration window is at the nearest Guatemala end of the building
No El Salvador stamps in passport. Small paper stamped, not handed to you
Vehicle import....walk down the building, enter Aduana door
Hand over passport, with copies picture page of passport, vehicle registration, driver license.
Fill in their vehicle details form
They will give vehicle a quick check, then wait 30 minutes for them to process details
Sign and keep El Salvador TIP
Head for exit, all documents and passport will be checked at exit gate.
That's it.... any further checks or a bloke asking for 5USD is a scam
Bon voyage.

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Everything is as previously mentioned. I'm heading north and they require printed copies x2 of your covid test. They won't accept only the .pdf.

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Took us a few hours at lunch time on a Saturday.

Hired a fixer who said no fees only a tip. Made sure to ask before. Tipped him 100QZT. Police asked for a $5 bribe while looking through our belongings (we didn’t give one).

They accept the COVID vaccination! Have your original.

Go around all the trucks!!!!

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Everything was as explained previously. No line up of trucks sure to Covid i assume. i was the only tourist driving south and everything was real easy. I parked right next to the immigration window, went across the street to get copies, back to the aduana on the opposite side of the building from immigration to close my TIP. No issues.

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I'm on a bicycle going south and had no issues with Customs clearance at either border. No touts, no traffic line, no coping fees. At 8:30am on a Monday it only took a couple of minutes.
1) hand passport to Guatemala Customs for exit stamp.
2) they want your yellow receipt your got when entering which, if okay, they throw in their bin.
3) They give you a small white piece of paper to hand to El Salvador Customs.
4) cycle 500m across the river to El Salvador.
5a) get a temperature check my nurse, COVID-19 now in Central & South America.
5b) El Salvador Customs take white paper. No stamp in.

If you have a car or motorbike the international Carnet de Passage system paperwork is needed.

I wanted to put in this review as my friend Brett Shirley, who is on a motorbike, put in previous reviews.

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Arrived at 0830 on a Sunday, driving into El Salvador now at 0940.

Guatemala: stamps and cancel TIP if you’re not coming back. Lady made us walk out to the copy place across the street, 1q per page.

El Salvador: no stamp in our US passports. TIP for 60 days is free, no sticker just a piece of paper. He made copies for us! Nice people.

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Again, want to warn about this Tramidor named Alex. He’s a scammer. Someone just posted about him being a saving grace, but he’s lies about fees and the need to grease a border agent. That money just goes into his pocket. The last person posted a picture of him. He had me followed and tried to intimidate me into paying additional fees.

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We arrived at peak hour. Tons of traffic and trucks. Didn’t want to hire a guide but sure glad we did. We had a few “issues” with our paperwork and our guide had to “grease” a few squeaky wheels. The vehicle permit guy on El Salvador side is a real hardass. Whole thing took a couple of hours due to lunch break. Without Alex I’m sure it would have been 4 hours. He’s not cheap but he’ll do his magic for you. I included his picture. Good luck!

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Heading south from Guatemala to El Salvador on motorcycle. Recommend crossing early in the day do you can make it to El Tunco or El Cuco. This border sucks and there’s nothing else for travelers until El Tunco. Drive in the left lane to bypass all the trucks. You’ll have to weave on and off the road a little for oncoming traffic, but it’s minimal. I crossed in the afternoon and it was 2 hours thanks to tired inspectors.

The border process is would have been pretty easy to navigate on my own as I’d intended to do. When i was at the immigration window a Tramidor/Fixer named Alexander approached me. Beware- the dude is a scammer. He continued to follow me around and talk to me until i gave in. He said there were several types of fees. In particular, the one that cost $1/day with a 60 day minimum. Crossing into ES is free. In all I tipped him $50 to handle both borders, which was way too much. Things got weird when I called him out on the additional fees he mentioned.

On the right side of the aduana/SAT building, stamp out of Guatemala for immigration. Receive ticket for entrance to Guatemala.

Go across the street to make copies. Passport, driver license, title, entrance ticket and C4 I think.

Then go to left side of SAT building and provide all docs and have import officer cancel your Guatemala window sticker (turn it back in).

Head to El Salvador.

Go across the bridge and an officer will check papers and collect your entrance ticket.

Proceed to import building. Fill out import forms and have officer verify vehicle.

Get the hell out of that border town.

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heading north...El Salvador was lots easier getting g out than getting motorcycle permit. Paid $5 for tramitor because I was hot and tired. $160 entering tax for Guatemala. must get stamp when you pay at bank then go make copies. ....Road into Guat immigration is nightmare on Harley be careful. leaving bike alone to go eat no prob parked outside Aduanas ask guard in Spanish keep an eye on for me

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Drove right past the 17 km line of trucks on my motorcycle. To exit Guatemala and enter El Salvador took about 2.5 hours in total. It was painless, other than just lots of standing around. Mercifully, both the Guatemalan and Salvadorian Aduana buildings are air conditioned.

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Este es un cruce caótico, porque es el paso de la carretera panamericana y está lleno de camiones y tramitadores ofreciendo sus servicios, que a menos que no hables español, no los requieres. chequeamos aquí nuestra tortuosa salida de Guatemala, para dejar registro y constancia de lo que nos sucedió. En septiembre de 2017 entramos a Guatemala por esta frontera y en octubre del mismo año salimos a Belice por la frontera de Melchor de Mencos. ojo cuando salgas exige certificado de que cancelan el permiso de tu vehículo, es más toma copia o una foto, el funcionario que arrancó el stiker de nuestro carro no canceló en el sistema y un año después cuando volvimos, tuvimos 72 horas terribles de problemas y gente deshonesta queriéndote sacar dinero.

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Absolutely FREE of any fees or other problems to cross to el salvador. Don't forget to cancel your guatemalan temporary import permit

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BY BICYCLE
Crossed in about 10 minutes.
Get passport stamped and collect ticket. Provide ticket to Salvador side.

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Massive line up of big trucks on the Guatemalan side but cruised by them without issue. Lots of detailed instruction for this border crossing with a vehicle but decided to go with Alexander Ramos. He was excellent at explaining the whole process and quick as he is well known at the border. Highly recommended.

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Same experience as others. Tons of semi-trucks crossing here. You have to pass them all to get to the front or you will be delayed for hours. Immigration and cancelling TIP was easy. You can make copies of documents across the street from immigration. We had an hour and a half wait to cross border due to truck traffic.

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Really easy boarder crossing today - less than one hour. We were riding an motorcycle with Guatemala plates and travel with Canadian and Czech passports. Road passed / through all the transports and other traffic -- some ditches and really, really tight squeezing between transports required. Got stamps and a ticket from the Guatemala side and then breezed through the El Salvador side without questions, fees or anything. Almost feel too easy. It would have even been faster if we stopped on the Guatemalan side first to get stamps instead we had to double back after hitting the El Salvador side. Everyone was nice and easy.

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Border El Salvador from Guatemala. If you can afford it Alexander Tramitador is very good his number is 6311 6370. He speaks great English and is very good at the border!

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DO NOT I REPEAT!! DO NOT TRY TO CROSS THIS BORDER. WE THOUGHT WE W B GOING AT A SLOW TIME. NOT. GOOD THING WE HIRED A FIXER WE WOULD NOT HAVE MADE IT W/O HIM. 4 MILES OF TRUCKS!

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Guatemala – El Salvador
La Hachadura Border crossing (2 November 2016)

Total time 2 hours (Guatemala 30 min, El Salvador 90 min)

Guatemala side;

1. Proceed to immigration to stamped out passport
2. Proceed to Aduana (entry side of Guatemala) and get export stamp for motorcycle documentation
3. Get at least 2 copies of exit stamp (passport) and motorcycle export documentation
4. Copier is just cross the street

Now you can proceed to El Salvador customs

Need to have one copy of registration, driver license, passport, title and 2 copies of Guatemala export documentation

1. Stop at the entry for officers to check Guatemala motorcycle export doc
2. Stop in front of the custom building. Officers check passport and no stamp required
3. Go to Aduana and fill the form for motorcycle. (Form is in Spanish)
4. Officer check VIN and plate/tag
5. Officers prepared import documentation
6. El Salvador motorcycle import is free of charge.
7. Good to go now.

Once you left customs building you stopped by police of the city and asked for $5 USD for municipality. We argued but paid at the end.

Motorcycle insurance is not mandatory in El Salvador
More details at http://ayferonurseyahatnamesi.com/category/motosikletle-kutuplara/sinir-gecisleri/central-america

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