Pullmantur Bus Guatemala to El Salvador 2026: Schedules, Prices and Border

Pullmantur operates the Guatemala City - San Salvador route as an international cross-border service. Its own price page publishes Turista $36.00, Ejecutiva $39.00 and Primera Clase $62.00 one way, taxes and on-board meals and drinks included, with a journey time of 4 hours 45 minutes. It competes with Tica Bus, whose published fares on the same corridor are $20.00 standard and $35.00 Servicio Diamante, and with King Quality, for which no published fare could be verified in 2026.

Pullmantur quick summary: Guatemala City - San Salvador bus, 4 hrs 45 min per the operator, Turista $36 / Ejecutiva $39 / Primera Clase $62 one way. Pullmantur does not name its border crossing; Tica Bus and Transporte del Sol name Valle Nuevo / Las Chinamas. You need a passport (or national ID if CA-4 citizen). Departures 06:00 and 14:00 daily from the Hotel Holiday Inn, 1a Avenida 13-22, Zona 10.

What is Pullmantur

Pullmantur is one of the main international bus operators in Central America. The Guatemala City - San Salvador route is its most in-demand service, part of a Central American corridor that also connects to Tegucigalpa, Managua and San Jose.

International pullman service: reclining seats, air conditioning, onboard bathrooms, technical stops, assistance with border procedures.

Fares and Comparison 2026

Pullmantur fares are from the operator’s own price page and Tica Bus fares from its own routes-and-fares table, both retrieved 12 September 2026. Tica Bus prints that its listed fares are online-purchase prices and that arrival times vary with border queues. Reference exchange rate: Q7.63 = $1 USD (Banguat). See current exchange rate.

Best value: Tica Bus publishes the lowest one-way fare on this corridor ($20.00, or $35.00 for Servicio Diamante). Pullmantur wins if you want a Zona 10 departure, a meal included and the fastest published journey (4 hrs 45 min) rather than boarding at Calzada Aguilar Batres in Zona 12.

The Route Step by Step

1. Departure from Guatemala City

• Pullmantur boards at the Hotel Holiday Inn, 1a Avenida 13-22, Zona 10 — the only Guatemala address the operator publishes. Tel (502) 2495-7000, WhatsApp (502) 4085-3187
• Departures: 06:00 and 14:00 daily (Turista Superior); Primera Clase adds 07:00 and 14:30 on some days, Ejecutiva runs 07:00 Mon/Fri/Sat and 14:30 Thu/Fri/Sun
• Arrive 30-45 minutes early with passport / ID

2. Internal Guatemala leg

• Pullmantur publishes no route map or intermediate stops on the Guatemalan side, only the 4 h 45 min total.

3. Border crossing

Option A: Valle Nuevo / Las Chinamas (CA-8)

• The crossing Tica Bus and Transporte del Sol name on their own timetables. Pullmantur does not name its crossing on the pages we read (12 September 2026)
• IGM counted Valle Nuevo as the busiest land post of Semana Santa 2026 (105,641 movements); neither SAT nor IGM publishes crossing times (checked 20 September 2026)
• Guatemalan side: the route runs through Jutiapa department – Jutiapa city is the last major stop before the border if you need cash, food or a night’s stop

Option B: La Hachadura (coastal) — not used by this service

• A real crossing on the Guatemala-El Salvador border, open 24 hours on the Salvadoran side
• But no operator we read on 12 September 2026 names it for a Guatemala City to San Salvador bus: Tica Bus names Valle Nuevo / Las Chinamas, and Transporte del Sol names Las Chinamas. All four crossings are compared on El Salvador border crossings

At the crossing:

• You get off the bus with your passport
• Guatemala immigration: exit stamp (free)
• El Salvador immigration: entry stamp (free if CA-4 or tourist, $10 if visa)
• Customs: luggage inspection

4. Internal El Salvador leg

• Border - Santa Ana - San Salvador (~2 hours)
• Paved highways, volcanic landscape

5. Arrival in San Salvador

• Pullmantur arrives at the Hotel Sheraton Presidente, Local Pullmantur, Final Av. Revolución, Colonia San Benito — tel (503) 2526-9900
• Distance to downtown: 10-15 minutes by taxi/Uber

Required Documents

For Guatemalans

• Valid DPI (national ID, sufficient under CA-4 agreement)
• If minor: notarized authorization from both parents

For Salvadorans

• Valid DUI (national ID, sufficient under CA-4)

For Other Central Americans (Honduras, Nicaragua)

• Valid national ID (CA-4 agreement)

For Foreigners (USA, Europe, etc.)

• Valid passport (minimum 6 months validity)
• Visa rules depend on your nationality; see our visa guide
• El Salvador charges $10-12 USD migration fee for non-CA-4

For Diaspora (Guatemalans in the US)

• If you have a DPI processed at a consulate, you can use it as CA-4
• If you only have a Guatemalan passport, it still works — just pay the migration fee

Comparison: Pullmantur vs King Quality vs Tica Bus

Travel Tips

Before You Leave

• Book 1-2 weeks in advance during high season (Holy Week, Christmas, Independence Sep 15)
• Confirm exact terminal and time — some services offer hotel pickup, others only terminal
• Buy small US dollars ($5, $10, $20) — useful for migration fees and tips

During the Trip

• Bring water and snacks even though the bus makes stops
• Stay awake during border crossing — you must present your passport personally
• Do not bring fresh foods (fruit, meat) — may be confiscated at customs
• Bring a light jacket, air conditioning can be strong

At the Border

• Follow the driver and bus assistant — they guide you
• Have passport and bus ticket ready
• If carrying expensive electronics, declare at customs
• Total crossing time: 30 min to 2 hours depending on season

Comparison with Other Crossing Options

For 90% of travelers, the Pullmantur international bus is the best price/comfort ratio. A flight only makes sense if your time is worth more than $200-300, considering that with short flights you spend more time in airports than in the air.

Pullmantur Alternatives

If Pullmantur has no available schedule:

• King Quality — no reachable website on 12 or 25 September 2026. Its Facebook page (Transportes KING Quality, S.A.) lists the address 3ra Avenida 1-38, zona 9, and the phone 4508 3187, but the newest post we could load there dates from 2018 and it publishes no fare or schedule (read 25 September 2026)
• Tica Bus — $20 standard or $35 Servicio Diamante, but it boards at Calzada Aguilar Batres 18-35, Zona 12, not in the centre
• Centro Express — the economic option, no frills
• Private shuttle — Q1,500-2,500 ($197-328 USD per group of 4) for family travel

For Diaspora from USA

If you are planning a multi-country trip (Guatemala + El Salvador):

1. Fly to La Aurora (GUA) from the US
2. Visit Guatemala (Antigua, Atitlan, Tikal)
3. Take Pullmantur to San Salvador
4. Return to the US via SAL (San Salvador) or return to GUA

This multi-destination route is common for diaspora visiting family in both countries. See also transport safety.

Reservations and Contact

• Pullmantur Guatemala: Hotel Holiday Inn, 1a Avenida 13-22, Zona 10. Tel (502) 2495-7000, WhatsApp (502) 4085-3187
• Online sites: Pullmantur runs bookings through local travel agencies and platforms such as Busbud, Tickets Bolivariano
• Tip: Verify tickets online 1-2 weeks in advance

Other routes and transport:

• Litegua Capital - Puerto Barrios — bus to the east
• Bus to Mexico (Tapachula) — northern cross-border
• Lake Atitlan lancha routes — Q10-35
• Antigua to El Tunco & the El Salvador beaches — direct shuttle to the surf coast, USD$50
• Uber Guatemala pricing — from Q15
• Driving in Guatemala — alternative with own vehicle
• Safety — transport safety guide

Pullmantur and Tica Bus figures verified against the operators’ own sites on 12 September 2026. Pullmantur reserves the right to raise fares without notice, and Tica Bus prints that arrival times vary with border queues. Verify before traveling.