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[Transport] Bus San Salvador – Concepcion de Ataco: Fares & Bus Terminals

There are two ways to get from San Salvador to Concepcion de Ataco. Both routes require a change of bus.

1st method: San Salvador – Sonsonate – Concepcion de Ataco

This method is longer but the advantage is that the changeover to Sonsonate is done in the same bus terminal.

  • From Terminal Occidente in San Salvador, take a bus to Sonsonate (the route in question is called Ruta 205). There are several types of buses. Choose the servicio especial buses ($1.30) that have a luggage compartment. These buses leave on time.

Hours: every 20 minutes, between 5:20 am and 7:20 pmDuration:
1h30Rates:
$1

.30

  • From the same terminal, take a bus that looks like an American school bus. Ruta 249 (towards Ahuachapan). Beware, Ataco isn’t the terminus, you have to ask for the stop on the way (there are always people getting off). The stop in Ataco is just at the entrance of the village(Google Maps)

Schedules: regular departureDuration:
1h30Rates:
$0.75 (not sure)

Here are some pictures of illustration

bus 249 looks a little bit like this. It will be marked Sonsonate and Ahuachapan on the bus. This type of bus has no place for luggage, you have to put it on a seat and pay an extra for the seat occupied by the luggage

2nd method: San Salvador – Ahuachapan – Concepcion de Ataco: $2.90

This method is faster but there is a change of bus and terminal in Ahuachapan (6 minutes walk only)

  • From the Terminal Occidente in San Salvador, take a bus to Ahuachapan (the route in question is called Ruta 202). There are several types of buses. Choose the servicio especial ($2.30) or servicio exclusivo ($2.45) buses that have a luggage compartment. Ahuachapan being the terminus. These buses leave on time and arrive at the following terminal: Google Maps

Schedules: Very regular, between 4:30 am and 5:30 pmDuration:
1h15Rates:
$2.

30

  • From Ahuachapan, walk 6 minutes (or take a tuktuk, $0.5) to the departure of the mini-bus to Concepcion de Ataco(Google Maps), which leaves when it is full ($0.5). There is no compartment for luggage but you can leave it in the small corridor. The trip is fast so if you stay standing during the whole trip, it’s not horrible either. Ataco isn’t the terminus but the bus stops. The stop in Ataco is just at the entrance of the village(Google Maps)

Schedules: regular departure (when the bus is full
)Duration: 30mnRates:
$0.49

Here are the illustrative photos

Western Terminal in San Salvador
Ticket sales office at Terminal Occidente
Avoid these 202 buses, whose comfort isn’t at the top and there is no space for luggage. But for a local experience, why not
this is a “servicio especial” bus, with luggage compartment
departure of the minibuses for Concepcion de Ataco
the mini-bus that circulates between Ahuachapan and Concepcion de Ataco

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