As two of the original members of the Central American integration project, the border between El Salvador and Guatemala is one of the most fluid and economically vital in the region. This is less a barrier and more a busy, bustling corridor of shared culture, language, and commerce, reflecting a long history of close ties. There are more than half a dozen official crossings, but the three most significant for travelers and trade are La Hachadura on the Pacific coast, San Cristóbal in the central highlands, and Las Chinamas, also known as Valle Nuevo. La Hachadura is the main route for international cargo and sees a constant, slow-moving stream of large trucks, so it’s best avoided if you’re in a hurry.
For a potentially quicker trip, the highland crossing at San Cristóbal, which is on the Pan-American Highway, is often a better choice for passenger vehicles. This entire border operates under the Central America-4 (CA-4) Border Control Agreement between Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, and Nicaragua. This agreement allows citizens of these four countries to travel freely between them with just a national ID card. For other nationalities, it means you receive a single 90-day visa for the entire CA-4 region upon entry, making multi-country trips easier but also requiring you to be mindful of your total time spent within the zone.