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Driving and hitching, El Salvador

Maria Kowalska

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Driving in El Salvador is relatively straightforward on the major roads and a perfect way to reach some of the more inaccessible beaches along the Pacific coast. There are filling stations in every town and at most major highway junctions, and no road is so long that you should have to worry about running out of fuel. Finding parts for US and Japanese models is not usually a problem if you have your own car. However, some back roads become impassable at times during the rainy season, even to 4WD; ask locally about conditions before you set off. More worrying is the recent increase in armed hold-ups of private cars on quieter roads, especially in the northern departments of Chalatenango - it will be automatically assumed that foreigners have something of value to steal. Keep an eye on the latest news and, if in doubt, seek police advice. In cities, thefts - particularly of newer-model cars - are common, and it's wise to leave your car in a guarded or locked car park. Car rental prices are on a par with those in the West: from US$40 a day for a small car to US$90 and upwards for a jeep. Take great care if driving on Sunday afternoons or public holidays as drink-driving-related road accidents tend to increase at these times. Hitching is common in remote areas and around La Libertad, where the lack of regular bus services means that any passing vehicle is fair game. Having said that, hitching carries obvious risks, and we do not recommend it. If you do hitch, it's polite to offer payment - about the same as the bus fare - for the journey.