Comalapa International Airport - a gateway to Latin AmericaThe Comalapa International Airport (SAL) is a gateway to Central and South America, so it’s quite busy with about 35,000 international flights every week. 
I like the Comalapa airport. As the plane approaches the airport and I see the nameEL SALVADOR in big red letters, I know the adventure is about to start. It sure builds my anticipation! LocationComalapa International Airport is about 35 minutes from San Salvador and very close to many beautiful beaches like Costa del Sol which is my favourite one with beautiful sunsets. So, if you’re idea is to only spend time at the beach, then you don’t have to go very far! There are many excellent beach hotels and resorts in Costa del Sol so this is a good option. AirlinesMany airlines fly into Comalapa International Airport (SAL). American Airlines for example, offer several daily flights to El Salvador from different airports in the US. Continental, Taca and United also have daily flights to Comalapa Airport so it is a busy one. FeesIf you need to get a tourist card upon arrival, then you’ll need to pay $10.00 for it, so be sure to have cash for that. There’s also a $32.00 departure fee or tax that must be paid in cash when checking in for departure. Don’t forget about the departure tax, it’s very important. I’ve seen people unable to board their flights because they either forgot or didn’t know about it and don’t have the cash to pay. That just ruins everything because you could miss your flight while you’re trying to get the money, so it’s better to be ready for it. Don’t forget it’s a $32.00 departure tax! What’s in the Airport?I like checking out the duty-free shops at the Comalapa International Airport. There’s so much good stuff to buy. All kinds of souvenirs like keychains, t-shirts, hats and of course, a bottle of the nationally acclaimed “Tic Tac” to share with your friends. How about some Pollo Campero before the flight? OK, don’t get me talking about Pollo Campero, it’s delicious! There are also some car rental agencies like Budget and Hertz if you want to rent a car to get around. We always get picked up by family or friends so we haven’t used any of these agencies yet, but I’ll let you know when we do! If you have used them, let us know what you think of them. Near By
As I mentioned before, la Costa del Sol beach is only about 20 minutes from the Comalapa Airport so it could make for a nice and relaxing “pit-stop” to stretch your legs or have a bite to eat. For me, stopping at Costa del Sol is always a good idea, I love the sunsets there!Another favourite stop is Olocuilta (OK, I have several favourites) to savour the famous Olocuilta pupusas. If you are ever at the airport and have a few hours to spare, go to Olocuilta and have a little taste of this delicious Salvadorean food which is very popular among tourists. I often hear of people doing long stop-overs at Comalapa International Airport sometimes overnight. There are some El Salvador airport hotels that can be checked out, like the Quality Real Aeropuerto Hotel. Other Airports in El SalvadorThere are actually 2 airports in El Salvador. When Comalapa International Airport was built in the 1970’s, it replaced the Ilopango airport which then became a military and charter airport. Ilopango airport is located in San Salvador about 20 minutes from the city center in the suburb of Ilopango, right where the Ilopango tunnel is. To me, airports are airports and I don’t like spending too much time there, but I’ve shared with you some general info about the airports in El Salvador so you can get a good idea of what to expect.
Hasta pronto and have fun planning your vacation! Return from Comalapa International Airport to How To Get ThereReturn to Home Page
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