Logistics and Transport from El Salvador to US Ports
Routes to the United States
| Route | Ports | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Pacific, direct | Acajutla to Long Beach and Los Angeles | About six days by sea; weekly direct service to Los Angeles |
| Caribbean, via Guatemala | Santo Tomás de Castilla or Puerto Barrios | Truck from El Salvador, then ship |
| Caribbean, via Honduras | Puerto Cortés | Truck from El Salvador, then ship |
| Pacific, via Guatemala | Puerto Quetzal | Truck from El Salvador, then ship |
| Air | International airport (Monseñor Óscar Arnulfo Romero) | Flights of two to five hours to the main cities of the Americas |
Source: INVEST: Investor Guide El Salvador, 2025 edition (PDF, in Spanish); El Salvador.com: Acajutla port to get a new pier and a direct link to the United States; Maersk: El Salvador imports; ICTSI: Operadora Portuaria Centroamericana, Puerto Cortés1,4,3,7
Maersk lists inland transits into El Salvador from Santo Tomás de Castilla, Puerto Barrios and Puerto Quetzal, and charges $30 for each additional border crossing.3,5
Published local charges, Maersk
| Charge | Amount |
|---|---|
| Port to warehouse transit (internal transit) | $60 per container |
| De-coupling in San Salvador | $75 per unit |
| Extra chassis day, from day 6 (day 8 on cross-border corridors) | $50 per day |
| Driver waiting time | $150 per 24 hours |
| Customs security seal | $25 |
| Customs inspection procedure | $75 |
| Import demurrage and detention, dry container, days 8 to 21 | $170 per day |
Source: Maersk: inland transport in El Salvador; Maersk: El Salvador imports5,3
These are one carrier’s published charges, checked in November 2026. Other carriers, such as Hapag-Lloyd, publish their own local charges for El Salvador. Ocean freight and trucking rates are quoted by carriers and freight forwarders for each shipment.5,3,6
Port upgrades and trade rules
- The ports of Acajutla and La Unión have been run since December 2024 by a company formed by the port authority CEPA and the operator Yilport, with a plan for a new deep-water pier at Acajutla; see infrastructure.
- Goods that meet the rules of origin enter the United States under the CAFTA-DR free trade agreement; see trade agreements.
- Import duties, the single customs declaration and customs brokers are covered in customs.
Source: Diario El Mundo: Acajutla cuts ship waiting time to 24 hours; El Salvador.com: Acajutla port to get a new pier and a direct link to the United States2,4
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does shipping from El Salvador to the US take?
INVEST gives a sea transit of about six days from Acajutla to Long Beach, and a weekly direct container service runs to Los Angeles.
How is cargo sent to the US East Coast?
The country has no Caribbean coast, so cargo for the US East and Gulf coasts can go by truck to Caribbean ports in Guatemala or Honduras.
How long do ships wait at Acajutla?
Waiting time for container ships fell to under 24 hours in 2026, from about 12 days.
Sources
- INVEST: Investor Guide El Salvador, 2025 edition (PDF, in Spanish)
- Diario El Mundo: Acajutla cuts ship waiting time to 24 hours (in Spanish)
- Maersk: El Salvador imports
- El Salvador.com: Acajutla port to get a new pier and a direct link to the United States (in Spanish)
- Maersk: inland transport in El Salvador
- Hapag-Lloyd: El Salvador local charges, 31 August 2026 (PDF)
- ICTSI: Operadora Portuaria Centroamericana, Puerto Cortés
Figures checked 8 November 2026. Prepared by InvestSalvador.com for general information. It is not investment, tax or legal advice; please confirm details with a qualified adviser before acting.
