Juayùa Transportation

The buses between Tacuba and Ahuachapán leave quite frequently. They leave from the main street, a few blocks up from the main plaza. When I was leaving a bus was standing there and I didn’t have to wait long before it left. To Ahuchapán it took about 40 minutes and it was 0.60 dollars (June 2009). The bus drove through Ahuchapán and then dropped the last passengers between the market and the Sonsonate highway turnoff. I crossed the roads and waited by the side of the road for the first bus to Juayúa. Other people were waiting there as well and we didn’t have to wait long for the bus. For Juayúa it took less than an hour and the price was 0.75 dollars.
When I earlier, during the week, had passed Juayúa the bus had stopped at Parque Central, but as I now arrived during the weekend and the area around the park was full of food stalls the bus stopped three blocks west of the park (opposite the bank).

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To get to/from Juayua, the alternative to private car and taxis is the bus. Bus line to Juayua is the one which serves the Ruta de las Flores and that goes from/to Ahuachapan to/from Sonsonate stopping in the villages on the way. If coming from San Salvador you shall get to Sonsonate first and then take the bus to Ruta de las Flores.

Buses operate with high-frequency during the day hours two to four times per hour. Price is few cents of US dollar per ride. There is no night service and if you end up staying in Juayua after 7:00 pm most likely you shall overnight.

I did not take the bus and I cannot say whether it is a comfortable ride. I suspect it is not (see photo attached, the service is operated with dismissed US school bus equipment), though I am sure it is an interesting experience.

There is also a minibus service (see other photo attached) which make the same trips in about the same time at about the same rates.

Tourists will likely get to Juayua by bus, taxi or private car. Taxi is a reasonable choice if you have made your base in San Salvador and plan to visit Ruta de las Flores (and Juayua) in day trip and stay only few hours. At time of my visit in May 2007 there were no taxi-stands in Juayua and you needed to have your taxi driver wait for you. I hired a taxi in San Salvador and agreed on a US$10/hour fare, though I suspect I might have negotiated harder.