The Pan-American Highway crosses the country east to west from the Guatemalan to the Honduran border, connecting the main Salvadoran cities. There is one major port in Acajutla. The country is also served by cargo ports in Puerto Barrios and Puerto Quetzal in Guatemala and Puerto Cortes in Honduras. Fares are not metered, but rather based on the number of zones traversed. Be prepared for Mexico City-like traffic.
Buses run throughout the country, but are often targets for crime.
Several auto rental firms have offices at the airport, including Avis, Hertz, Budget, Sure Rent and Dollar. A U.S. driver's license will be valid for a limited period of time after arrival. The official language is Spanish, but English is spoken by a many educated Salvadorans. An inadequate telecommunications network connects to a microwave satellite system serving the other countries of the world. Many businessmen use cellular phones since it is extremely difficult to obtain new phone lines for homes and businesses.