Bahamas · Destination
Private charter flights to San Salvador.
Wall diving off the west coast, and Columbus's first landfall.
San Salvador sits out on the Atlantic edge of the Bahamas, about twelve miles long and five wide, with a population of under a thousand. The island's claim is that Columbus first came ashore here in 1492; there are monuments to it on the west shore. What actually brings people is the diving. The reef wall on the leeward side starts in about forty feet of water and drops into thousands, close enough to shore that dive boats are on site in minutes.
We land at San Salvador Airport (ZSA), a port of entry with a long runway on the west coast next to Cockburn Town. The dive resorts are a few minutes from the airport, and everything else on the island is on the one ring road.
Flight times to San Salvador
Direct-distance estimates to San Salvador International Airport (ZSA) from each Buzz Air base and our most common pickup airports. We can also depart from your local airport. Your coordinator confirms exact timing.
| Departing from | Distance | Grand Caravan | Piper Seneca | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fort Pierce (FPR)Main terminal | 377 nm | ~2 hr 21 min | ~2 hr 36 min | Plan it → |
| Merritt Island (COI) | 420 nm | ~2 hr 35 min | ~2 hr 52 min | Plan it → |
| West Palm Beach (DJT)Pickup | 341 nm | ~2 hr 09 min | ~2 hr 23 min | Plan it → |
| Fort Lauderdale (FXE)Pickup | 333 nm | ~2 hr 06 min | ~2 hr 20 min | Plan it → |
| Orlando (ORL)Pickup | 455 nm | ~2 hr 47 min | ~3 hr 05 min | Plan it → |
| Naples (APF)Pickup | 414 nm | ~2 hr 33 min | ~2 hr 50 min | Plan it → |
Estimates include a 15-minute taxi/climb allowance and assume still air. Flying from somewhere else? Use the trip planner.
What to do in San Salvador
The wall
Vertical drop-offs, swim-throughs and hammerheads in the winter months. Riding Rock and Club Med both run daily boats to sites along the west and south coasts.
Dixon Hill Lighthouse
Built in 1887 on the island's northeast corner and still hand-wound and kerosene-lit. The keeper will usually let you climb it.
The Columbus monuments
A cross at Long Bay marks the accepted landing site, and there are two more monuments on the island for competing theories. The beach at Long Bay is worth the stop regardless.
Inland lakes and beaches
The interior is mostly salt lakes, and the coast is ringed with beaches that see almost nobody. Snake Cay, Grotto Beach and Sandy Point are all reachable by rental car or bicycle.
San Salvador charter FAQs
How long is the flight to San Salvador?
From our main terminal in Fort Pierce (FPR), plan on roughly 2 hr 21 min in the Grand Caravan or 2 hr 36 min in the Piper Seneca, plus taxi time. Use our trip planner for an estimate from any Florida airport.
How long is the flight?
About two hours twenty minutes in the Grand Caravan from Fort Pierce. San Salvador is one of our farthest Bahamas destinations, so most trips are a week of diving rather than a day.
Can we bring dive gear?
Yes. Tanks stay on the island, but regulators, BCs, fins and camera gear all fit through the Caravan's cargo doors. Tell your coordinator what is coming so we plan the weight.
Do we clear customs at San Salvador?
Yes, ZSA is a Bahamian port of entry with customs and immigration on the field. Processing is $150 one-way or $300 round-trip per flight, and everyone needs a valid passport.
Ready for San Salvador?
Tell us your dates and party size and we’ll reply with aircraft options and pricing, usually the same business day.
