The historic center of Santa Ana is compact and walkable — the cathedral, teatro, and main market are all within a few blocks of each other. Local buses and taxis cover the rest of the city.
For day trips to the volcano, Coatepeque, and Tazumal, local buses serve most destinations from the main bus terminal near the market, though schedules can be infrequent. A rental car or hired driver (available through guesthouses) gives much more flexibility for exploring the surrounding area.