In the media
Captain Mario in the media
The Salvadoran press and travelers from several countries have told the story of Captain Mario and his crew. Here we bring together what each publication says, with the link to read it in full.
years sailing the Gulf of Fonseca
press articles and 1 video
traveler stories since 2013
Two generations at the helm
Each press article names the captain it interviewed. In their blogs, travelers simply call him Mario or “Captain Mario.”
Captain Mario Meléndez
Captain and guide · founder
In 2025, Diario El Salvador presented him as the pioneer of the Gulf of Fonseca tourist route. In 2022, El Diario de Hoy told how he rescued birds on the open sea.
Mario Robles
Captain and guide · second generation
The second generation in charge: he guides the trips and shares the Gulf on social media with the #GolfoTravel community.
In the press
Articles and video from Salvadoran media, newest first. All are in Spanish.
Diario El Salvador · October 13, 2025
Mario es el precursor de la ruta turística del golfo de Fonseca
By Jonathan Laguan · Name in the article: Mario Meléndez
A profile of the captain, who went from fishing to guiding travelers around the gulf. He says it all began about 30 years ago, when he took friends fishing near the islands; that he trained as a guide in a project of the Japanese cooperation agency JICA; and that today he takes tourists, many of them European, to Honduras and to Potosí, in Nicaragua.
El Diario de Hoy · March 23, 2022
VIDEO: Mario, el lanchero de La Unión que rescató de la muerte a 15 buitres en altamar
By Insy Mendoza · Name in the article: Mario Meléndez
He was heading back with clients when he saw black vultures drifting in the current off Meanguera Island. He stopped, pulled at least 15 aboard and left them on the shore of Salvadoran islands to dry off and fly again. The outlet describes him as a fisherman and owner of tour boats.
Summaries by Golfo Travel. Each link opens the original publication on the outlet’s website, which owns its texts, photos and videos.
What travelers say
Travelers from other countries have written on their blogs about crossing to Nicaragua by boat with Captain Mario. These are their stories.
The prices, schedules and contacts they mention reflect the date of each trip. Current ones are on our Shuttle page and on our WhatsApp.
Andrew from Winnipeg · Andrew · May 24, 2022
How to Get From El Salvador to Nicaragua by Boat
Argues that crossing with Mario is the best way to get from El Salvador to Nicaragua: he organizes everything, drives the boat and answers quickly. The post calls entering Nicaragua by sea the easiest border entry the author has made.
Couple of Explorers · Maddy and Gary · December 26, 2017
El Salvador to Nicaragua – Boat Crossing
The couple contacted Mario by email; he replied quickly and organized everything efficiently. They recommend him explicitly, call it the most relaxing border crossing they have made and include a photo of “Captain Mario” after he got them safely to Potosí.
1 of 7 · Liz Zipse and Kip Patrick · July 22, 2013
Boat from El Salvador to Nicaragua
The oldest account we found: a couple chose the La Unión–Potosí boat over the bus through Honduras, hired Mario and describes a scenic crossing that went off without a hitch.
Sail with Captain Mario
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