5-day Trip to El Salvador
Signature trip
El Salvador is an often overlooked Central American country, but it is just as beautiful and fascinating as its neighbors. This 5-day trip to El Salvador gives you an introduction to the country and a chance to experience the Mayan ruins, volcanoes, lakes, and some of the most picturesque towns you’ll ever see.
With our experienced guide, you’re bound to have the time of your life. We’ve carefully curated this trip to El Salvador to ensure you get to see the best parts. In addition to seeing the sights, you’ll learn some of the history of the place and enjoy meeting the friendly people who live here.
San Salvador
The handsome capital city
The Labyrinth of Albania
Central America’s biggest maze
Ataco
Street murals with art
Pacific Coast
Beautiful black sand beaches
Highlights
You’ll enjoy the many opportunities we offer to really immerse yourself in the beauty of El Salvador. This country has a lot to offer and while five days isn’t a lot of time to cover it all, we’ll certainly try. You’ll travel along La Ruta de Las Flores, visiting multiple towns, each known for a specific reason, and enjoy local cuisine.
We’ll also spend some time on Lake Suchitlan and Lake Coatepeque. And don’t forget the volcanoes that create a vibrant background to some of the most incredible scenery you’ll ever see. You’ll have the opportunity to climb a volcano for yourself. We’ll also visit ancient Mayan ruins and you can see how they once lived, centuries ago.
Itinerary
Upon arrival at El Salvador International Airport (SAL), our driver will pick you up and take you to the hotel in San Salvador. Here, you can rest after your flight and take a little time to check out the sights and food in the area.
Overnight in San Salvador.
Today, you’ll hop on a boat to take a Lake Suchitlan tour. This man-made lake was built in 1976 after the Cerrón Grande Hydroelectric power plant was built. It’s since become a beautiful destination for tourists and locals alike, offering kayaking, fishing, and birdwatching. The lake is well-known for its varied flora and fauna and you’re bound to see plenty of fascinating birds while traveling over the water. We’ll pass Los Pajaros Island (Bird Island) so you can see everything, before exploring Suchitoto.
Suchitoto has been inhabited since pre-Columbian times and the colonial town is worth a visit. You’ll have lunch here before stopping at your hotel, Los Almendros de San Lorenzo, which is a restored mansion. Packed with Salvadoran art and antique furniture, it’s a stunning place to relax and swim. Take a peek at the library or enjoy a stroll through the garden before we head out to tour the town.
As one of the few towns that still boasts cobblestone streets, Suchitoto is a unique experience. We’ll visit the House of Crafts, The Ruins’ Theater, and several art galleries where you can purchase art or souvenirs of your time. You’ll also have a chance to admire the unique historical architecture of the Santa Lucia Church. Suchitoto is known as the cultural capital of El Salvador, due to the many galleries and festivals held here.
Overnight in Suchitoto.
Enjoy a delicious tropical breakfast before we head to Joya de Ceren. As a UNESCO World Heritage Site, this Mayan settlement is famous for being well-preserved after the Laguna Caldera Volcano erupted around 600 AD. It’s often called the “Pompeii of the Americas” since it gives archeologists a fascinating look at how people lived at the time. Everything is perfectly preserved by the ash, right down to food and organic materials.
Next, we’ll travel to Cerro Verde National Park, where you can enjoy a casual stroll through the forest trails. You’ll see three volcanoes on your hike, Izalco, Cerro Verde, and Santa Ana. If your group is interested, we can arrange for a guided hike up either Izalco Volcano to check out the steaming core, or Santa Ana, where you’ll see beautiful lakes and calderas.
After the hike, we’ll settle down on the shore of Lake Coatepeque to enjoy a peaceful lunch overlooking the water.
Overnight in Concepcion de Ataco.
You can’t miss La Ruta de Las Flores or the Flower Route when in El Salvador. It’s one of the most beautiful trips in Central America, running through multiple towns. We’ll stop in several of the towns for a closer look at what the locals have to offer, from artisanal goods to delicious food, and incredibly fresh coffee.
The towns we stop in include:
Apaneca: As one of the highest areas in El Salvador, Apaneca is nice and cool, making it ideal for coffee growing. You can taste-test some of the freshest coffee you’ve ever had and enjoy seeing the Apaneca-Ilamatepec mountain range looming nearby.
Ataco: This town is best known for its local artisans, who produce unique sculptures, and woven and embroidered textiles that you won’t want to miss. You can watch some of these artisans at work when we visit Axul Artesania, an immersive handicrafts store. We’ll also visit El Carmen Estates coffee plantation to learn more about how coffee is cultivated and prepared.
Salcoatitan: The main attraction in Salcoatitan, part of La Ruta de Las Flores, is the stunning 19th-century church dedicated to San Miguel Arcángel. We’ll take some time to enjoy the architectural beauty and then check out more of this picturesque town.
If we’re traveling on Saturday, you’ll visit Juayua’s Gastronomic Festival, where vendors prepare amazing dishes. These include grilled meats, flavorful rice dishes, and spicy prawns, among other local cuisines. Any other day of the week, we’ll spend more time in Ataco.
After a full day of exploring El Salvador’s culture and scenery, it’s time to rest up. You’ll be taken to your beachfront hotel to spend some chill time on the black sand beach.
Overnight at a Pacific Beach.
Your trip has come to an end and we hope you’ve enjoyed your trip to El Salvador. Your driver will take you to the airport today to fly home. Remember, you can always add one of our extensions if you want to see a little more.
map, expenses & price
5-day Trip to El Salvador
Expenses included:
-All private transportation.
-Four nights of hotel accommodations.
-Tours and excursions as listed.
-All park entrance fees.
-Professional local guides.
-Daily breakfast.
Extensions
7-day trip to El Salvador
If you want a closer look at the capital city of El Salvador, this extension is perfect. You’ll hike up El Boqueron, the volcano with its own national park full of flora and fauna, to look out over the mini crater, Boqueroncito. You’ll also have a chance to explore some of this historic city, including the Iglesia El Rosario, designed by Rubén Martínez and known for its stained glass, the Metropolitan Cathedral in the historic center, and the National Palace. Get a real feel for the city with our full tour.


7-day trip to El salvador
Need more Mayan history in your life? El Salvador is home to many historical sites and ancient ruined cities. This area was once full of bustling cities and trade routes, which have only recently been rediscovered. We’ll visit several of the ruins, including: San Andres, Tazumal, Casa Blanca and Cihuatan.
San Andres: Dating back to 900 BC, San Andres is one of the oldest Mayan cities in the area. Abandoned after a volcanic eruption, it was recolonized around 100 years later, when it became a regional capital and was quite important politically, as well as culturally. It’s also the site of an ancient indigo plantation.
Tazumal: The name of this city means “pyramid where the victims were burned.” This may reflect rituals carried out here. With plenty of Olmec influences in the architecture, Tazumal is a fascinating place to visit. Some of the first pieces of gold jewelry were found here, as well.
Casa Blanca: Three main pyramids are the center of this Mayan ruin. It was active up to 5,000 years ago and offers an extensive museum on site, as well as an indigo workshop where you can learn more about natural dyeing methods.
Cihuatan: With more than 900 structures, Cihuatan is one of the largest Mayan ruins in El Salvador. It includes ball courts, pyramids, and two large ceremonial centers, but was destroyed by a fire that caused inhabitants to flee and leave their belongings behind for archeologists to find.

7-day trip to el salvador
This volcano has dual peaks, Cerro del Ocote and Cerro de la Bandera, with a lush jungle-filled crater. We’ll hike up it to the Mirador Espíritu de la Montaña, where you can see for miles. Get amazing views of the Gulf of Fonseca and its islands from one of the most incredible viewpoints in the country.

7-day trip to el salvador
If you travel to a tropical country like El Salvador, it makes sense to spend some time on the beach. We offer an extension to your 5-day trip to El Salvador on one of the many popular black sand beaches on the Pacific Coast. You may stay at El Tunco, El Zonte, El Cuco, Costa del Sol, or one of the other stunning beaches along the coast for a little extra downtime.