Explore El Salvador
9 days
Want to explore El Salvador? This 9-day tour will give you a wonderful look at the culture and traditions of the Central American country, as well as a solid appreciation for its nature. From incredible black sand beaches and rolling seas to natural hot springs and dormant volcanoes, El Salvador is a wonderful place to enjoy nature, but it doesn’t stop there.
Once a land filled with Mayan settlements, there are ruins to be visited and ancient history to see. Today, the culture is rich with local artisans and delicious foods that you should definitely try for yourself. It’s a country that has so much to offer, yet is often underestimated.
Tazumal ruins
These ruins are a complex of Maya architecture
Apaneca labyrinth
An ecological maze that tests your ability to find the exit
Ruta de Las Flores
Artistic murals
Los Tercios
Waterfalls
Highlights
On your journey with our knowledgeable guides, you’ll explore El Salvador thoroughly. Get ready to peer into ancient volcanic craters, try local delicacies in a colonial village, and taste coffee right where it’s grown. We’ll travel to the stunning Ruta de Las Flores where you get to immerse yourself in the amazing culture that makes El Salvador such a special country to visit. Explore a cloud forest and relax in a natural hot spring after taking in the capital city in all its glory. From sea to mountain, jungle to beach, this trip is the experience of a lifetime and you don’t want to miss it!
Itinerary
Upon your arrival in the international airport SAL you’ll be met and escorted to your hotel in San Salvador, the capital city of El Salvador. Here, you’ll find yourself tucked away in the picturesque city, with views of volcanoes and the stunning scenery that surrounds the hotel.
-Two nights in San Salvador
San Salvador is interesting in that it’s the capital city of this tiny country, but there’s so much more to it. Today, you’ll have a chance to enjoy a full city tour. There’s plenty to see here, including the Catedral Metropolitana, considered one of the most important sites in the city. It looks over the Plaza Barrios, named after ex-president Gerardo Barrios. The cathedral itself is stunningly built with a rather eclectic mix of architecture.that makes for great photographs.
We’ll stop by El Rosario Church, which looks modest on the outside, but is absolutely stunning inside. The unique angles and arches inside allow for some impressive light displays as the sun pours into the space.
Another highlight is the National Theater, which has been renovated to fit the French Classic style. Despite being built in the early 1900’s, the theater still offers concerts and performances on a regular basis. The interior features some lovely copper artwork and murals, as well as a variety of American and Austrian furniture.
It’s not a tour of San Salvador without passing by the Italian marble Palacio Nacional or National Palace. This building was once used as the headquarters for the government and is now a stunning tribute to the past.
There are a variety of museums available throughout the city, as well, making it easy to pop in and learn more about various parts of the local culture and history. Your tour will last all day, giving you a chance to really get a feel for this popular city.
While visiting El Salvador, you don’t want to miss two of the biggest attractions in the capital city. Your guide will take you to Puerta del Diablo and El Boquerón.
Puerta del Diablo or the Devil’s Door is so named for its dark past. During the civil war in El Salvador, it was the site of many tortures. It also looks like a gaping maw, with an arched cleft in the stone. Today, it’s a wonderful lookout where you can gaze out over the natural beauty of the parklands surrounding it.
Volcanoes are a big part of the landscape in this picturesque country and El Boqueron National Park is home to San Salvador Volcano. Nestled in the center of San Salvador, this volcano is easily accessed, as it’s just a short hike from the parking lot to the summit. Here, you can view the stunning turquoise lake that sits in the volcano’s crater and lush cloud forest, filled with wildlife. In this park alone, there are more than 200 bird species.
We’ll finish up the day with a quick tour of San Salvador, to cover anything you may have missed yesterday.
At one point, Mayans lived in El Salvador and the ruins of their civilizations are still visible here. Joya de Ceren is one of the most interesting Mayan sites to see because it was preserved by volcanic ash after the eruption of the Laguna Caldera Volcano. When people evacuated the small community, they left behind all their belongings, which means archeologists were able to learn far more about everything from methods of construction to food preparation and preservation.
Next, we’ll travel to Cerro Verde National Park. Located in Apaneca-Ilamatepec Biosphere Reserve, this park is a good spot to see the true power of a volcano. It’s home to Santa Ana, the tallest volcano in El Salvador, boasting one of the largest craters in the world. It erupted recently, so you will take a short hike and see just what kind of damage a volcano can create. The park also contains the brand-new Izalco Volcano.
-Overnight in Cerro Verde National Park.
One of the highlights of touring El Salvador is following the Ruta de las Flores or the Flowers Route. It’s a truly beautiful journey through a series of small villages where you can experience more of the culture.
In Juayua, you’ll visit the local markets and have the chance to buy from artisans in town. It’s also a stunningly artistic town full of murals and street art to dazzle the eye. We’ll take the time to enjoy some of the local cuisine here, as well, from massive prawns to delicate desserts.
Apaneca is best known for its coffee plantations, so coffee lovers will enjoy trying the various types of coffee grown here. Hike through a plantation and catch some amazing views as you see where coffee is raised.
If you love wicker handicrafts, Nahuizalco is the place to be. You should also take the time to climb the church bell tower for a panoramic view of the area.
You’ll also pass through Salcoatitan, which features a massive Ceiba tree. These trees have a strong cultural meaning and are found throughout the country. You can also do a little shopping here at the artisan market.
In Concepcion de Ataco, you have to climb to La Mirador de la Cruz, where you can get some photos for your memories and social media. There are also several artisans who sell their work in this village. If you’re looking for something to take home and wow people, Concepcion de Ataco is a good option.
Ahuachapan is one of the main entrances to the now famous route. You’re bound to go through it at some point, and it’s a great introduction to some of the pretty local artisan goods available.
-Two nights in Concepcion de Ataco, or any of the other towns of the Ruta de Las Flores.
There’s never a bad time to combine Mayan ruins and hot springs, so today we’ll start off with a visit to the archeological site of El Tazumal. It was a rather significant ceremonial center for the Mayan people and is now popular with tourists. This ruin is found in the center of Chalchuapa and is separated from the daily life of the city by a chain link fence. You can still visit the museum, however, to learn about the thriving trade routes the Mayans had through Panama and Mexico. There’s also the Estela de Tazumal, which is a hieroglyphic monolith at the National Museum of Anthropology David J Guzman.
Next, we’ll travel across the highway to Casa Blanca, another Mayan ruin with a much different feel. This one is more designed for foreigners, with English signs in the museum, and it’s surrounded by forest. You can even try dying your own fabric at the indigo workshop!
Finally, after a full day of exploring El Salvador’s Mayan heritage, you’ll head to Santa Teresa Hot Springs to relax those muscles. The naturally heated springs have been developed into multiple pools with a calming atmosphere that will ease your aching body and prepare you for the next adventure.
Today, you’ll get to participate in making one of the more iconic foods of El Salvador, the pupusa. Food is a wonderful way to explore a country’s culture and it’s fun to learn to make it yourself.
We’ll take a tour through the charming colonial streets of Suchitoto, as well. The city was the first major Spanish settlement in the country and was the original location of the capital city. The colonial architecture gives the places a quaint feel and offers a stunning backdrop for travel photos and videos.
As you near the site of your next adventure, you’ll hear women patting out corn dough, much like tortillas. However, these tortillas are stuffed with anything from black beans or cheese, to meat and vegetables. Pupusas are a highlight of El Salvador’s local cuisine and it’s time to learn how to make them yourself. Once you’ve cooked up a few of your own, you can sit down and enjoy the pupusas in a traditional meal.
-Two nights in Suchitoto.
After a good night’s sleep, it’s time to take a closer look at the area surrounding Suchitoto. We’ll head out early in the morning on a sunrise boat tour. You’ll float out on Lake Suchitlan, watching the many birds that call this area home wake up and fly out. It’s also a good time to watch local fishermen setting sail for the day.
Later on, we’ll make our way to Los Tercios waterfalls. The falls don’t flow during the dry season, so May to December is considered the best time to visit. However, the rock formations, created by rapidly cooling magma, are worth checking out any time of year.
Your adventure in El Salvador has come to an end. We’ll get you to the international airport for your departing flight. Unless you decide to take advantage of one of our amazing extensions. See you soon!
map, expenses & price
Explore El Salvador
Expenses included:
-All private transportation.
-Eight nights of hotel accommodations.
-Tours and excursions as listed.
-Professional certified guides.
-All park entrance fees.
-Daily breakfast.
Extensions
Explore el salvador
As a fan of the ocean, you won’t want to miss the Pacific Coast extension. El Salvador has some stunning beaches and this tour will take you to some of the top ones. El Tunco is a pretty small beach town, but it’s very popular with surfers and travelers. It’s actually considered to be one of the top surfing locations in Central America. With an active nightlife, this is a good place to hang out if you enjoy dancing the night away after a day of surfing. It’s a safe haven for tourists and worth checking out, just for the surf, whether or not you dare grab a board.
explore el salvador
Another fun place to check out is El Zonte, just 26 miles from San Salvador. It’s a tiny town famous for being the first place to allow Bitcoin as legal tender, but it’s also a surfing destination. Don’t worry, if you’re not a surfer, you can also go spelunking in sea caves, release baby sea turtles, or take a yoga class. It’s a more relaxed option for enjoying the coast and there are plenty of other places to visit, as well.
explore el salvador
At over 4,000 feet, the Conchagua Volcano has some pretty stunning views of the surrounding coastal forest, or Bosque Conchagua. Here, wildlife abounds and the volcano itself is named “Flying Jaguar ” in the local Lenca language. It’s a beautiful place to enjoy nature, but the real fun is climbing up to Mirador Espiritu de la Montaña (Spirit of the Mountain Lookout), where you can spot islands in the Gulf of Fonseca. There is a project underway in the area that will make use of the geothermal energy from the volcano as a power source.
Explore El salvador
El Imposible (The Impossible) National Park is a rare sight. The tropical dry forest ecosystem here, which is nearly impossible to find anywhere else. Here, you may spot a variety of endangered species, including wild boars, pumas, and ocelots, as well as many birds. The flora and fauna here are unique, thanks to the odd ecosystem. The park is on the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative list, thanks to its ecological significance. Take some time to explore the stunning views and fascinating landscapes of El Imposible and see what you can spot.
Explore el salvador
Jiquilisco Bay is El Salvador’s biggest marine ecosystem and a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. During May to September, you’ll have a chance to spot the hawksbill turtle spawning season and even participate in a turtle release. The entire bay is a reserve where you can spot a wide variety of wildlife and birds. You can enjoy a stunning sunset while listening to the local birds settling down for the night. Explore the mangrove estuaries where you’ll learn more about the vital hawksbill sea turtle project. Nearly half of all known hawksbill turtles nest in the reserve and they’re a critically endangered species, as are many birds that reside in the area.
