El Salvador is the smallest country in all of Central America and besides a few backpackers, was hardly ever visited until a few years ago. El Salvador suffered from a bad reputation, created by violent crime and gang wars, which kept travelers out for a long time. For the last few years crime has reduced tremendously and it is finally possible to travel throughout the country.
With ancient Mayan ruins, great beaches, vast coffee plantations, dozens of spectacular volcanoes, colonial villages and impressive green national parks, El Salvador has always been a gem. A gem which has long remained undiscovered due to ongoing problems in the country. The current government is working hard on its reputation and safety in El Salvador as well as the general infrastructure have improved enormously in the last few years. The many adventures the country has to offer are waiting for you.
Curious about what to do in El Salvador? These are the best things to do in El Salvador!
1. Visit the Mayan ruins of Tazumal
All over Central-America you can find Mayan ruins, including a few important sites in El Salvador. The most famous is the Mayan ruins of Tazuma, a visit here is a must-do activity during your tour in El Salvador.
Tazumal is a pre-Columbian Maya archaeological site located in the area of the ancient Mesoamerican city of Chalchuapa in the west of El Salvador. The Tazumal complex was excavated and restored during the forties and fifties by archaeologist Stanley Boggs and is located in the southern part of the archaeological zone of Chalchuapa. Research shows that Tazumal was inhabited from the Classic period through the Postclassic Period, and that the site was connected as far as central Mexico and lower Central America. The metal artifacts found in the site date from the eight century and are among the oldest metal artifacts brought back from Mesoamerica.
2. Climb The Santa Ana Volcano
El Salvador is a volcanic hotspot with many hikes to offer and the Santa Ana Volcano is one of the best hikes as it’s known for the spectacular view and the turquoise crater lake at the top.
The Santa Ana Volcano, also known as Ilamatepec, is a volcano in El Salvador with a height of 2381 meters, one of the highest mountains in the country. In 2005, the volcano erupted and the nearby city of San Blas had to be evacuated. Two people died. The previous eruptions were in 1904 and 1920. The Santa Ana Volcano is part of the Cordillera de Apaneca volcanic mountain range. In the vicinity we find the volcano Cerro los Naranjos, the volcano Cerro Verde, the volcano Izalco and the volcano San Marcelino.
3. Visit One Of El Salvador’s Coffee Plantations
The climate of El Salvador is perfect for coffee cultivation and El Salvador is known to produce some of the finest coffee in the Americas. A visit to one of the many coffee farms is a great experience for your travel in El Salvador.
Coffee was introduced to El Salvador around 1880 and by 1920 coffee accounted for 90% of all El Salvador’s exports.
Most of the coffee production was owned by a small elite with close ties to the government. This had both negative and positive consequences: most of the wealth went to the elite, but there was also huge investment in internal infrastructure, such as roads, which benefited the coffee industry.
In the 1970s, El Salvador was the fourth largest coffee producer in the world, remarkable for the size of the country. From 1979 to 1992 a civil war raged after which the land was redistributed. Most coffee farmers grow on less than 20 acres and no one can own more than 245 acres.
About 60% of the coffee produced in El Salvador is Bourbon, which has a sweet profile with a strong citrus flavor. El Salvador is the birthplace of the Pacas and Pacamara varieties. The famous Pacamaras from El Salvador has a typical larger bean. The passion and expertise of the farmers ensure a consistently high quality. The coffee producers are supported by the Consejo Salvadoreño Del Café, which does a great job of supporting and promoting El Salvadoran coffee.
4 Hiking In Los Volcanes National Park
Los Volcanes National Park is a great park, about an hour’s drive from Santa Ana and is the place to be for nature lovers. There are several well-maintained hiking trails with great views of the Izalco and Santa Ana. It is advised to go here on a guided tour.
Los Volcanes National Park covers 4,500 hectares and includes three of the fourteen volcanoes of the Cordillera Apaneca-Ilamatepec: Santa Ana, Izalco and Cerro Verde. Its elevations range between 500 and a maximum of 2,381 meters above sea level.
Izalco Volcano
This volcano was called “The Lighthouse of the Pacific” as you could see it throughout the night, which guided ships that sailed along the coasts. For almost 196 years, the volcano offered a spectacle of lava cascades and red-hot rocks thrown into the air.
Cerro Verde Volcano
The Cerro Verde was born 1.5 million years ago and its last eruption was about 25,000 years ago. It goes 2,030 meters above sea level, and its crater is eroded and covered by cloudy forest.
Santa Ana Volcano
With an elevation of 2,381 meters, Santa Ana is the largest of the volcanoes in the complex and is the third highest point in El Salvador. Its last eruption was in 2005, which destroyed vegetation, towns and crops.
More than 125 species of trees are reported to be present in the various ecosystems and several species typical of lava such as lichens, clubmosses, grasses and agaves. There are different kinds of and bromeliads known as gallitos. There are also cypress plantations that were introduced by the former land owners. We can find coyotes, deer, fox, and margay and birds such as hawks and black eagles.
You can access the summits of the three volcanoes through trails and there are several cabins and camping grounds. Make sure to bring a sweater and a jacket as it can get chilly. Walks to the summits are done by agencies only.
5. Travel The Ruta De Las Flores
Driving the Ruta de las Flores is one of the best tourist experiences in El Salvador and a must-do! This scenic route takes you past old colonial villages, gorgeous valleys and of course: colorful flowers and Ruta de las Flores means the flower route.
The route is 30 kilometers long and officially starts in Sonsonate and ends in Concepción de Ataco. The village of Juayua is the most popular village to spend the night.
6. Surf The Wild Waves Of El Tunco
El Salvador is one of the best places in South and Central America for surfing and surfers from all over the world come here to enjoy the perfect waves. The best places in El Salvador to surf are El Tunco and El Sunzal. Some people stay here for a few weeks to learn how to surf. There are boards for rent at many places and you can take lessons.
El Tunco is reasonably aimed at backpackers and offers many cozy bars, tasty restaurants and live music! There are plenty hostels and budget hotels where you can spend the night, but also midrange and more luxurious offers.
7. Dive In Lake Coatepeque
When you’re on top of the Santa Ana volcano you can see a lake from the top. This is Lake Coatepeque (Lago de Coatepeque). Lago de Coatepeque is a large crater lake in the eastern part of the Coatepeque Caldera. There are hot springs near the edges of the lake. With 26 square kilometers, it is one of the largest lakes in El Salvador. In the lake is the island of Teopan, a Mayan site that was of some importance.
The lake has changed color six times since 1998, , this is a cyclical phenomenon that occurs from time to time. The last time the lake had a turquoise color was in August 2017, due the blooming of micro-algae that are part of the phyto-plankton of the lake.
8. Stroll the streets of Suchitoto
El Salvador has many well-preserved colonial cities, including Suchitoto. This small, charming town, about 1.5 hours from San Salvador, feels like an open-air museum and is nicknamed the cultural capital of El Salvador. It is known for its narrow streets, cozy squares and colored houses. Parque Central Suchitoto is the center of the city and the Iglesia Santa Lucia is the biggest eye-catcher. Not too far are the Tercios Falls, which are a nice addition to your visit to Suchitoto.
You might visit Suchitoto to enjoy its picturesque natural beauty, rich cultural heritage, and unique colonial architecture. You could explore the cobblestone streets and colorful buildings of the historical center, or take a boat ride on the not-too-far away Suchitlan Lake to admire the spectacular bird-filled wetlands.
You could also visit the nearby El Mozote Memorial to learn about the tragic civil war history of the region. Suchitoto is a great destination for anyone looking to experience a unique slice of Salvadoran culture.
Here are five more reasons to visit Suchitoto:
1. Immerse yourself in Salvadoran culture: Suchitoto is a great place to learn about Salvadoran culture, from its traditional music and cuisine to its rich history and colorful art.
2. Enjoy the natural beauty: The Suchitlan Lake, with its tranquil waters and lush vegetation, is the perfect spot for a peaceful day of kayaking, canoeing, and bird watching.
3. Explore the colonial architecture: The town of Suchitoto is full of colorful buildings, cobblestone streets, and historic churches, giving visitors a glimpse of its colonial past.
4. Try local cuisine: Sample traditional Salvadoran dishes such as pupusas and tamales at one of the town’s many restaurants.
5. Take part in festivals and events: Each year, Suchitoto hosts a variety of cultural events, such as the Feria de la Flor and the Festival de la Palabra.
8. Take A Ride On A Chicken Bus
Of all the possible modes of transportation in Central America, the chicken bus is probably the most fun, although it’s not without risk! A chicken bus is an old American school bus which is painted in a wide pallet of colors. It is the cheapest and most common way to travel in Central America, but not the fastest. Although it’s a great way to explore the country, the drivers often ignore the traffic rules, making a ride on the chicken bus not without a risk.
9. Discover El ‘Imposible Park’
El Imposible National Park is a tropical rainforest and national park in El Salvador. The park received its status in 1989 and covers an area of 38.2 square kilometers. The name literally means “National Park The Impossible”. El Imposible is named for the dangerous gorge in the park that has claimed the lives of farmers and pack mules transporting coffee to Pacific ports. El Imposible is located in the Apaneca Ilamatepec Mountains at an altitude of 300 to 1,450 meters above sea level. Eight rivers flow from the park to the coast, where they feed the mangrove forests.
The park is home to various special animal species such as pumas, tiger cats, wild boars and rare species of hawks. The Pacific Ocean can be seen from high points in the rainforest.
In 1992, the national park was added to El Salvador’s Tentative List for UNESCO World Heritage status. As the park is quite inaccessible, it’s necessary to book a tour with a tour operator to visit the park.
10. Visit The Puerta Del Diablo
La Puerta del Diablo is a rock formation and tourist site located in Panchimalco and is famous for the crack formed by two rocks nestled on the El Chulo hill. From the tops of the rocks you have a magnificent view over the surrounding area. It is located one kilometer from Balboa Park. The shape is due to an intense downpour that occurred in 1762.
Legend has it that the daughter of a landowner was courted by Satan himself, since she was very beautiful, who locked her up in a cave. The daughter was found dead and the devil was then chased by the father and while he fled across the mountains the crack formation was made.
11. Witness The Bitcoin Revolution Of El Salvador And Try Out The Chivo Wallet
When you travel to El Salvador, you cannot ignore Bitcoin, which is a legal tender in El Salvador since October 2021. Bitcoin first started as a grassroot movement in a few coastal villages under the Bitcoin Beach Project in El Zonte and Punta Mango to let people without banking access, use an ecosystem in which they have full control over their money and help stimulate the local economy without depending on central banks and other centralized powers. El Salvador has gotten a lot of attention worldwide for legalizing Bitcoin and as many millennials and younger people believe in the future of cryptocurrency with Bitcoin inevitably becoming the world’s dominant medium of exchange, this is the perfect destination to witness the start of a monetary revolution and see how a society can function integrating Bitcoin.
So, take advantage of educating yourself about the use of Bitcoin and try out to pay for some services and goods by using Bitcoin while you are on holiday in El Salvador and see how the future looks like.
