11 of the best things to do in El Salvador

El Pital is the highest mountain in El Salvador (Shutterstock)

Why visit: The highest mountain with sweeping views.

Where is it: The trail is close to Rio Chiquito, which is easily reachable from San Ignacio.It’s in the north of El Salvador, not far from the border with Honduras.

What to expect: It may be the highest peak in the country at 2,730 metres, but that doesn’t mean it’s the most challenging.

On the contrary, it is one of the easiest in the country to climb. After around an hour and a half, you will emerge at the top and your breath will be taken away – literally.

A view of verdant hills, wild forests and quaint villages await. From this vantage point, you’ll be able to see most of El Salvador sprawled out beneath your feet.

If you’re feeling daring, ask a local to take you to nearby Piedra Rajada, a split rock offering jaw-dropping views over Honduras. This view isn’t so easy to reach, though, as it requires walking across a bridge made out of a fallen tree, over a 20-metre drop.

Joya de Cerén is Central America’s version of Pompeii (Dreamstime)

Why visit: A Maya village preserved in volcanic ash.

Where is it: Not far from San Salvador or Santa Ana.

What to expect: 1400 years ago, the Laguna Caldera Volcano erupted, leaving the Maya village of Joya de Cerén quilted in ash.

Perfectly preserved, the now-excavated UNESCO World Heritage site looks exactly as it did all of those years ago and offers a fantastic, if not somewhat eerie, window into the past.

Venture on a guided visit of this archaeological park to explore houses, workshops and a bathhouse precisely the way they were left when the people fled Central America’s version of Pompeii in 595 AD. The small on-site museum is also worth a visit if you’re curious to learn more.

One of the many murals in Ataco (Dreamstime)

Why visit: An enchanting town on the Ruta de las Flores with eye-popping murals.

Where is it: Less than an hour’s drive from Santa Ana.

What to expect: The walls of the colonial buildings along Ataco’s cobbled streets are lavishly decorated with stories from the town’s past.

Some of the murals refer to the 1932 Peasant Massacre, where coffee farmers were killed in their hundreds. Others are symbols of more recent times, such as portraits of Che Guevara and Mother Theresa.

Enjoy the daytime appreciating the art exhibition-like streets and dipping in and out of the markets and relaxed coffee shops. When night comes, follow the feel of the town by slipping into party mode to watch musicians bringing the streets to life with their music.

Get a fantastic view of Coatepeque lake from the top of Santa Ana (Shutterstock)

Why visit: A wildlife-rich national park where you can hike Santa Ana, an active volcano.

Where is it: Located in Parque de los Volcanes, around 60 kilometres from San Salvador.

What to expect: Santa Ana is the tallest volcano in the country, and it’s a massive reward for such little time. A professional local guide must accompany hikers on the trek to the summit and back (2–4 hours). All being well cloud-wise, you will be rewarded with magnificent views of the blue-green crater lake at the top.

Hearing about the interesting historical importance of the active volcano will keep you entertained on the way up. Once at the top, you can enjoy 360 degrees over the park, and beyond.

From one side, you can look down on the other two young volcanoes in the park – Izalco and Cerro Verde Volcano. The sweeping views will also allow you to appreciate the turquoise waters of Coatepeque lake and watch the sun sparkle on its vast surface surround by green trees.

Once at the bottom of Santa Ana, embark on a walking trail to seek out some of the diverse wildlife that calls the Cerro Verde National Park home. You’re likely to see a nine-banded armadillo and some very large rodents. Keep an eye out for the turquoise-browed motmot – the national bird of El Salvador.

The forests around Guazapa hid the camps during the civil war (Shutterstock)

Why visit: Civil war relics on the side of a forested volcano.

Where is it: Around a 40-minute drive from San Salvador.

What to expect: A journey to Guazapa is one of the best ways to get a real insight into the civil war years which devastated the country more than two decades ago.

Book a tour – many of the guides are ex-soldiers who will show you around the forests on the Volcán Guazapa which once acted as their homes, with the forests sheltering their camps, and is also where they fought.

Seeing the remains of the field hospital and the war relics, which litter the volcano’s sides, will give you some understanding of the devastation of the war. Climb to the top of the wooden watchtower for views of Lake Suchitlán and the small town of Suchitoto.

Explore the colonial buildings of Suchitoto (Shutterstock)

Why visit: Laid-back colonial town well worth wandering.

Where is it: 50 kilometres northeast of San Salvador.

What to expect: If culture and history is what you’re after, then Suchitoto is the place to go.

A stroll along the cobbled streets of the colonial town of Suchitoto will showcase a slow, parochial way of life .

The quaint colonial buildings are a reminder of the town’s Spanish past and haven’t changed much since, with museums and art galleries hiding around almost every corner. The laid-back town is too beautiful for the city-dwellers to resist, and on weekends, the streets are lifted with the chatter and excitement of visitors.

When you’ve had your fill of culture, try out the town’s wild side by exploring some of the various waterfalls and caves. Head to Suchitlán Lake to admire the flowers and enjoy bird watching opportunities.

Get an incredible view over the Gulf of Fonseca from the summit of Conchagua (Shutterstock)

Why visit: Fabulous bird life and some of the best views in all of El Salvador.

Where is it: Close to La Unión.

What to expect: Follow the vine-bordered trail of Conchagua Volcano and you’re likely to spot many of the country’s colourful birds.

Enjoy the sight of various hummingbirds flying past in flashes of green, blue and red. Listen to the cry of many other birds circling above.

It is not an overstatement to say that some of the best views in the entire country can be seen from the top of Conchagua. Unusually, rather than coming from the top, when Conchagua erupts, its lava flows from the bottom and into the sea. So, from this crater-less top, you will get an unobstructed and unbeatable eyeful of the Gulf of Fonseca.

In the foreground is a fringe of forest. Beyond that a wide expanse of crisp-clean blue sea melting into a sky of almost the same colour. The view is broken up by the patches of sand hugging the rugged islands, which reach up to punctuate the otherwise perfect skyline. This is truly a view you will never forget, and you’ll struggle to find the right words to do it justice.

The far-east coast of El Salvador is popular with surfers (Shutterstock)

Why visit: An unbeatable surf beach with rowdy waves.

Where is it: On the far-east coast of El Salvador.

What to expect: Sun, sea and surf. That’s the reason people visit Playa las Flores, perhaps the best place to surf in Central America. The beach is popular and can get quite busy. However, there is no denying the beauty of the spot.

Surrounded by cliffs, the golden sands of las Flores are open only to the Pacific, which throws frothing waves crashing into shore. If you want to have a go at standing on a board, the best time to go is between December and February. During the months of June through to July, the sea can get more ferocious, and you’re far better off watching the professionals from the safety of the sand.

When you’ve had enough of the surf and relaxing on the beach, it’s well worth exploring some of the other stretches of shoreline along the east coast. Coconut tree-lined Playa Esterón is home to an eco-resort where you can visit the turtle hatchery and learn more about the wildlife of El Salvador’s best beaches.

A paradisiacal beach in the Guld of Fonseca (Shutterstock)

Why visit: A sparkling bay dotted with myriad islands.

Where is it: Easily reached by boat from La Unión.

What to expect: The islands that make up the Gulf of Fonseca can only be described as a natural haven. Even better, they haven’t been discovered by the masses yet.

Don’t expect to find much in the way of tourist accommodation. Do expect to find islands draped in untouched forests, where you can feast on fish fresh from the water with unspoiled views over the Pacific.

A great way to explore is by boat, from which you can see many of the islands, and watch pelicans fly overhead.

The Metropolitan Cathedral of San Salvador is a focal point in the city historic centre (Shutterstock)

Why visit: A regenerated space where locals like to spend time among families and friends.

Where is it: Downtown San Salvador, the capital city of El Salvador.

What to expect: The capital’s historic centre used to be a place where very few dared to step foot. Controlled by intimidating gangs and awash with street vendors, Salvadorans were extremely wary about spending time here.

Today, the historic centre has been completely reinvented. The street vendors now sell their wares in local markets rather than blocking the streets and the gangs have been removed. Children run around central plazas and old friends sit on benches smiling and conversing. It’s the perfect place to stroll and admire El Salvador’s historical architecture.

The rainbow-lit interiors of Rosario Church and the butter-yellow Metropolitan Cathedral are two key sights to visit and learn more about San Salvador’s turbulent history and its perennial resilience.

The National Theatre in Santa Ana was built in the early 1900s thanks to funds from El Salvador’s coffee industry (Alamy)

Why visit: Get insight into El Salvador’s impressive coffee production and culture.

Where is it: On the outskirts of the town of Ataco.

What to expect: Head on a guided tour of this working coffee estate to understand the painstaking and dedicated process of artisanal coffee production. The local community meticulously dry the beans, carry heavy sacks of beans, rake through the roasted beans and weed out any poor-quality beans to make sure that only the best are used. It reiterates just how much work goes into each aromatic cup.

You’ll hear about the significance of coffee in El Salvador and how it’s shaped the country’s economy. It was thanks to coffee that El Salvador could fund the building of several of its most important buildings in the 1900s, such as the mint-green theatre in the city of Santa Ana.

Today, the country’s coffee culture is developing and increasingly, more speciality coffee shops are popping up around the country. Head to places such as Casa de la Abuela coffee shop in Suchitoto to sip a freshly brewed cup for yourself.

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