Adventurous travellers are always looking for the next new place to go: where culture is alive, the people are friendly and where there is much to discover.
Culture junkies and eco-minded travellers alike have figured it out: El Salvador has it all. Volcanoes, coffee highlands, indigenous villages, colonial architecture, art, surfing – you name it, El Salvador has it.
It’s hard to imagine that a country so small could have so much to see and do. So here are a few ideas to get your imagination and travel plans going. Discover more great eco-destinations and articles from tripatlas.com/new: 5 Vacations that Keep Giving Back: Eco Friendly Holiday Travel or 4 Green Travel Deals to Central America.
5 Things you didn’t know about El Salvador
1) Volcanoes, volcanoes, volcanoes
The volcano region of El Salvador will astonish you: a panoramic sight filled with not one, not two, but three towering conic mountains in one sweep. The Izalco Volcano, Santa Ana Volcano and Cerro Verde Volcano all come together to create a mystical atmosphere and an unforgettable sight. Historically known as the lighthouse of the Pacific, the Izalco Volcano’s eruptions provided a beacon to ships crossing the ocean at night for 160 years.
2) El Salvador’s Pacific coast offers world-class surfing
Whether it’s surfing you want or lazing on the beach, the Pacific coast of El Salvador is the perfect place for both. Some of the best surfing in the world, you ask? It’s the truth. Some of the cleanest breaking waves, un-crowded line-ups and swells with consistently great height give El Salvador its reputation among surfers. Nice beach breaks and warm water also make it a great place to learn for beginners!
3) Ancient indigenous cities and ruins are full of mysticism and allure
At the base of Izalco Volcano, you’ll find the historic and mystically alluring town of Izalco that never fails to captivate its visitors. The colonial city of Izalco, completely off the tourist map, represents the largest indigenous community of the region. To this day, the town has retained its indigenous healing traditions and rituals that the Spanish conquerors once referred to as witchcraft.
The mountainous highlands offer a glimpse into indigenous and colonial cultures in breezy, cooler climates. Here on higher ground, coffee flourishes alongside dense forests and lagoons. Nearby, you’ll find traditional indigenous arts and crafts in small mountain villages. The ruins of Joya de Ceren, considered the Pompeii of the Mayan world, reveal the remains of a Mayan village and a fully preserved shaman’s hut.
4) City life, culture and art in El Salvador
San Salvador is the largest city in El Salvador and is also in fact the second most populated city in Central America next to Guatemala City. In San Salvador you can immerse yourself in cultural institutions like a world class museum of art, an extensive anthropology museum, a cathedral and national theater. About one third of the country’s population live in San Salvador huddled in the Valle de las Hamacas (the “Valley of hammocks”) located at the base of San Salvador volcano.
5) El Salvador’s and Guatemala make for an enlightening trip to Central America
Guatemala is all the buzz these days and fortunately, neighbour to El Salvador. Before adventuring your way through El Salvdor, be sure to hop and skip your way to Guatemala. Spend a few days to explore the majestic Mayan ruins of Guatemala and the old city of La Antigua, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with its preserved Spanish Baroque architecture from the 1700s and ruins of its colonial heritage.
The diversity of the landscape and the warmth of the people in El Salvador will impress and surprise you. The friendly Salvadoreños have emerged from their conflicted past to welcome visitors into their peaceful and unexplored country. What are you waiting for?
GreenSpot.travel offers travel planning services with suggested itineraries to El Salvador including Culture & Unexplored Highlands of El Salvador and El Salvador Volcanoes & Surf Adventure.
Be sure to Discover what El Salvador has to offer and explore more tours at EcoExperiencias El Salvador.
Photos courtesy of EcoExperiencias El Salvador.