Located in Central America and bordering Honduras, Guatemala and the Pacific Ocean, El Salvador is the smallest country on the subcontinent. But despite its small size, this country has all the elements to make an ideal tourist destination. From amazing archaeological sites and postcard-perfect natural landscapes, to charming villages with colonial architecture, all under the mantle of a rich and captivating culture. But these are just a few examples of all there is to see in El Salvador.
To enter this wonderful country means loving volcanoes instead of fearing them, and to reconnect with the magic of simple things and small places. Read on to discover El Salvador, its beautiful city Santa Ana, its green nature and its history, thanks to the vestiges of past civilisations who enjoyed this country many centuries before us.
What are the best places to see in El Salvador?
San Salvador, a must-see city in El Salvador
San Salvador is the capital of El Salvador. It is also the gateway for those arriving in El Salvador by air, as it is home to El Salvador International Airport. Although the city is small, it is well worth strolling through its streets and learning about its history, for where we now see a place in the midst of revitalisation, it was once a city of colonial architecture that was destroyed by seismic activity.
One of the places you must see in the capital is the National Palace, a monumental building built in 1866 and one of the city’s main tourist attractions. In the heart of the city is the National Theatre, the oldest in Central America, which stands out for its elegant architecture combining Renaissance, Rococo, Romantic and Art Nouveau styles. And last but not least, the Plaza de la Libertad, the liveliest spot in the city.
Find out what else to see in the capital of El Salvador in Things to see and do on a trip to San Salvador.
El Boquerón National Park
Although located in San Salvador, El Boquerón National Park deserves a special mention. It is one of the most beautiful places in El Salvador and Central America. You can go on jaw-dropping hikes thanks to the breathtaking greenery and, of course, the impressive El Boquerón Volcano. Covering an area of 110 square kilometres, the volcano is divided into three main parts, El Picacho, its highest point, El Boquerón, the crater, and El Jabalí.
The hiking trails offer incredible views of the volcano, which is only 20 minutes from the city centre. There is also an information centre in the park that tells the history of this volcano, which once destroyed the city of San Salvador.
Santa Ana and Santa Ana Volcano
Santa Ana is the second largest city in El Salvador. Unlike San Salvador, Santa Ana is lucky to still have architectural treasures from the colonial era, such as its National Theatre. This impressive mint green building is part of the city’s Cultural Heritage, and no wonder, since this jewel has more than 100 years of history and is impressive both inside and out. The Teatro Nacional de Santa Ana is located in the old Plaza Mayor. Parque La Libertad, a beautiful setting where other important buildings in the city, such as the Mayor’s Office and the Casino, can be found. Nearby is also the Cathedral of Santa Ana, built at the beginning of the 20th century, which surprises with its white colour and neo-Gothic architecture overlooking the colourful city.
Finally, a special mention for the crowning jewel of Santa Ana: its volcano. At 2381 metres, the Ilamatepec volcano is the highest volcano in El Salvador. The hike can be a little tough, especially if it’s a very hot day, but once you reach the top, the reward is immediate: some of the most breathtaking views in all of El Salvador.
Tazumal Archaeological site
In the municipality of Chalchuapa, in the Department of Santa Ana, there is one of the most interesting archaeological and historical sites in El Salvador. We are talking about the archaeological site of Tazumal, whose name means “place where souls are consumed”. The ruins are made up of several structures, including a 24-metre high stepped structure and La Piedra de las Victorias (The Stone of Victories), from the Omelca culture. This stone is a monolith with a bas-relief with figures depicting the period (700 BC).
The site has a museum where the findings of Tazumal are exhibited and where you can learn many interesting facts about the cultures who once lived here. Tuesday to Sunday from 9:00 to 16:00. Admission: 1$ residents and 3$ tourists.
Lake Coatepeque
Another of El Salvador’s most spectacular natural environments is Lake Coatepeque, south of the city of Santa Ana. As is common in the country, Lake Coatepeque is volcanic and has characteristics that make it seem magical. For example, its waters change colour cyclically due to the proliferation of microalgae. The last time they changed was in 2018.
Lake Coatepeque is a site of National Tourist Interest due to its impressive beauty. It is also an ideal place for diving, canoeing and other water sports, thanks to its calm waters. Free access.
El Tunco, one of the best beaches to see in El Salvador
In the department of La Libertad, about 40 km from the capital of El Salvador, is the lively town of El Tunco, which is not only home to one of the best beaches in El Salvador, but is also an ideal holiday destination because of its lively and bohemian atmosphere.
As we said, El Tunco is one of the best beaches in El Salvador and is, without a doubt, a favourite among surfers, where they can ride waves of up to 6 metres high. But if surfing is not your thing, don’t worry, because you can sunbathe on the black volcanic sand of El Tunco and swim in its quieter areas. In addition, El Tunco has an amazing nightlife that seduces everyone who visits.
Find out more about El Tunco in our post Things to see and do on a trip to El Tunco
Discover the best beaches in El Salvador in our post What are the best beaches in El Salvador?
Ruta de las Flores
One of the most beautiful places in El Salvador is actually an area between two departments that encompasses five unique villages located in the middle of nature. These are the towns of Nahuizalco, Salcoatitán, Juayua, Apaneca and Concepción de Ataco, each just as charming as the next. We suggest discovering them for yourself through the Ruta de las Flores.
This route can be done through organised excursions that take you through the five villages in a single day. You will discover such impressive places as the Santa Teresa Hot Springs and the Apaneca Labyrinth, among others. However, if you feel that one day is not enough to enjoy all that the Ruta de las Flores has to offer, you can go on your own and spend as many days as you need in these wonderful five villages.
Suchitoto
Suchitoto is one of the most visited towns in El Salvador and it’s no wonder, as its beautiful colonial architecture and picturesque atmosphere make it one of the most beautiful places in the country.
Among the most interesting sights to see in Suchitoto are the Church of Santa Lucía and the Cascada de los Tercios waterfall. However, the best experience is a stroll through its colourful streets to enjoy the town’s atmosphere.
Organise your travel itinerary with Passporter, completely free to use, easy and practical. Get inspired by the experiences of other travellers and choose the places that interest you most by adding them to your route map.
Travel Tip: To organize your trip we recommend using Passporter totally free. You can be inspired by the experiences of other travelers, choose the places that interest you most, create the travel route with a geolocated map, upload all important documents such as reservations and invite your friends so that everyone can participate in the organization of the trip.
What to eat in El Salvador?
El Salvador’s charms are not limited to the beauty of its towns and natural surroundings. There is another that conquers all who try it: we are talking about its food. Salvadoran cuisine is characterised by the fusion of three cultures: indigenous, European (Spanish and Italian) and Arab. The mixture of ingredients and culinary traditions of these cultures has given rise to a tasty gastronomy with a lot of personality.
Among the main ingredients in El Salvador’s cuisine are corn, the basis of many of its recipes, beans, rice, beef, chicken… And the queen of Salvadoran gastronomy is the pupusa, the country’s national dish, a tasty corn tortilla filled with different ingredients, such as cheese, beans, meat… But it’s not the only dish you can’t miss on your trip to El Salvador: chicken tamales, sopa de patas and Salvadoran pasta are other must-tries.
What should I bear in mind before travelling to El Salvador?
- Book in advance if you are travelling in high season.
- Try pupusas: El Salvador’s national dish.
- Bring mosquito repellents and clothing that covers your extremities, especially if you’re hiking in wet areas such as lakes.
- Cover yourself for medical emergencies: travel insured.
- Always drink bottled water and don’t eat street food.
- If you use common sense, it is as safe a country as any other. Don’t display luxury items on the street and stay away from tourist areas.
- Be careful with your belongings in crowded, touristy places.
- Protect yourself and others: avoid crowds and wear a mask when appropriate.
- Electrical outlets in El Salvador are type A and B.
How to plan your El Salvador travels?
Register or download the Passporter App and discover all its useful features.
- Get inspiration from the experiences of other travellers.
- Create your own itinerary and add the app’s suggestions to it.
- Add the spots you are most interested in, as well as the restaurants and bars where you want to eat (you can use the points of interest listed in this post as a reference).
- Organise your itinerary by days and according to their location (you can take inspiration from the routes presented in the post).
- Check the travel budget that the app calculates for you based on your travel stops, restaurants, and leisure activities.
- Make the necessary modifications and you are ready for your trip.
- Finally, share your experience. Upload photos of every place you’ve visited to the app and recommend to other travellers all the things to do in El Salvador.
If you have any doubts about how to plan your itinerary, you can read our post: How to create your travel itinerary with Passporter.
FAQs about El Salvador Travel
El Salvador has two airports that receive international flights: El Salvador International Airport and Ilopango International Airport. There are no direct flights from Europe, but they do stop over in the USA or in Latin American countries such as Panama or Honduras. It is rare to find flights from Europe for less than €300.
El Salvador is a small country with a good public transport network. The most common way to get around is by bus, both within cities and to other cities. In general, the big cities are well connected to each other and to smaller towns, and buses leave quickly. Buses are also very cheap.
El Salvador has a tropical climate that keeps the country’s temperatures pleasant all year round. January is the coldest, with lows of 19ºC and highs of 29ºC, but year-round temperatures are generally between 19ºC and 24ºC minimum and 31ºC and 34ºC maximum.
However, there are major differences in rainfall throughout the year. The weather in El Salvador is divided into two seasons: the rainy and the dry. The rainy season runs from May to October, with about 20 days of rain per month. The dry season runs from November to April, when it hardly rains at all.
The best time to travel to El Salvador is during the dry season, i.e. from November to April. During these months, rainfall is less frequent and travel is much more pleasant.
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