El Salvador is a small and gorgeous Central American country that, despite having times of upheavel in the last 50 years, has continually drawn in tourists from all over with its mix of incredible nature, tasty food, impressive volcanoes, and surfing. It’s a great place to visit for a mix of fun in the sun, nature walks, and old world history. So stay tuned, as Viewcation presents: Best Things to Do in El Salvador
El Salvador might not be a huge country, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t have a ton of places to see. So we’re splitting up our list geographically, into east, west, and central El Salvador. First, let’s take a look at the east portion of the country!
Alegria Crater and Conchagua volcano
Ever wanted to drive inside of a volcano? The Alegria Crater gives you that chance! Now, it’s probably not like the volcanoes you’re picturing in your mind – the super tall ones that are cone shaped. No, you’re not gonna be driving up the side of a steep mounting and then falling down inside. Volcanoes actually come in a variety of shapes, and often they are shaped like a big hole, aka a crater. In the Alegria Crater, which is located to the north of Usulutan, you’ll be able to drive around and check out the incredible views of the valley below. Of particular note is that the sulfur of the volcano has created an intense green lake. While you might not want to dive in, it’s still gorgeous to look at. And amazingly enough, there’s an actual restaurant at the volcano site. Grab a bite to eat at Cartegena Vivero and Restaurant. It offers good food and a terrific vantage point to sit and check out the volcano, as well as a large variety of native birds swooping around.
The Conchagua volcano is a stratovolcano that does look like the classic volcanoes in your mind. So that means you aren’t going to drive up into it. But you can get quite close to it, and you don’t have to worry about it erupting, because it’s not an active volcano. One great option is to make a day trip there from a nearby town and sleep at the base of the volcano. Another interesting thing of note about the Conchagua is that it was recently chosen by the President of El Salvador to be the location for “Bitcoin City”. It will theoretically be a place where the energy of the volcano is used as the sole source of power not only for the local residents, but also for mining cryptocurrency.
Tamarindo and Las Flores Beaches
These two beaches are probably the best offerings on the east side of the country. Tamarindo is a super chill spot with very calm waters. So if you’re looking to surf, go elsewhere. But if you enjoyed wading into the water or scuba diving, Tamarindo is a great option. And if you time your trip right, you might be able witness sea turtle babies returning to the ocean after being born! The surfers among you will likely want to pick Las Flores beach, because of it’s more lively tides. But, because it’s El Salvador, you are also nestled within some gorgeous vegetation and wilflife along the coast nearby, so you get a little nature watching as you take on the waves.
Bahía de Jiquilisco
Finally, be sure to check out Bahía de Jiquilisco, which is a huge natural habitat and mangrove area. If you’re an animal lover, you’ll be wowed by the 450 species of birds in the habitat, as well as the abundance of other wildlife. There are only seven kinds of turtles on the planet, and four of those happen to live in the Bahia de Jiquilisco habitat. And there’s a Monkey House where tourists can catch action from some small primates, as well as a Cacao tour, to learn about how chocolate is made.
Now let’s switch focus to Central El Salvador.
San Salvador
The most obvious attraction in central El Salvador is the capital, San Salvador. It’s home to many gorgeous and historic churches, governmental buildings, and eateries. You shouldn’t miss the San Salvador Cathedral, both because it’s a beautiful church, and because it has an important meaning for the country. Every year, people from all over the country and the world travel to the church to pay respect to the crypt of Oscar Romero. He was the fouth archbishop of San Salvador, and was famous for his peace activism and his passion for social justice in El Salvador.
You should also see the National Palace and the National Theater. The Palace was actually made into a national monument in the early 1980’s, and is a gorgeous piece of blended architecture. It features construction in the styles of Neoclassical, Renaissance, and neo-Gothic architecture, all on one breathtaking building. And there’s no charge for entry. The National Theatre is the oldest in the country, as well as in all of Central America. But it’s not just a relic – you can still catch impressive plays, music concerts, and more.
Of course, as a major world capital, San Salvador offers so much more than these few attractions. But we’ll keep moving, so you get a sense of the whole area.
Before we tell you more about the best things to do in El Salvador, be sure to give this video a like, and subscribe to Viewcation if you haven’t already!
Salvador Volcano and Rainbow Slide
Yes, we’ve arrived at our third volcano of the video. This one is just outside the capital, and besides the appeal of being able to hike a volcano, it also offers the best panoramic view of San Salvador that you can get. It’s a very hike-able volcano, so a day trip up it is highly recommended. And another reward you get for hiking up top, besides the views of the city below, is that you have access to what’s known as the Rainbow Slide. It’s become a worldwide attraction, and a must-do for anyone visiting El Salvador. It’s a man made slide of many colors which you slide down in an inner tube. It’s around 25 meters long, and a ton of fun. Plus it gives great views of the surrounding area as you slide down.
Costa del Sol
The Costa del sol is an area on the central coast that offers gorgeous beaches, water activities, fantastic food options, and more. El Salvador has taken advantage of its growing popularity, and doubled down on its attractiveness to visiting tourists. You could easily spend several days checking out he Costa del Sol. This is especially true if you’re a surfer. Head to El Tunco beach to experience possibly the best surfing in the country. It boasts waves that are equally amenable to beginners and experts, and also offers a huge variety of food, clubs, and gorgeous scenery. It’s a particular popular spot for anyone backpacking around the area. While you’re there, definitely check out the El Tunco caves, which allow you to see underwater creatures in their natural habitat because they are baisclalt shaped like small amphitheaters.
Finally, let’s take a look at west El Salvador
Ruta de las Flores
The best way to see the western portion of the country is to travel along the Ruta de las Flores, also known as the Route of Flowers. You can travel along it, and hit up an assortment of interesting and historical villages and towns as you go. Let’s go over a couple of the prime spots to check out along the route.
Ataco and Santa Teresa Hot Springs
This is a fun area to visit, particularly for coffee lovers. El Salvador is known for having incredible coffee, and while in Ataco you can take a coffee plantation tour to take a look at how your favorite morning fuel is made. But there’s more than just the coffee plantations in Ataco. The town is bustling with energy (perhaps because of the coffee) and it’s a great place to stroll around. It has a nice variety of shopping options, eating spots, and murals and other art strewn across the area from local artists.
And once you’ve had your fill of drinking coffee and wandering around the hip and friendly streets of Ataco, you’ll probably want a place to relax. The Santa Teresa Hot Springs is a perfect place to soak your body for a while. It offers swimming pools, hiking trails, hot geysers, and even a blue lagoon. As such, it’s become a very popular spot for tourists and locals alike.
Juayua
The food is the primary attraction for visitros when it comes to Juayua. It has a long tradition of culinary excellence, and a regular food festival that draws in people from all over the country. Make sure you get your fill of local soups, seafood, and grilled meat dishes. It also has an abundance of waterfalls, with the highlight being the Chorros de la Calera Waterfalls. They were, at one point, the source of power for the whole town. Nowadays they serve more as a spot within the forest to stop and admire mother nature.
Now it’s time to hear from you. Have you ever been to El Salvador? Do you think you’ll ever go? Any that should definitely have made it on our list? Let us know in the comments section below! And before you go, be sure to give this video a like, and subscribe to Viewcation if you haven’t already. Click the bell icon to stay updated on all our latest content!