Why visit El Salvador?

Have you ever struggled deciding where to travel? Have you ever cancelled a trip for overpassing your budget? If so, El Salvador is the right place for you! El Salvador is located in Central America, not in Brazil like every student thinks. If you ever Google “El Salvador”, the results won’t be pretty. The majority of the articles will talk about how dangerous can El Salvador be and how the country has become a critical-threat location. Most foreigners think of Mara Salvatrucha or mareros covered with tattoos when El Salvador is mentioned, but let me tell you, they are dead wrong. Truly speaking, El Salvador is a third world country and it is considered a Level 2: Reconsider Travel Country according to Canada. However, the country is far from what the articles say and has so many experiences to offer. El Salvador’s geography makes it easy for any traveler to get to know every part of the country in a short time period. It is the smallest country of Central America and the most densely populated too. The country has over 20 volcanoes, lakes, mountains, and beaches.

Five things to do in El Salvador:

1- Santa Ana Volcano
If you love hiking and explore trails, Santa Ana volcano is the right fit for you. The volcano area is very touristy and some of the houses on top of the mountain are mansions in gated communities, making it safe to visit. Upon arrival, you also have the option to hire security and a tour guide even though it is said to be already safe. The San Ana volcano has a 6.9 kilometer trail featuring a lake view, forestry view and bird watching. It’s roughly a four hour trail hike to the volcano, which includes some time at the top to take pictures of the views. The beginning of the hike goes through some flat areas, which are pleasant and relaxing, before you hit the right top. As you are getting close to the top you start smelling the unique sulphur scent that oozes out of the volcano.

2- Lake Coatepeque
This refreshing body of water is of volcanic origin located right besides Santa Ana Volcano. The lake has an island called Isla Teopán, in which people have their luxurious lake houses. The lake originated from a huge explosion leaving a gap of more the 20 kilometers wide and 2 kilometers deep. More than 20,000 people live around the lake, and an average of 5,000 tourists visit it every month. Besides offering a nice view, Lake Coatepeque also offers many activities such as jet skiing, boat tours, fishing, kayaking, and you will be able to see the mansions for sure.

3- El Tunco
If you are a big fan of sunsets, night life, and surf, El Tunco beach is the right place. It is called El Tunco (pig in Spanish) because the big rock right in front of it has the shape of a pig with its legs up. This gorgeous beach is located half an hour away the main city and during week days, it doesn’t get crowded. In El Tunco you can receive surf classes with professionals since it has access to two surf spots. It is extremely cheap to stay and it has amazing seafood paired with a beautiful view of the rocky beach and the breathtaking sunset.

4- El Boquerón
El Boquerón is a protected natural area that is located in the upper part of the San Salvador volcano. The main attraction is a crater 1.5 kilometers in diameter and 558 meters deep. In addition, there is a small crater in the main crater called “Boqueroncito”, in diminutive. This natural attraction has a cool temperate climate throughout the year which is great because in El Salvador the temperature never is that cool. The park is habitat to many plant species identified as ornamental plants, such as hydrangeas, begonias, among others. There is also wildlife such as armadillos, raccoons, deers, foxes, among others. This place is perfect for nature lovers who are in San Salvador since it is very close to the capital with a journey of about 40 minutes with a wide view of the volcano and the city.

5- Ataco
Ataco is located in the Ahuachapan department and has a variety things to do. Ataco is a small town located one hour and a half away from the capital and it is best known for the wall art, coffee plantations and pupusas stands. It is a great destination for coffee lovers since it has the best coffee of the region with variety of shops and flavors. Art lovers will also enjoy this small town since they will be able to admire the beauty of a contemporary art mixed with the essence of the indigenous and traditional roots of Spanish colonials. Many locals have their shops where visitors can buy hand made jewelry and unique pieces of art.

El Salvador (+503) is waiting for you!!

When planning your next trip you should totally take into consideration El Salvador since it is not only a gorgeous destination but it is also very cheap to travel to. If you are looking for an adventure and an amazing culture, I would totally recommend visiting El Salvador as a backpacker. There are endless things to do and tourists survive just fine. As long as you are cautious, you should be totally fine. Just remember that people can be dangerous and violent at any place and at any time.