El Salvador: Essentials

El Salvador: Essentials

HIGHLIGHTS

Get to know San Salvador - explore its galleries and museums, dive into the teeming markets, where travelers are greeted with typical guanaco hospitality.

Go kayaking on the lake, take a boat tour with local fishermen or visit impressive waterfalls and caves in Suchitoto.

Visit captivating UNESCO-declared ruins of Joya de Ceren - known as the Pompeii of the Americas and impressive Tazumal Ruins.

Explore la Ruta de las Flores – a 36 km-long serene and verdant route perfect for hiking, village-hopping, and food experimentation.

Relax in one of Ahuachapan's popular hot springs.

Learn/practice surfing in El Tunco - a little village on the Pacific known for its vibrant weekend party scene, beautiful black-sandy beaches, and significant international crowd.

Itinerary

Day 1: San Salvador

Stop At: Plaza Mundo, Bulevar del Ejercito Nacional, San Salvador, El Salvador
Welcome to San Salvador - a handsome Central American capital surrounded by green-tipped volcanoes, pleasant leafy suburbs, and filled with outstanding galleries and museums. Arrive at any time and take a taxi/shuttle bus to your accommodation. On Saturday evening join your Trip Leader and the rest of the group for a welcome meeting followed by an optional dinner in one of the local restaurants.

Accommodation: conveniently located, locally-owned hotel/B&B/guesthouse in San Salvador

Activities Included: welcome meeting
Duration: 1 day

No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Conveniently located, locally-owned hotel/B&B/guest house in San Salvador.

Day 2: San Salvador - Suchitoto

Stop At: Suchitoto, El Salvador
Start your day with a walking tour around the historic center before going to a beautiful town of Suchitoto in the afternoon. Architecture buffs will love its colonial buildings, while outdoor types can choose between numerous hikes to waterfalls, caves and Suchitlán Lake, with trails beginning just meters from the town. Suchitoto is also a bird migration zone with over 200 species: thousands of hawks and falcons fill the skies as the season's change and birds of all sorts nest in the relative safety of the lake islands. After arrival and visit to impressive basaltic prisms of nearby Cascada Los Tercios, join a walking tour around the town followed by optional dinner & evening entertainment program.

Accommodation: conveniently located, locally-owned hotel/B&B/guesthouse in Suchitoto

Meals Included: breakfast

Activities Included: walking tours in San Salvador & Suchitoto; visit to la Cascada Los Tercios
Duration: 1 day

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Conveniently located, locally-owned hotel/B&B/guest house in Suchitoto.

Day 3: Suchitoto

Stop At: Suchitoto, El Salvador
After a boat trip on the lake and Market Food Tour in the morning, choose either to explore the town or do some other outdoor activities: hike in the Cinquera Forest, kayak on Suchitlan Lake, tour the Guazapa Volcano or visit nearby Cihuatan Ruins.

Accommodation: conveniently located, locally-owned hotel/B&B/guesthouse in Suchitoto

Meals Included: breakfast

Activities Included: boat trip on the Suchitlan Lake; Market Food Tour (Suchitoto)
Duration: 1 day

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Conveniently located, locally-owned hotel/B&B/guest house in Suchitoto.

Day 4: Suchitoto - Joya de Ceren - Tazumal Ruins - Ahuachapan

Stop At: Joya de Ceren Archaeological Park, Km 32, Carr San Juan Opico - Agua Escondida, San Salvador El Salvador
In the morning leave Suchitoto and head to your next stop - Ahuachapan. On your way visit captivating ruins of Joya de Ceren (UNESCO) known as the Pompeii of the Americas, enjoy the beauty of Lake Coatepeque, then stop again to explore impressive Tazumal Ruins. Situated at the beginning of the Ruta de las Flores, Ahuachapán is a prosperous, small provincial capital that supplies 15% of the country’s electrical power thanks to the wonders of geothermal energy. The town has a pretty colonial center and it is also a jumping-off point for some of the highlights of western El Salvador. In the evening explore its vibrant streets before taking an optional dinner and savoring some drinks with your group at one of the local restaurants.

Accommodation: conveniently located, locally-owned hotel/B&B/guesthouse in Ahuachapán

Meals Included: breakfast

Activities Included: visits to Joya de Ceren Archaeological Site & Tazumal Ruins; visit to Lake Coatepeque; walking tour in Ahuachapan
Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: El Tazumal, Calle Tazumal, Chalchuapa, El Salvador
Guided visit.
Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Plaza Palermo, Ahuachapan, El Salvador
Walking tour around the historic center, optional dinner & get-together in one of local restaurants/bars
Duration: 5 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Conveniently located, locally-owned hotel/B&B/guest house in Ahuachapan.

Day 5: Ahuachapan

Stop At: Termales de Santa Teresa, Between Ahuachapan and Ataco, Ahuachapan 2101 El Salvador
Spend your day exploring la Ruta de las Flores – a 36 km-long serene and verdant route perfect for hiking, village-hopping, and food experimentation. Traveling by private vehicle, visit its brightly colored colonial towns, hike to impressive waterfalls and see one of the country's first coffee plantations. After a long day of exploration, relax in one of Ahuachapan's hot springs.

Accommodation: conveniently located, locally-owned hotel/B&B/guesthouse in Ahuachapan

Meals Included: breakfast

Activities Included: day trip along la Ruta de las Flores; visit to hot springs (Ahuachapan)
Duration: 4 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Conveniently located, locally-owned hotel/B&B/guest house in Ahuachapan.

Day 6: Ahuachapan - El Tunco

Stop At: El Tunco, La Libertad El Salvador
In the morning leave for El Tunco - a little village on the Pacific whose nearby Sunzal beach is considered one of the best 10 in the world for surfing. This place is known for its vibrant weekend party scene, beautiful black-sandy beaches, and significant international crowd. If you prefer a quieter atmosphere just move a bit to nearby villages where you will find wild and windswept beaches with sea turtles hatching along.

Accommodation: conveniently located, locally-owned hotel/B&B/guesthouse in El Tunco

Meals Included: breakfast

Activities Included: walking tour in El Tunco
Duration: 1 day

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Conveniently located, locally-owned hotel/B&B/guest house in El Tunco.

Day 7: El Tunco

Stop At: El Tunco, La Libertad El Salvador
Free program: rent a board and enjoy the waves, relax on the beach sipping a refreshing cocktail or explore nearby caves at low tide. In the evening, experience local party vibes or join locals down from El Salvador at the bar.

Accommodation: conveniently located, locally-owned hotel/B&B/guesthouse in El Tunco

Meals Included: breakfast
Duration: 1 day

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Conveniently located, locally-owned hotel/B&B/guest house in El Tunco.

Day 8: El Tunco

Pass By: El Tunco, La Libertad El Salvador
Last day of our trip: depart at any time by a private taxi/group shuttle directly to the airport (35 km) or extend your vacations and stay longer!

Meals Included: breakfast

Meals included:
• Breakfast
No accommodation included on this day.