Highlights of El Salvador | Trip Itinerary

Day 1:  Arrival and transfer to San Salvador – 35 Mins. – 49Kms/29.4 M
Welcome at the airport by one of our representatives, transfer to San Salvador City, located  49 kms away (35 mins) from the airport. Spend tonight at your select hotel.  

Day 2:  Full Day San Salvador City Tour and Volcano
Visit the main avenues and monuments of San Salvador, the primary residential zones of the Capital City, the Historical Centre with is majestic Metropolitan Cathedral, beautiful National Palace and characteristic National Theatre of a French Renaissance style declared a national monument in 1979, El Rosario Church, Plaza Libertad, San Salvador handicraft market and the municipal market of Antiguo Cuscatlán. In the afternoon, visit San Salvador´s Volcano at only 25 kms from the city. This Volcano is also known as “El Boquerón” and it is a national park where you will enjoy a refreshing eco walk through the natural trails and a panoramic view to the crater with its particular “volcancito” or “little volcano” inside.

When returning, you will be able to see the beautiful city of San Salvador in the late afternoon. Then, delight yourself with a warm and tasting cup of coffee or a delicious typical dish at a local restaurant in the area, where you will also be able to taste the famous salvadorean dishes: Las Pupusas. At the end, visit Santa Tecla City and sightseeing tour around the main streets and avenues of the area including the famous “Paseo del Carmen”, El Carmen Church and the local Palace. This tour is a real natural, cultural and historic approach that characterizes El Salvador.  Overnight in San Salvador. (B)

Day 3:  Full day Mayan Route Tour
Your first stop is Joya de Cerén (35mins). Known as the “Pompeii of the Americas” for its valuable contribution to modern understanding of the Mayan Civilization, this archeological site is the only UNESCO protected of the country since 1993. It is a unique destination in all the Mayan World where you will discover the preserved houses of these ancestors covered by several explosions that allowed the conservation of the city. This is with no doubt a must when you visit El Salvador. Then visit San Andrés archeological site, a very important political and religious center with diverse structures for the use of the governors during that period. After the local tour through the archeological sites, transfer to Santa Ana City, the second most important city of the country (35 mins). Santa Ana holds one of the best-preserved historic centers in the country. Its main buildings are: The Cathedral, The National Theater, and The Municipal Palace. The Facade of the cathedral was damaged by a lightning and when began its reconstruction (1905) changed its architectural style to Neo Gothic. The church was then declared a Cathedral by Pope’s decision. Last but not least, visit the archeological site of Tazumal with the largest pyramid in El Salvador a sophisticated and important Mayan settlement.   Back to San Salvador. (B)

Day 4: Full Day Colonial & Volcano Route
Cataloged as the “2nd 8th Wonder of the World for 2013″: the “Lake and Volcano Complex” in El Salvador is one of the most popular tourist destinations of the country as its bring together one of the most beautiful lakes in the world and a group of the most amazing volcanoes of El Salvador: The Izalco Volcano, The Santa Ana Volcano and Cerro Verde Volcano. Visit the Natural Protected Area of Cerro Verde and take a refreshing sigthseeings tour through the eco trails of the park (45 minutes approximately). Cerro Verde is an inactive volcano located at an altitude of 2035 meters and length of 500 hectares of nature it has a cloud forest in and around the crater with a temperature of between 12 and 18 degrees centigrade. From here, you will enjoy panoramic views of Izalco Volcano better known as the “Lighthouse of the Pacific” because the boats were oriented with the red glow of the lava to reach the Acajutla port; the Santa Ana Volcano or “Ilamatepec Volcano” being the biggest volcano of the area; and the beauty of the nature in the surroundings of this National Park. It is a place where you will be surrounded by the wilderness or “dwarf forest”, where you can find pasture and some low-lying bushes, giant agaves, among others. The landscape is unique in Mesoamerica and it definitely worth the visit.

Later, visit the coffee mountains of El Salvador: The Flower´s Route. Quick visit through the colorful colonial towns with beautiful mountainous vegetation: of Nahuizalco, where you will enjoy a guided tour by the local community, and Ataco, where you will be able to observe the elaboration of looms and handicrafts of the area. The Flowers Route is one of the most popular tourist destinations and named for its abundance of flowers on the picturesque road.  Back to San Salvador. (B)

Day 5:  Transfer to Airport
Three hours before flight you’ll be picked up at your hotel for transfer to airport of El Salvador to check-in for your international flight departure. (B)

B=Breakfast; L=Lunch; D=Dinner

Notes:  If you have 2-3 extra days, we recommend an extension to the Pacific beach area of San Salvador. Select from eco-friendly boutique hotels, small lodges specializing in surfing activities, or large style all-inclusive resorts. Just one day to spare? we can easily add in a full day tour to the colonial gem of Suchitoto between days 4 & 5. Contact us for details!