Vacation Time: El Salvador!

The Land of Volcanoes

REPORTING BY Elena M. Zepeda

EL SALVADOR MAY BE THE SMALLEST country in Central America, but it’s big on character. With 20+ active volcanoes, surftastic beaches, historic centres and archaeological sites, the country is a gem to explore, offering plenty of variety and adventure. The newly gentrified capital, San Salvador, is an ideal place to stay, with all major destinations reachable by car.

DOWNTOWN SAN SALVADOR is picturesque, safe and accessible. Drop by the National Theatre, a key cultural venue known for its French Renaissance-style architecture; the gleaming white Metropolitan Cathedral consecrated in 1999; and the National Library, which opened in 2023 and serves as a major public space, reflecting the country’s ongoing development.

A PREMIER COASTAL TOURISM initiative, Surf City is known for its black sand, consistent waves and vibrant nightlife. The centre of the action is the former fishing village of El Tunco (Salvadorian slang for piglet), where the point breaks perform year-round, and you can swim out to the iconic pig-shaped rock just offshore.

PICTURE-PERFECT SANTA ANA has a genteel, old-world vibe thanks to the wealth that poured in from local coffee plantations in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Visit the gleaming white, neo-Gothic Santa Ana Cathedral, and sample the rich, strong local brew – either in a plaza café or on a plantation tour in the surrounding hills.

HIKING AND ADVENTURE HOTSPOT Puerta Del Diablo, aka the Devil’s Gate, gained its name because of the curious arched shape of the high rocks that form it. The site consists of three dramatic rock formations El Chulo, El Chulito and El Chulón (The Good Looking, The Cutie and The Impressive). You can hike up the rocks with a guide, and rappel down if you dare.

MAYA CULTURE EXTENDED into the western and central parts of El Salvador, and its Mayan settlements date back over 4,000 years. Be sure to visit UNESCO World Heritage Site Joya de Cerén, a farming village buried by volcanic ash, and Tazumal, a major, longinhabited settlement (100 to 1,200 AD) known for its 24m-high pyramids and sophisticated ceremonial structures.

VOLCANIC ILAMATEPEC El Salvador’s highest peak, at 2,381m, affords ‘challenging-but-worth it’, expertly guided hikes through coffee plantations, cloud forest and rocky volcanic terrain. At the summit, you can look down on a vivid turquoise crater lake – enticing as it looks, it’s highly acidic and the sulphur-rich water can reach near-boiling temperatures. Don’t dive in!