Signature El Salvador: Revolutionary road trip
11 days from £2,775
Explore the tour day by day, from the highlights to the quieter moments in between. Here’s how each day unfolds and what to expect along the way.
You will be met at the airport by our local representative who will accompany you on the 40min drive to San Salvador where you will spend the night in the quiet, upmarket Zona Rosa district.
San Salvador, established by the Spanish in 1525, it is a dynamic cosmopolitan city with a mélange of architectural styles reflecting a chequered history. It has an interesting colonial core, which you will visit on a daytime guided city tour at the end of this holiday.
After breakfast, you’ll be driven up the steep mountain road which flanks San Salvador toward the peak of El Boquerón volcano where, weather permitting you’ll have expansive views over the capital and surrounding countryside. Volcanic activity here in the past wreaked havoc on the city, but now upon reaching El Boquerón National Park, you will take a 15 minute walk to the rim of the extinct volcanic crater, where a walkway offers impressive vistas into the crater, which is smothered in closely-packed foliage.
Continue by road to Santa Ana, El Salvador’s second city, taking time to see the National Theatre and the gothic Cathedral in the vibrant main square. In the afternoon, you’ll be driven to the archeological site of El Tazumal, El Salvador´s most significant ceremonial Mayan centre, excavated and restored in the 1940s and 1950s. The site had been abandoned in 1,200AD but prior to that there is evidence of links with cities as far afield as Copán and Chichén Itzá. The complex sits right in the heart of the small town of Chalchuapa, where daily life continues on the very streets once trod by the Maya. A bust of Che Guevara stands just outside the ruins, marking his visit in 1954.
Later we continue to the cobbled colonial town of Ataco. Located in the heart of the coffee region, Ataco is an attractive cobbled town, with brightly coloured murals adorning the streets. With a wide choice of restaurants, cafes and shops to visit, it is a perfect place to take explore on foot and perhaps send a postcard home. Two nights in Ataco.
In a colonial house that is over 200 years old, Casa Degraciela is a small but atmospheric hotel, evoking its 19th century roots with antiques, wooden rocking chairs, a horse-drawn cart and stained glass windows. The hotel retains many original features of brick and tile, wooden furniture beloved of the Spanish colonial era, and a fountain in the garden.
The property is just off the main square of Concepción de Ataco, convenient for this pleasant colonial El Salvador town’s craft shops, restaurants and market, but nevertheless offering guests a peaceful ambience.
The original owners’ private bedrooms are among the guest rooms with white adobe walls, stone features and colonial-style wooden furnishing. Standard rooms are compact while suites are more spacious with bath tubs, and the master suite has a balcony overlooking the garden.
The hotel has a pleasant terrace, library, restaurant with an extensive dinner menu and bar serving cocktails and tapas.
Today you will travel “La Ruta de Las Flores” – the Route of the Flowers. This 36km trip winds through the Cordillera Apaneca, which is dotted with colourful artisan villages embellishing a region which forms part of the UNESCO-MAB Apaneca-Llamatepec Biosphere Reserve. Rising from 250 to 2,365m above sea level, this fertile area has a pleasant climate, ideal for producing some of the world’s finest coffee, and with its hidden lagoons, waterfalls and hot springs, the road offers wonderful views at every turn.
Steeped in cultural tradition, the Ruta de las Flores is great to visit any day of the week, although it really comes alive at weekends, and your tour is flexible to make the most of the day of the week and your particular interests, whether that’s exploring the markets with their unique arts, crafts and furniture; visiting museums (don’t miss the moving Museo General Maximiliano Hernandez Martinez for an insight into El Salvador’s history) and churches (with a 16th century black statue of Christ); or joining the lively weekly food fair in Juayúa, where you savour the local cuisine, including some truly exotic ingredients.
Visit a coffee plantation where you will discover the process of cultivation, harvest, and roasting, followed by a fresh cup of coffee prepared by the ancient method of ‘chorreador’, which strains the roasted coffee to allow delicious aromas to develop.
The rest of the day you have at leisure to explore the cobblestone streets of Ataco, admire the colorful murals on the walls of colonial houses and sit back and observe the gentle pace of life.
In a colonial house that is over 200 years old, Casa Degraciela is a small but atmospheric hotel, evoking its 19th century roots with antiques, wooden rocking chairs, a horse-drawn cart and stained glass windows. The hotel retains many original features of brick and tile, wooden furniture beloved of the Spanish colonial era, and a fountain in the garden.
The property is just off the main square of Concepción de Ataco, convenient for this pleasant colonial El Salvador town’s craft shops, restaurants and market, but nevertheless offering guests a peaceful ambience.
The original owners’ private bedrooms are among the guest rooms with white adobe walls, stone features and colonial-style wooden furnishing. Standard rooms are compact while suites are more spacious with bath tubs, and the master suite has a balcony overlooking the garden.
The hotel has a pleasant terrace, library, restaurant with an extensive dinner menu and bar serving cocktails and tapas.
Depart Ataco and visit the Don Juan waterfalls, before continuing to Cerro Verde National Park in the heart of the Apaneca-Llamatepec Biosphere Reserve. Overlooking the country’s oldest volcano, the breathtaking caldera now filled by Lake Coatepeque, Cerro Verde lies alongside the more recently formed cone of Izalco volcano and El Salvador’s highest volcano, Santa Ana, which holds one of the largest craters in the world. Santa Ana erupted just a few years ago so you’ll see the effects of the eruption together with incredible views of the nearby volcanoes during a short walk here.
In the afternoon continue to Jiquilisco Bay, the most important marine ecosystem of El Salvador and principal region for the spawning of hawksbill turtles (May-Sep). The reserve embraces a network of natural canals. Islands and exotic mangrove forests serve as a refuge for a vast diversity of birds and reptiles. Your accommodation is next to a pristine water channel, surrounded by mangroves, forests and working chocolate and banana plantations. Here you can sit by the pool with an iced coconut and enjoy the sounds of birdlife at dusk as the sun sets over the bay.
Jiquilisco Bay and its creeks and mangroves constitute an area of extraordinary natural beauty as well as providing the habitat for exotic birds including several endangered species. It is increasingly regarded as having much potential as a base for ecotourism ventures.
Tucked away in Jiquilisco Bay just off El Salvador’s Pacific coast is a pristine archipelago which stretches some 55 kms and comprises 27 islands hosting a diverse array of bird and marine life, including four species of turtle. Explore this busy ecosystem while based at Puerto Barillas Marina and Lodge, which has a good range of facilities to suit all nature and sports-loving interests as well as offering relaxation in a peaceful environment.
Accommodation is set amid rainforest embracing cacao and coconut palms and consist of six comfortable apartments and four slightly more basic tree houses. Activities are plentiful including kayaking, fishing, hiking and horse riding. Cycles are available and offer a convenient way to explore the vast grounds. There’s a full-service marina catering for local sailing boats and international yachts. In addition there is a relaxing pool area and open-sided restaurant in the marina serving fresh seafood.
In the morning you’ll meet the people working in the nearby chocolate plantation and learn about the processes involved in harvesting and preparing cocoa beans, which offers an insight into the lives of the inhabitants of the rural coastal communities.
There is also time to enjoy a range of optional activities in and around Jiquilisco Bay, including biking through the natural reserve, kayaking through the mangroves, sailing through the islands of the bay, or observing the activities of a project which aims to conserve marine turtles.
In the late afternoon, continue your overland journey to Puerto La Union, with outstanding views over the Gulf of Fonseca. You will head for dinner to the nearby colonial town on the flanks of Conchagua volcano, where you will be invited to prepare, cook and eat El Salvador’s most popular traditional dish, the humble pupusa. Overnight La Unión.
After breakfast, set sail on the calm waters of the Gulf of Fonseca, where 260km of Pacific coastline is shared by El Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua. Cross by boat from the port at La Unión and sail past local fishing villages and islands which seem to float in the water, with reflections and stunning views of a clutch of volcanoes. This region is a bird sanctuary and with a little luck, you may also see dolphins. Stop at Meanguera, the biggest of the islands, for a fresh seafood lunch.
After lunch, you will sail back to La Unión to continue your journey to the Ruta de Paz (Route of Peace) which winds its way through the mountainous northern region of the country. Surrounded by humid tropical forests, this area was stronghold of the guerrilla movement during El Salvador’s civil war. Two nights in Perquin.
The simple Perkin Lenca consists of wooden cabins and bungalows which overlook the rolling green coffee plantations and verdant forests that dominate the area. You can relax on the peaceful porch overlooking the neighbouring mountain range, swing in a hammock or go for walks in the idyllic countryside all around.
Rooms are scattered along the slopes of a steep hill and have a typically rustic decorative style. As should be expected in this off-the-beaten-track region, standards are basic but all the essentials are provided.
There’s a good restaurant serving delicious traditional cuisine – prepared with ingredients grown on the hotel grounds – and fantastic coffee. The socially conscious owner also helps to run a local school using the hotel proceeds.
Begin the day with an early morning hike on Cerro El Pericón where you can enjoy the natural beauty of this rugged, forested area. Your local guide will be able to share tales of the 1980s conflict as you walk through territory loaded with significance to the country. There may also be time for a refreshing wild swim in one of the rivers towards the end of the hike.
Afterwards, you can visit the village of El Mozote, focus of one of the biggest events in El Salvador´s recent history during the conflict period, where local people aim to spread the word of peace to those who take the time to visit. Returning to Perquin, you will hear first-hand accounts of these difficult years from the veterans themselves, who will guide you through Perquin’s simple and moving Peace Museum.
The simple Perkin Lenca consists of wooden cabins and bungalows which overlook the rolling green coffee plantations and verdant forests that dominate the area. You can relax on the peaceful porch overlooking the neighbouring mountain range, swing in a hammock or go for walks in the idyllic countryside all around.
Rooms are scattered along the slopes of a steep hill and have a typically rustic decorative style. As should be expected in this off-the-beaten-track region, standards are basic but all the essentials are provided.
There’s a good restaurant serving delicious traditional cuisine – prepared with ingredients grown on the hotel grounds – and fantastic coffee. The socially conscious owner also helps to run a local school using the hotel proceeds.
Depart Perquin and drive to Joya de Cerén. Known as the ‘Pompeii of the Americas’, this is considered to be one of the most important archaeological discoveries in Latin America in recent years and has been declared World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Here a pre-Hispanic farming community was buried when the Laguna Caldera volcano erupted around 600 AD and the incredibly well preserved remains offer an insight into the daily lives of the rural communities of the time.
Continue to Suchitoto, where the rest of the afternoon is free to explore El Salvador´s best preserved colonial town. Overlooking the waters of Lago Suchitlan, Suchitoto was an important centre for the indigo trade during Spanish colonial times, and today is a much loved, relaxed town of beautiful architecture, art galleries and cafés. Two nights in Suchitoto.
The 200-year old building housing Hotel Los Amendros de San Lorenzo blends colonial features with stylish design, just one block from Suchitoto’s main square.
This former hacienda was lovingly renovated by the French-Salvadorian owners. From the classic colonial exterior, a grand wooden door leads to a cool tiled reception and shady, tropical courtyard, around which the individually decorated guestrooms are arranged.
Rooms are adorned with local artwork, antiques, colonial-style wooden furniture, high ceilings and original stonework, while the palatial suites are huge and impeccably decorated.
There’s a library, bar and free form stone pool in the rear garden. The highly-regarded restaurant serves French cuisine with local touches. The welcoming French owner also has an art gallery opposite the hotel, exhibiting the work of local artists.
Before breakfast, we recommend an optional early morning boat ride to watch the sunrise on Lake Suchitlán, when the lake’s islands and shores teem with birdlife and local fishermen head out in search of a catch.
Later, you will take the short journey to the small village of Cinquera, located in the middle of a tropical forest. Here, you visit the Cinquera Forest National Park, which was a guerilla bastion during the civil war, walk through the forest and learn how the rebels survived in their secret hideouts. At the end, there is an opportunity to swim in El Salton Natural Pool (subject to water levels), before making a brief visit to the village to see the unique war memorial in the main square.
This afternoon is free for you to enjoy Suchitoto, perhaps taking the time to visit an indigo workshop, where you can learn the ancient processes involved in preparing natural indigo and even create your own indigo-dyed clothing.
The 200-year old building housing Hotel Los Amendros de San Lorenzo blends colonial features with stylish design, just one block from Suchitoto’s main square.
This former hacienda was lovingly renovated by the French-Salvadorian owners. From the classic colonial exterior, a grand wooden door leads to a cool tiled reception and shady, tropical courtyard, around which the individually decorated guestrooms are arranged.
Rooms are adorned with local artwork, antiques, colonial-style wooden furniture, high ceilings and original stonework, while the palatial suites are huge and impeccably decorated.
There’s a library, bar and free form stone pool in the rear garden. The highly-regarded restaurant serves French cuisine with local touches. The welcoming French owner also has an art gallery opposite the hotel, exhibiting the work of local artists.
Drive to San Salvador’s historic city centre. Vibrant and chaotic, the downtown area is a mix of styles and while some buildings may be somewhat faded, they remain impressive. Walk through Plaza Barrios, visit the National Palace, El Rosario church and see the grave of the assassinated Nobel Peace Prize winner Archbishop Oscar Romero in the striking cathedral overlooking the main square.
Drive on to Puerto de La Libertad on the Pacific coast and visit its local fish market, followed by the opportunity to savour some of the morning’s catch for lunch. Continue to your hotel, with the rest of the day at leisure to enjoy the sun, surf, beach and sunset over the Pacific Ocean. Overnight El Sunzal.
Accommodation at Casa de Mar is set into a hillside beside a palm-fringed black-sand beach, which is volcanic in origin. The property consists of raised bungalows peppering well-tended gardens of cacao plants and mango trees.
Simply decorated rooms have open plan living areas and either terraces or balconies, while some have sea views and suites have hot tubs.
The pool and terrace overlooks the beach, while the large cliff-side semi-al-fresco restaurant blends El Salvadorian with Mediterranean style and a focus on fresh seafood. Surfing equipment and tuition is also available; Sunzal is an internationally known surfing destination for the consistency of its waves.
Free time to enjoy the beach and swimming pool before your transfer to San Salvador´s International airport to board your flight back home.
The places you’ll stay and explore on this tour. Here’s a closer look at each one and what makes it worth the trip.
El Salvador - San Salvador
Colonial heritage, artistic creativity and modern regeneration sit alongside reminders of a dramatic past in San Salvador, the dynamic capital of El Salvador. Framed by volcanoes and shaped by both natural disasters and civil conflict, a San Salvador El Salvador holiday offers a fascinating introduction to the country’s history, culture and contemporary identity.
El Salvador - Ruta de las Flores
The Ruta de las Flores winds through El Salvador’s principal coffee-growing region, linking a string of highland towns renowned for artisan traditions, gastronomy and mountain scenery. Connecting Ataco, Nahuizalco, Juayúa and Apaneca, it offers one of Central America’s most rewarding road trip experiences.
El Salvador - Gulf of Fonseca and Eastern El Salvador
The Gulf of Fonseca in El Salvador combines mangrove-lined shores, volcanic hills and quiet islands with a slower pace of life. Beyond the coast, eastern El Salvador offers mountain communities, fascinating history and some of Central America’s finest birdwatching, making it one of the country’s most rewarding yet least-visited regions.
El Salvador - Suchitoto
Cobbled streets, whitewashed churches and red-tiled rooftops give Suchitoto a distinctive charm. Suchitoto holidays focus on this colonial town, now one of El Salvador’s leading centres of arts and culture, just north of San Salvador and known as the “place of birds and flowers”.
El Salvador - Pacific Coast
Volcanic black sand beaches, soft white bays and sleepy fishing villages line El Salvador’s Pacific coastline, backed by some of the best surf breaks in Central America. Stretching along most of the country’s southern edge, El Salvador Pacific Coast holidays combine beach days, wildlife and some of the most striking ocean scenery in the region.
This holiday includes some remote rural areas where the friendly guides and general tranquillity will soon set you at ease. It’s a broad-based trip, including gentle outdoor activities as well as visits to highlights by car and boat, delivering an authentic experience of the cultural as well as the natural richness and variety of the republic.
Owing to its complicated recent history El Salvador has yet to establish itself as a sought-after tourist destination, but this is one of its attractions: you will find truly unspoilt landscapes and a genuine welcome from the local population. It’s a small country, easy to get around by land and you’ll be distracted from some uneven road surfaces by the captivating scenery through which you will pass. Outstanding, both literally at metaphorically, are the dominant volcanoes which stud the countryside – you’ll get to view the cones of el Boquerón, Santa Ana and Izalco as you visit national parks established between areas of , richly fertile, intensively farmed farming country peppered with coffee plantations. Also in the rugged interior you’ll drive along the famed “route of the flowers”, drop in on preserved colonial artisan towns such as Suchitoto and little-visited Mayan archaeological sites. The coast is not neglected, with a boat trip on the Gulf of Fonseca and a short time to view the surfing on a Pacific beach.
Hannah Waterhouse
All of our experts have lived or travelled extensively in Latin America, so you will receive unrivalled advice based on unique personal experiences.
The practical detail for this tour, all in one place. Transport, accommodation, what’s included and what to pack, so you know exactly what to expect before you go.
- Summary of Nights
11 days, 10 nights: San Salvador 1; Ataco 2; Jiquilisco Bay 1; La Union 1 ; Perkin 2; Suchitoto 2; La Libertad 1.
- Accomodation
We use a mix of hotel standards from mid-range upwards, choosing accommodation we think is great value, comfortable, well-located and which showcases a touch of local character. Properties will vary in heritage from modern to traditional-style countryside properties (haciendas).
- Transport
Travel mostly by road; 1 boat trip.
- Meals
Breakfast daily, lunch on days 6,10; dinner day 5.
- Guides
Our local, trusted and carefully selected partners understand the expectations of our customers very well, and their staff and guides are consistently singled out for praise by clients on their return. On this holiday, you will be joined by different guides for each activity and or region, ensuring you benefit from specialised expertise and knowledge, often from someone local to the area.
- Optional Excursions
As well as any included activities, this Private Journey includes some free time for optional excursions. As optional excursions are often subject to availability, we recommend you discuss and arrange them with your Travel Expert as early as possible before you depart.
- When is the best time to visit El Salvador?
The coastal lowlands have a hot tropical climate all year round with temperatures peaking at well over 30°C. The mountainous interior has a milder climate and in Dec-Jan temperatures hover around 18°C and it is cool at night. The best time to visit is during the drier months of Nov-Feb – it gets very hot thereafter. The rainy season runs May-Oct with short tropical showers – it is cooler, but some of the back roads may be impassable. Sep-Nov is the season when rainfall may be heavy and hurricanes are possible.
For more detailed information visit our When To Go section.
- What is the official language of El Salvador?
The official language spoken in El Salvador is Spanish.
- What is El Salvador's official currency?
The official currency of El Salvador is the US dollar. The former local currency (colon), was phased out in 2003. You can obtain US dollar cash or exchange travellers cheques locally in banks and money exchanges (casas de cambio) and may be able to obtain cash advances via the few ATMs in larger towns and cities. You should authorise your bank first, and withdrawals may be limited.
- What is the time difference between El Salvador and the UK?
The time difference between the UK and El Salvador is GMT-6 hrs.
- Do I need a visa for El Salvador?
Holders of a full British passport do not require a visa, although passports must be valid for at least 6 months after the trip begins. Anyone with a different nationality should enquire with us or check with the relevant consulate.
If flying to the US, or via the US you will need to fill in your online ESTA application. - What vaccinations do I need for El Salvador?
Please check Travel Health Pro for information on health recommendations and vaccinations for the destinations you are visiting. Please note that many Latin American countries require proof of vaccination against Yellow Fever if you have recently travelled to another country where Yellow Fever is present.
- Which other countries combine well with El Salvador?
A visit to neighbouring Central America countries, such as Nicaragua with its splendid colonial cities and coral island beaches; wildlife-rich, slickly organised Costa Rica and the Mayan cities of Guatemala, all easily accessed by land or air.
- What are the festivals and cultural or sporting events in El Salvador?
Semana Santa, Easter is celebrated throughout El Salvador. It is celebrated from Thursday through to Easter Sunday.
Towns and villages all celebrate the feast days of their local saint, sometimes with protracted celebrations, as in San Miguel and Sonsonate with programmes of artistic events.Arts and Culture Festival takes place in February in Suchitoto. The pretty colonial town hosts a world-class arts and culture festival with music and dance groups.
Why choose Journey Latin America for your holiday
We’ve been planning trips to Central and South America for over 45 years, longer than any other UK specialist. Every holiday is built around you by a Travel Expert who has been to the places they recommend, with support from your first enquiry to the day you fly home.
Rosie embarked on a year-long backpacking trip across Latin America. She is excited to share her knowledge and experiences with others.
Finn discovered his passion for travel on an extensive 18-month trip to Latin America, experiencing the vibrant Carnaval in Rio, the end-of-the-world city of Ushuaia, trekking the Andes and volunteering on the Galápagos Islands.
Maggie visited Latin America on her first backpacking trip when she was 19. Since then, she has taken every opportunity to travel, and has managed to explore a lot of the region in subsequent trips.
Gary discovered what he had been missing with his first foray into the wilds of Latin America. In his role as Product Manager, he combines this personal obsession with years of industry experience to help ensure that travellers will fall for the region every bit as much as he has.
Things to do
We proudly offer the widest range of activities, excursions and one-of-a-kind experiences across all our destinations, tried and tested personally by our travel experts.
Trek on the slopes of volcanoes and into the mouths of craters as you explore the dramatic, forested landscapes of Cerro Verde volcano in Los Volcanos National Park.
Visit charming colonial villages on a scenic voyage through the beautiful countryside of El Salvador’s coffee-growing region.
Learn how to make pupusa, El Salvador’s signature dish, in a pretty colonial town, Conchagua.
Visit the region in eastern El Salvador which was the scene of many of the battles between the army and guerrillas during the now concluded civil war.
Walk through the peaceful woods of Cinquera Ecological Park, a former base for guerrilla bands during the civil war and now a serene conservation region.
Accommodation
Browse our unrivalled portfolio of accommodation. Every option has been carefully chosen by our team of travel experts, so you can rest assured that you will relax in utter comfort
Casa de mar is a friendly lodge and surfing centre overlooking popular Sunzal Beach on El Salvador’s Pacific coast.
Puerto Barillas is a small marina and lodge hidden amongst mangroves, plantations and a natural forest reserve on the banks of a clear water channel within Jiquilisco Bay, on El Salvador’s Pacific coast.
This colonial-era hotel has authentic decor and an upmarket rustic feel in the traditional town of Ataco.
Papagaio
Our exciting range of articles on Latin America explore everything from iconic destinations and lesser-known cultural gems to delicious traditional recipes. You’ll also find exclusive travel tips, first-hand client reviews and the chance to get your personal questions answered by our travel experts.
Featured Articles
To round the corner of a mountain and see the lost citadel of Machu Picchu unfold beneath you remains one of the most awe-inspiring experiences in Latin America, one of those dreamlike experiences that makes travelling here truly extraordinary.
The Pantanal wetlands cover an area almost the size of the British Isles and offers better wildlife opportunities than the Amazon. Writer and photographer Alex Bellos discovers them.
Small, breathtakingly beautiful Costa Rica is a treasure trove for the nature lover. Trees laden with orchids are home to quetzals and hummingbirds, while the Caribbean shore hosts volcanic beaches and palm-sheltered coves.
