Complete El Salvador Experience

After awaking in San Salvador, at 10am you will reach the largest protected natural area of existing biodiversity in El Salvador, National Park Imposible and a shelter for globally endangered species. This will be followed by an unforgettable walk in the mountains of Apaneca-Ilamatepec.

Your guide will lead you through lush vegetation of this spectacular paradise as you walk among its 13,000 acres of forests to reach vantage points from which to better appreciate the rich mountains and forests landscapes below.  You take a tour to the heart of the primary forest, where you will assess the broad diversity of mammals and birds, truly an unforgettable day to enjoy nature up close and personal. During the walk, you visit Ruta del Cerro Leon, the farm and museum of Salvanatura of San Miguelito and the Anganches Rivers”. You will spend the night at the town of Ataco.

The following day, you will visit the ‘flower route’, famous, as its name implies, for its dramatic abundance of wild flowers. This region has beautiful panoramic views of the mountainside coffee plantations, lagoons and dense cloud forests.

First you will visit Juayúa, the charming city that is famous for its permanent food festival during the weekend or the waterfalls of Don Juan, during the week days. You travel to Nahuizalco, one of the most traditional towns in the area. The people here are famous for their handicrafts and furniture made from tulle and willow. Learn about the famous market at dusk, illuminated, quite romantically, only by candle-light.

Head up the mountain to Salcoatitán, located at a little over 3,412 feet (1,040 meters). This was the place where the first coffee plantations in the country were planted in the 1860s. The area is also famous for the large number of craft shops. There is an optional visit to the thermal waters of Santa Teresa. You will then stay another night in Ataco.

In the morning of day 4, you will go to colonial city of Santa Ana, Salvador’s second largest city, and take a guided tour. On this walking tour your guide will take you to see the colonial houses around 4a C between 6a and 10a Avenue. According to several sources, Santa Ana’s architecture is unmatched anywhere else in the country, with highlights like the Santa Ana’s Neo- Gothic Cathedral, the Theater and the Palacio Municipal, which you will visit.

Tazumal is your next stop and it is the most important and impressive Mayan ruins of El Salvador and Casa Blanca where you can see a workshop producing indigo dye from Pre classic and Classic period of the Maya.  You will then transfer to Suchitoto where you will stay the night.

Upon awaking, you leave to Chalatenango, where you visit the Archaeological Pre Hispanic “Cihuatán”, also considered one of the greatest archaeological sites in El Salvador, with an area estimated at about 3 square kilometers (1.2 square miles).  This was an important trading route with the Caribbean coast in Honduras.

In the afternoon you will tour Cinquera, which is a small and picturesque rural community located in the Salvadorian Department of Cabañas, where the post war community is a great example how to work together to have a better life. Here, there is a high priority on sustainability and establishing a nature preserve. Formerly a ghost town during El Salvador’s civil war to a modern day, well organized community living in peace. Here you visit their natural reserve, guerrilla campsite, trenches, Vietnamese kitchen, waterfalls, iguana farm, butterfly farm, communitarian restaurant, church, murals and monuments. War anecdotes and testimonies are told by local ex guerrillas, taking you on a spoken movie from early 60´s to present time. You will stay another night in Suchitoto.

Perquín was headquarters of the guerrillas named FMLN during the war. You still find remaining like bunkers and bomb craters of the fascinating and traumatic history. Perquín is owner of the museum of the Revolution, simple overview by photos, posters and weapons of the civil war. We will drive up to Rio Sapo, country’s cleanest river for a swim! Transfer to the port of La Union where you will spend the night at the hotel.

You will travel by boat in the Gulf of Fonseca shared by El Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua. The gulf offers stunning vistas of volcanic islands, small fishing villages and black-sand beaches. We go to Isla Meanguera, the most important trading post and Zacatillo where you will have lunch. Sighting of Dolphins en route is very likely. From November till February there is also a chance to see whales!

After the trip you can visit the town of Conchagua with its very old church and the volcano with a great view to the gulf. Transfer to the beaches around El Cuco, the most beautiful ones of El Salvador. Stay overnight at one of the hotels around El Cuco. The following day, you have free for leisure time at the beach around El Cuco. You will again stay the night.

Early transfer to the Jiquilisco Bay, a natural treasure in the Eastern part of the country that is home to abundant biodiversity, declared a RAMSAR site and a Biosphere Reserve.

Take a visit to Puerto Barillas Marine where you will take a kayak tour or boat ride through the mangroves to see all different species of birds, sea life and, if you are lucky, Caimans. Optional visit to the monkey sanctuary, cocoa plantation or turtle farm tour. Overnight stay within de Jiquilisco bay.

This day is left free to accomodate time for you to make your flight in time. If you have time you can explore El Salvador, if not you will be transfered to the airport in time for your flight.