The name ‘El Salvador’ immediately invokes memories of civil war and violence with older people. Americans connect it to drug gangs, their fears stoked up by racist Donald Trump. In reality, El Salvador is an extreme mix of natural beauty, pristine beaches, a vibrant culture on one side and poverty and drug-related violence on the other side. But it’s definitely worth exploring…
Where to start?
Probably in San Salvador, the infamous capital. It’s a miniature version of the country: drug gangs ruling the eastern neighborhoods, opulence dictating the western barrios including an excellent art museum. The country’s history is on full display, including the crypt of the murdered archbishop Oscar Romero. And the surrounding hills are great for walking.
Where should I definitely go?
San Salvador is literally the centre. All travels elsewhere can most easily be done from here. Go to the western highlands to visit the lovely village of Juayua and other towns on the Ruta de Flores / Flower Route. Southwards you can find stunning beaches in El Tunco or El Zonte for example. Northwards is Suchitoto, probably the cultural capital of El Salvador. And in the far southeast is another stretch of heavenly beaches around Playa El Cuco and Playa Esteron.
What other options are there?
Depends a bit what you want and where you are coming from / going to. Close to the flower route is Volcan Santa Ana, the entire region is good for hiking and partially mountainbiking as well. When you go to Suchitoto, you might also want to venture to La Palma, which is an artists hangout and where you can also do some serious hiking.
So what about getting there and getting around?
The easiest option for tourists is to take long-distance international buses to San Salvador and go onwards from there. But there are alternatives: El Tunco for example is served by minivans from Guatemala, and La Palma in the north is the first / last port before / after Honduras. And near the beaches in the southeast is La Union, which has an occasional boat service to Nicaragua so you can skip the Honduras border crossings.
| Location | 7 day trip | 15 day trip | 23 day trip |
| San Salvador | 2 days in city | 2 days in city 1 day hiking in hills 1 day surrounding villages |
2 days in city 1 day hiking in hills 1 day surrounding villages 1 day stop-over from Juayua/Tunco |
| Juayua | 1 day hiking 1 day travel & explore |
1 day hiking 1 day explore 2 days in Santa Ana region for hiking |
1 day hiking 1 day explore 3 days in Santa Ana region for hiking |
| El Tunco or El Zonte | 2 days beach | 4 days beach | 4 days beach |
| Suchitoto | – | 1 day walk around 1 day Hiking |
1 day walk around 1 day hiking 2 days in La Palma |
| Playa Esteron / La Union | – | – | 1 day travel 2 days beach 1 day La Union |
| Arrival / departure | 1 | 1 | 1 |
If you need help putting the different ‘building blocks’ together, don’t hesitate to reach out!