El Pital Peak
El Pital is the highest point in El Salvador. Interestingly, although it is 2,730 meters above sea level, the road to the top of El Pital is quite easy for tourists. It only takes about an hour and a half to conquer El Pital and along the way, you will see beautiful scenery such as green hills, wild forests and ancient villages. In addition, you can ask the locals to guide you to visit Pira Rajada, a split rock with a very magical scene.
The ancient village of Joya de Cerén
Joya de Cerén is an ancient Mayan village preserved in the volcanic ash of Laguna Caldera. Since its excavation, UNESCO has recognized Joya de Cerén as a world natural heritage.
Wandering through this ancient village, visitors will discover houses, workshops and baths that are a replica of the Mesoamerican civilization Pompeii from 595 AD. The museum at Joya de Cerén is also worth a visit if you are curious to learn more about the Mayan civilization.
Ataco Town
In the northwest of El Salvador is the city of Santa Ana, the third largest city after the capital San Salvador and the city of San Miguel. And just about an hour's drive south of Santa Ana is the town of Ataco, famous for its murals.
The walls of the colonial buildings that line Ataco’s cobbled streets are lavishly decorated with stories from the town’s tragic history. Some murals mention the 1932 peasant massacre, in which hundreds of coffee farmers were killed. Portraits of Che Guevara and Mother Theresa also appear on the walls.
During the day, visitors can admire Ataco Street as an art exhibition, and at night, they can join in the parties, watching street artists perform with extremely vibrant sounds.
Cerro Verde National Park
Cerro Verde is a national park with a lot of wildlife and is located very close to the Santa Ana volcano. Thus, if you climb to the top of Santa Ana, visitors can see the entire Cerro Verde National Park, admire the shimmering blue lake called Coatepeque. In Cerro Verde National Park, there are many rare animals such as Armadillo (a type of shelled animal called a sheep), rodents typical of El Salvador or Motmot bird with colorful blue feathers.
Guazapa Historic Site
From the capital San Salvador, about a 40-minute drive north, visitors will reach the historical site of Guazapa. To learn more about Guazapa, you can hire a tour guide who is a former soldier, they will introduce Guazapa in full and detail, because this was where they lived and fought during the civil war.
In Guazapa, visitors will see the remains of a field hospital and war relics scattered on the side of the volcano, giving a better understanding of the devastation caused by war. Visitors can also climb to the top of a wooden watchtower for views of Lake Thatitlán and the town of Suchitoto.
Suchitoto Town
The town of Suchitoto is about 50 km northeast of the capital San Salvador. Here, visitors will see ancient buildings dating back to the time when El Salvador was a Spanish colony. The town also has museums and art galleries with many rare artifacts.
Besides the town, visitors can also explore some beautiful waterfalls, natural caves or go to Suchitlán lake to admire flowers and see some rare birds.
Conchagua Volcano
Conchagua is a volcano in southeastern El Salvador, overlooking the Gulf of Fonseca. The mountain is surrounded by a forest called Bosque Conchagua. Visitors can see many colorful birds that are iconic to El Salvador.
Standing on the top of Conchagua, visitors can also admire an extremely romantic scene with wide, blue sea, long white sand beaches and rugged, mysterious islands.
Las las Flores Beach
For beach lovers, Las las Flores is the place to be. It is considered one of the best beaches and surfing spots in Central America.
Surrounded by cliffs and golden sands overlooking the Pacific Ocean, Las las Flores offers a romantic setting. If you want to surf, you should visit between December and February, as the waves are quite gentle. During June and July, the sea can be rougher and unsafe for surfing.
The palm-fringed Las las Flores also has a very comfortable eco-resort. In addition, visitors can visit the sea turtle farm and learn more about the wildlife of many rare animals in El Salvador.
Gulf of Fonseca
The islands that make up the Gulf of Fonseca can only be described as paradise. If Vietnam is proud of Ha Long Bay, El Salvador also attracts many tourists thanks to the Gulf of Fonseca.
Coming to the Gulf of Fonseca, visitors will admire the pristine forests, enjoy fresh fish caught right on the boat while pelicans fly overhead. It is truly a romantic scene of the Gulf of Fonseca in the Pacific Ocean.
