Central America
El Salvador
Continent
Best States to Visit
- -
Best Cities to Visit
- San Salvador
- La Union
- Chalchuapa
- San Miguel
- Santa Tecla
Size
21,041 KM2
Population
6,825,935
GDP
$536,772,356
Spending Budget
$600 - $1,200
Famous For
- Volcanos
- Local Food Like Pupasa
Best Time to Visit
- January
- February
- March
- December
History
El Salvador's economy has historically been dominated by agriculture, beginning with the Spanish taking control of the indigenous cacao crop in the 16th century, with production centered in Izalco, and the use of balsam from the ranges of La Libertad and Ahuachapan. This was followed by a boom in use of the indigo plant in the 19th century, mainly for its use as a dye. Thereafter the focus shifted to coffee, which by the early 20th century accounted for 90% of export earnings. El Salvador has since reduced its dependence on coffee and embarked on diversifying its economy by opening up trade and financial links and expanding the manufacturing sector.
Present Day
El Salvador ranks 14th among Latin American countries in terms of the Human Development Index and fourth in Central America partly because of ongoing rapid industrialization. However, at present, El Salvador has the highest level of equality in the Latin American and Caribbean region, only surpassed by Uruguay, and it is also the 34th happiest country in the world according to the world report on happiness and according to the Happy Planet Index, El Salvador is the seventeenth happiest country in the world
Future
El Salvador has signed a trade agreement with Mexico which will grant Salvadoran exports preferential access to Mexican markets. Trade agreements with the Dominican Republic and Chile should be ratified in 2001-02, which could help boost the economy. What is certain is that solid economic performance will depend on continued growth in the manufacturing and services sectors, whose expansion after the cease-fire helped fuel the post-war boom.
Parque Nacional El Boqueron
El Boquerón National Park is located on top of the San Salvador Volcano at 5,905 feet the park's main attraction is a crater five kilometers in diameter and 558 meters deep. In addition, there is a small crater within the crater named “Boqueroncito”. El Boquerón has a cool temperate climate year round. The park is home to many plant species identified as ornamentals. There is wildlife such as armadillos, raccoons, deer, foxes, among others. The park features a visitors' centre and short hiking trails up the side and along the rim of the crater.
Iglesia El Rosario
Designed by sculptor Ruben Martinez and completed in 1971, Iglesia El Rosario is radically beautiful. Arguably the finest church in Central America, its nondescript concrete exterior conceals an arched roof and a rainbow of natural light rushing across the altar and bouncing off the metal and rock. The father of Central American independence, Padre Delgado, is buried here – quite happily, we imagine.
Santa Ana Volcano
The Santa Ana Volcano or Ilamatepec is a large stratovolcano located in the Santa Ana department of El Salvador. At 2,381 metres above sea level, it is the highest volcano in the country. It is located immediately west of Coatepeque Caldera. The volcano was the inspiration for one of the active volcanoes in Antoine de Saint-Exupéry's famous French novella (The Little Prince), based on his life with his Salvadoran wife Consuelo de Saint Exupéry, who was The Rose in the story.
Joya de Ceren
Joya de Cerén is an archaeological site in La Libertad Department, El Salvador, featuring a pre-Columbian Maya farming village. This site is known for the excellent preservation of a Classic period settlement that was rapidly buried by the ashfall of an eruption of the Loma Caldera around AD 600. The relative abundance of paleoethnobotanical remains recovered at Joya de Cerén in comparison to other ancient Maya archaeological sites make Joya de Cerén particularly significant in the study of everyday life of ancient Maya agricultural communities. Joya de Cerén was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1993 for its archeological importance, and is a major tourist attraction in El Salvador.
Malecon Puerto de la Libertad
Get your hands on some fresh seafood as you walk through Malecon Puerto de la Libertad. Facing the Pacific Ocean, the port consists of a fish market and a plethora of restaurants. Bargain with local merchants to get the best price on your purchase or head to one of the local restaurants and indulge in some fresh marine cuisine. Also find local vendors selling souvenirs such as shells painted with pictures, jewelry, towels, and hammocks.
Jardin Botanico La Laguna
Moss-covered bridges, pebbled paths, small waterfalls and ponds home to croaking frogs, turtles and feeding fish provide the perfect antidote to city bustle. The botanical garden is located at the bottom of a volcanic crater where many Salvadoran plant species spring to life. Take bus 44 from the city center and ask the driver to let you off at 'Plan de la Laguna,' from where it’s a 1km downhill walk to the garden.
World Trade Center
World Trade Center San Salvador (WTCSS) is a complex of buildings located in San Salvador, El Salvador. It consists of 3 towers: two of 8 floors, each with 13,000 m² of profitable area for offices and the Torre Futura of 20 floors. The first two towers have maintained a 100% occupancy by multinational prestigious companies and embassies. El Salvador and Panama, are the only countries that have a World Trade Center in the Centroamerican region.
El Sunzal
The beach El Sunzal is almost certainly the beach where surfing was first practiced in El Salvador. One of its characteristics is the long-needed paddle to reach the main break point. It's more than 300 meters of effort needed along a friendly channel, which can nevertheless create a sideways strong current on days of big waves. The beach Sunzal has two perfectly defined parts: the “outside”, located at the furthest part of the coast, where a powerful wave is born which can run uninterrupted for almost 200 meters, offering an endless line and a wide wall to carry out all kinds of maneuvers, which invites and it's suitable for those who ride a longboard, short board or a boogie board. Then there is the “inside”, or middle part, which usually creates its own series of waves, or is a product of the outer wave.
Lago de Coatepeque
Caldera De Coatepeque is a volcanic caldera in El Salvador in Central America. The caldera was formed during a series of rhyolitic explosive eruptions between about 72,000 and 57,000 years ago. Since then, basaltic cinder cones and lava flows have formed near the west edge of the caldera, and six rhyodacite lava domes have formed. The youngest dome, Cerro Pacho, formed after 8000 BC.
Cerro Verde National Park
The Cerro Verde National Park is a beautiful park offering pleasant temperature, which has beautiful trails shaded by the most diverse species of plants and trees. Cerro Verde has a wonderful orchid garden, and spectacular viewpoints from which you can admire the majestic volcanoes of Izalco and Santa Ana, as well as Lake Coatepeque, and the towns such as Juayúa, Nahuizalco, and the historic Acajutla with its beautiful port. At 2,030 meters above sea level, the park is also an excellent place for bird watching, and for walking on trails, picnics, outdoor games, or simply to rest.
Devil's Door
Puerta Del Diablo is a peak located to the South East of San Salvador. Being of great significance to the Mayan Pipil people, it was a sacred site used for sacrifice rituals. It was named "The Devil's Door" by the Spanish Catholics who constantly opposed indigenous religious practice.
Art Museum of El Salvador
An impressive collection of sketches, paintings and installations track the development of prominent local artists including Fernando Llort, Rosa Mena Valenzuela and Rodolfo Molina; some of the larger contemporary works are outstanding. It’s up the hill behind the large Monumento a la Revolución. The museum is free on Sundays.
San Salvador Catedral
The national cathedral of El Salvador may not offer the same old-world architectural charms—like ornate stone work and detailed religious statues—of its European counterparts, but the iconic white Roman Catholic church is still a stunning monument and homage to San Salvador’s deeply religious roots. Once the site of a violent massacre where some 40 people were killed during a stampede at the funeral of Archbishop Oscar Romero, today the iconic structure offers a bit of peace and tranquility for visitors to this capital city.
Lake Ilopango
Lake Ilopango is a crater lake which fills an 8 by 11 km volcanic caldera in central El Salvador, on the borders of the San Salvador, La Paz, and Cuscatlán departments. The caldera, which contains the second largest lake in the country and is immediately east of the capital city, San Salvador, has a scalloped 100 m to 500 m high rim. Any surplus drains via the Jiboa River to the Pacific Ocean. An eruption of the Ilopango volcano is considered a possible source for the extreme weather events of 535–536. The local military airbase, Ilopango International Airport, has annual air shows where international pilots from all over the world fly over San Salvador City and Ilopango lake.
Chorros de la Calera
Hire a guide to take you down to the man made falls at Chorros de la Calera. Built to provide power for the nearby town, and utilizing the volcanic aspects of the area, the falls are set in dense forest. After your walk, cool off and bathe beneath the shower of water. The uneven terrain demands strong and sturdy footwear. Note that robbery has been reported here; bring a reliable local guide as the area is not attended by officials.
Volcan de Conchagua
Conchagua is a stratovolcano in southeastern El Salvador, overlooking the Gulf of Fonseca. Cerro del Ocote and Cerro de la Bandera are the two main summits, with Bandera appearing younger and more conical. There are active fumarolic areas on both peaks, but no confirmed historical eruptions.
La Palma
La Palma is a municipality in the Chalatenango department of El Salvador. The municipality, located in a mountainous area of the country, covers an area of 135.60 km² and as of 2006 had an approximate population of 24,000. It has historical importance since it played a fundamental role as a site for negotiations and battles between guerrillas and the government during the Civil War of El Salvador. Much of the municipality is mountainous and has a thriving artisan community. It is one of the most notable centres of craft in the country and the revenue generated from crafts through tourism and exports are crucial to the economy.
Suchitoto
Suchitoto is a municipality in the Department of Cuscatlán that has seen continuous human habitation long before Spanish colonization. Within its municipal territory, Suchitoto holds the site of the original founding of the Villa of San Salvador that existed for a short time before the site was abandoned. It has become an important tourist destination partly due to its well conserved colonial architecture and cobblestone roads that provide a sense of Spanish colonial living. This rise in tourism has attracted service sector businesses to open up in the small city including hostels, restaurants, and picturesque cafes. As a result of this, many arts and cultural spaces have opened up that are also providing positive alternative opportunities for youth in the community.
Tazumal
Tazumal is a pre-Columbian Maya archeological site in Chalchuapa, El Salvador. Tazumal is an architectural complex within the larger area of the ancient Mesoamerican city of Chalchuapa, in western El Salvador. The Tazumal group is located in the southern portion of the Chalchuapa archaeological zone. Archaeologist Stanley Boggs excavated and restored the Tazumal complex during the 1940s and 1950s. Archaeological investigations indicate that Tazumal was inhabited from the Classic period through to the Postclassic and that the site had links as far afield as central Mexico, the northern Yucatán Peninsula and lower Central America. Metal artifacts from the complex date to the 8th century AD and are among the earliest metal artifacts reported from Mesoamerica.
Ruta de las Flores
Ruta de las Flores is one of the most famous and visited destinations in El Salvador. Hidden along the Apaneca hills in the west side of the country, includes a group of picturesque towns where it is possible to appreciate the local and peaceful life of salvadoran people and each one with particularities which make it special and provide different flavors during the visits. The climate of this region is fresh, being one of the main reasons that both national and international travelers seek this destination. Local traditions, an important coffee culture, adventure activities, delicious restaurants and local markets are some of the attractions you can enjoy in the area.
Costa del Sol
La Costa del Sol El Salvador is a beach area located in the department of La Paz; it has an extension of 15 square kilometers. La Costa del Sol has exceptional beaches, vast cuisine options, a relaxing atmosphere, and plenty of activities to enjoy. This beach area is one of the most visited in the country, and for good reasons. La Costa del Sol has pristine beaches with vast activities for all types of visitors to enjoy. Also, visitants can savor the tasty gastronomy, go souvenir shopping, and simply enjoy the fun atmosphere.
El Tunco
El Tunco is a little surf village in El Salvador. It is located 8km west of Puerto La Libertad, 35km from the capital San Salvador and 35km from San Salvador airport. Only a few years ago this place was unknown and quiet, but is now the most visited town of El Salvador - by backpackers and surfers all year long, and by Salvadorians on the weekends for the nightlife. There are now around 20 hostels, bars, restaurants and everything needed to practice surfing. Playa El Tunco, a beautiful black sand beach, is actually the gateway to surfspot El Sunzal, and is a few kilometers away from El Zonte and Punta Roca, 2 other famous surf spots.
San Miguel
San Miguel is a city in eastern El Salvador. It’s known for its huge San Miguel Carnival in November, honoring Nuestra Señora de la Paz (Our Lady of Peace). The red-steepled Catedral Basílica Nuestra Señora de la Paz is on central Parque David J. Guzmán. The active San Miguel Volcano, also called Chaparrastique, is southwest of the city. Trails leading to the summit offer views of the city and coast.
Playa El Cuco
El Cuco is a quintessential beach with dark sands, lined with vendor huts, seafood restaurants and shaggy palms in El Salvador. El cuco Town is the biggest town in the area, but the town's very small and quiet, the only activity is the fishing and a very quiet tourism, most of it during the weekends.
Ruta de Paz
As its name implies, the Ruta de la Paz, or Peace Route, traces a geographical narrative of the civil war, which divided families and communities across El Salvador. It is centred in the department of Morazán in the east of the country, a region which was a guerrilla stronghold during that conflict. The route connects a number of towns and communities which played significant roles in the war.