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30 Fascinating Must-See Places in El Salvador

El Salvador, officially the Republic of El Salvador, is a country in Central America. El Salvador basks in a tapestry of diverse landscapes, rich history, and vibrant culture. From the misty peaks of Santa Ana Volcano to the sun-kissed beaches of El Tunco, this small yet captivating country offers a myriad of experiences waiting to be explored. El Salvador’s rich history is woven into the very fabric of its land. Discover the remnants of ancient Mayan civilizations at Joya de Cerén, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and marvel at the majestic pyramids of Tazumal, remnants of a once-thriving metropolis.

Immerse yourself in the vibrant cities of El Salvador, where colonial architecture blends seamlessly with modern life. Stroll along the cobblestone streets of Suchitoto, a charming colonial town, and admire the grandeur of the Santa Ana Cathedral, a masterpiece of Spanish colonial architecture. Nature lovers will find themselves in paradise amidst El Salvador’s breathtaking natural beauty. Hike through the lush cloud forests of Cerro Verde National Park, where waterfalls cascade and wildlife thrives. Read more to discover 30 fascinating must-see places in  El Salvador.

1. Devil’s Door (Puerta del Diablo)

Puerta Del Diablo is a peak located to the southeast 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. 

Devil’s Door is one of El Salvador’s most popular rock-climbing sites, with dozens of established routes for all levels of climbers. A quick hike to the top is completely worth the view, especially if you go late in the evening near dusk. The sunset to the west, lake Ilopango to the east, the Pacific Ocean to the south and El Volcan de San Salvador to the north make the view absolutely beautiful. Guests to Devil’s Door can also decide to take a canopy tour, go zip-lining, explore the nearby caves, or even rappel down the cliff’s face.

2. El Boquerón National Park

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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 kilometres in diameter and 558 meters deep. In addition, there is a small crater within the crater named Boqueroncito meaning little Boquerón. El Boquerón has a cool temperate climate all year round.

The park is home to many plant species identified as ornamentals such as cartuchos, hydrangeas, begonias and wild sultanas. There is wildlife such as armadillos, raccoons, deer, and foxes. The park features a visitors’ centre and short hiking trails up the side and along the rim of the crater.

3. Joya de Cerén

Joya de Cerén is an archaeological site in La Libertad Department, El Salvador, featuring a pre-Columbian Maya farming village. The ancient Maya site of Joya de Cerén is located in the Zapotitán Valley, 36 kilometres northwest of San Salvador, El Salvador. It is often referred to as the Pompeii of the Americas, in comparison to the famed Ancient Roman ruins.

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 site was thought to have been settled between AD 200 and AD 600. Joya de Cerén was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1993 for its archaeological importance and is a major tourist attraction in El Salvador.

4. Tazumal

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Tazumal is a pre-Columbian archaeological 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 artefacts from the complex date to the 8th century AD and are among the earliest metal artefacts reported from Mesoamerica.

5. Cerro Verde National Park

Cerro Verde National Park is a large national park in El Salvador. The park includes three volcanoes: Cerro Verde, Izalco, and Santa Ana. The park offers pleasant temperatures and 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.

At 2,030 meters above sea level, the park is also an excellent place for bird watching, and for walking on trails, picnics and outdoor games. Many animals find refuge in this reserve, registering about 127 species of birds. There are three trails that can be taken, accompanied by a guide: one that leads to the Santa Ana volcano, another to the Izalco volcano, and one that runs through the park.

6. Lake Coatepeque

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Lake Coatepeque is a large crater lake in the east part of the Coatepeque Caldera. It is in Coatepeque municipality, Santa Ana, El Salvador. There are hot springs near the lake margins. 

At 26 square kilometres, Lake Coatepeque is one of the largest lakes in El Salvador. In the lake is the island of Teopan, which was a Mayan site of some importance.

7. 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 on the west side of the country, includes a group of picturesque towns where is possible to appreciate the local and peaceful life of Salvadorean people.  

This scenic destination has a long, winding road that snakes along lush green hillsides and coffee plantations, connecting the colourful towns that dot the countryside. During spring, vibrant flowers bloom in every colour along the route giving la Ruta de las Flores its name.

8. Suchitoto

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Suchitoto is a municipality in the Department of Cuscatlán, El Salvador that has seen continuous human habitation long before Spanish colonization. Suchitoto also happens to be one of the most well-preserved colonial cities in the country. 

Suchitoto is also one of the most charming towns in all of El Salvador. Surrounded by dense jungle and a massive lake, its tranquil scenery makes it the perfect place to escape the chaos of San Salvador.

9. Santa Ana

Santa Ana is the second largest city in El Salvador, after the capital of San Salvador. Santa Ana is the capital city of the coffee-rich department of Santa Ana, in western El Salvador. The towering neo-Gothic Santa Ana Cathedral and the ornate Santa Ana National Theater are on the main square, Parque Libertad.

A major processing centre for El Salvador’s sizable coffee bean industry is located near Santa Ana. Santa Ana has become a tourist destination, especially for tourists eager to learn about Salvadoran culture and traditions.

10. El Tunco

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El Tunco is a tiny beach town on the West Coast of El Salvador, gaining popularity amongst backpackers and surfers around the world. The love, hospitality, and the spirit of being serviceable from the local people make the destination more welcoming to the visitors. This surfing community offers everything you can imagine for a spectacular trip.

Visited by hundreds of local and foreign tourists weekly, this beach wasn´t always a tourist attraction since back in the seventies and eighties. It has become a must-go destination for international surfers and for those who seek to immerse themselves in the surfing culture. 

11. Parque Nacional El Imposible

Parque Nacional El Imposible is a tropical forest and a national park in El Salvador. It literally means The Impossible National Park in English. El Imposible was named for the perilous gorge which used to claim the lives of farmers and pack mules transporting coffee to the Pacific port. 

El Imposible sits in the Apaneca Ilamatepec Mountain Range between 300m and 1450m above sea level and includes eight rivers which feed the watershed for Barra de Santiago and the mangrove forests along the coast. The park is still home to an extraordinary variety of plant and animal life, including pumas, oncillas, wild boars, king hawks and black-crested eagles. The Pacific Ocean is visible from high points in the forest. In 1992 El Imposible was entered on the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative Lists, together with the Cara Sucia.

12. San Miguel

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San Miguel is a city in eastern El Salvador. San Miguel is known for some of its popular attractions, which include: an aqua park, Metrocentro San Miguel, Laguna Olomega, Cuevas de Moncagua and Catedral Basílica Nuestra Señora de la Paz. San Miguel is famous for its nightlife along Roosevelt Avenue, the main thoroughfare that slices the city in half.

The San Miguel Carnival being the final and main event that takes place on the last Saturday of the month is considered the biggest entertainment, music and food festival in El Salvador and one of the largest in Central America.

13. Ruta de Paz

Ruta de Paz translated to mean the peace route tour,  is a travel in time to the 80s when El Salvador suffered a civil war and east provinces suffered more during those years, for many years Morazan was only visited by soldiers or guerrilla forces, and many big battles took place in this area.

After the peace agreement, almost all the original inhabitants returned to their lands and now many of them work on tourism and are happy to share their stories with visitors, and this is what makes this tour a unique experience. The scenic route along the Pacific coast of El Salvador offers stunning views of the ocean, beaches, and coastal towns.

14. La Palma

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La Palma is a municipality in the Chalatenango department of El Salvador. This colourful town displays houses painted with naive designs, very typical of the area. This technique was created by Fernando Llort, one of the most recognized national and international Salvadoran artists.

As part of the experience that the destination offers, visitors to the town are often asked to put their painting skills to the test. The town offers many attractions such as the handicraft market, where handicrafts in wood, leather, ceramics, seeds, and cotton fabric are made. La Palma is the starting point to various destinations in the upper area of Chalatenango, such as El Pital and Miramundo.

15. Conchagua

Conchagua is a municipality in the La Unión department of El Salvador. It contains the Conchagua volcano. The Conchagua Volcano is the only one in the coastal area of El Salvador and in Central America. 

According to historians, the volcano was settled by the Lenca civilization, who worshipped the goddess Comizahual, an indigenous Jaguar Princess.

16. Lake Ilopango

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Lake Ilopango is the largest lake in El Salvador, of volcanic origin and ideal for diving, paddle surfing, kayaking, jet skiing, swimming, boating, fishing and swimming. The lake´s shoreline and surroundings offer the best thematic restaurants with spectacular views. 

The local military airbase, Ilopango International Airport, has annual airshows where international pilots from all over the world fly over San Salvador City and Ilopango Lake.

17. San Salvador Volcano

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San Salvador Volcano dominates the landscape of El Salvador’s capital city of San Salvador. The lavas of the Boquerón edifice contain more alkali elements and iron oxide than the lavas of the older edifice.

Around 800 years ago, the present-day crater was formed in a violent explosion. A trip to the top of Volcan San Salvador and El Boqueron National Park is a must if visiting San Salvador.

18. Catedral Metropolitana

Catedral Metropolitana is the main church of the Catholic Archdiocese of San Salvador, in El Salvador. It serves as the seat of the metropolitan archbishop, it was built between 1956 and 1999, with Byzantine and Romanesque styles preserved. The architecture is impressive, even compared with cathedrals and churches in the rest of Central America.

This enormous cathedral is located directly off Plaza Barrios. It’s free to enter for everyone and has two levels. The lower level is the crypt which contains the remains of notable individuals and a tribute to Monsenor Romero, a priest who was brutally assassinated in the early days of the civil war in 1980 for criticising the government. The second level is the church proper which features a massive dome. This cathedral is a must-visit while in downtown El Salvador.

19. Monumento al Divino Salvador del Mundo

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Monumento al Divino Salvador del Mundo is a monument located on Plaza El Salvador del Mundo in San Salvador City, El Salvador. It consists of a statue of Jesus Christ standing on top of a global sphere of planet Earth, placed on top of the tall four-sided concrete base pedestal. It is a landmark located in the country’s capital San Salvador. It is a symbol that identifies and represents both El Salvador and Salvadorans throughout the world.

The monument is the focal point of the Savior of the World Plaza near downtown San Salvador. The structure was designed by José María Villaseñor, and officially built as previously stated in November 1942. Sadly, the statue was heavily damaged in the San Salvador earthquake that happened in 1986, however, it was rebuilt and put back in place.

20. Teatro Nacional de San Salvador

Teatro Nacional de San Salvador began construction in 1911, by the French architect Daniel Beylard; and was inaugurated in 1917. It is of French Renaissance style with modern touches. It was decorated by the Italian architect Lucio Cappellaro, and its Great Hall is one of the most beautiful and elegant in Central America.

Multiple architectural styles were enriched in the fusion of the construction of the National Theatre including Versailles Style, Rococo, Romanticism, and Art Nouveau, with regional touches. In 1979 it was declared a National Monument by the Legislative Assembly. Since then, it has maintained constant activity with theatre, music, dance, recitals, conferences, and acts of great importance in the political and cultural life of El Salvador. In 1992, the government of Japan presented a modern sound and light system to the theatre.

21. Museo Nacional de Antropología

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Museo Nacional de Antropología is a museum in El Salvador. It has an excellent range of Maya and Olmec statues and relics from ancient Cuscatlan, as well as Lenca artefacts from eastern El Salvador. 

Particularly compelling is the gallery examining rituals and beliefs concerning death in Mesoamerica; the traditional crafts displays are also enlightening. Most explanations are in Spanish and English.

22. Parque Cuscatlán

Parque Cuscatlán is a nice park where everyone can spend time in a relaxing atmosphere. Due to its location, it is one of the most popular places for relaxing. Important and attractive locations are around and inside the park, like the Monumento a la Memoria y la Verdad that is inside. 

In addition, near the park is the Tin Martins Museum. The Sala Nacional de Exposiciones which presents exhibitions of contemporary art is also in close proximity. It was so named in memory of the Señorío de Cuscatlán which the Spaniards encountered when they arrived in the territory they did not know. Under the shade of trees, its classic structure cohabits with contemporary interventions.

23. Mercado Central

Mercado Central is a good place to start your exploration in El Salvador. This community marketplace has free entry.

It’s a sprawling, seemingly chaotic warren of shouting vendors, blaring horns, and old women in traditional clothes chopping vegetables in the street. This is the place to visit if you want to see a slice of unfiltered El Salvadoran life.

24. Playa El Cuco

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Playa El Cuco is regarded as one of the favourite destinations in the eastern part of El Salvador. It´s well known for its very long beach of volcanic black sand, in which a trip to it is an adventure of its own collecting its multi-shape and multicoloured shells as one of the attractions.

The waves in this part of the country are smooth and constant. It invites you to take a dip in its refreshing waters, especially after sunbathing, playing a game of soccer or volleyball, jogging, walking, or flying a kite.

25. Juayúa

Juayúa is a city and municipality in the Sonsonate department of El Salvador. The town has become a tourist attraction locally and internationally due to its scenic views, and events, and for being part of the La Ruta de Las Flores tourist route.

The Juayua food festival attracts hundreds of national and international tourists; it is held outdoors in the Juayúa central square. Local restaurants offer traditional dishes, including chicken soup, pupusas, yuca with pork, tamales, and seafood.

26. Santa Tecla

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Santa Tecla is the most important city in the department of La Libertad. With a historical richness stamped on its colonial infrastructure that merges with modernity. The city can be walked through easily. Allowing all visitors to enjoy the old colonial-style architecture but also eclectic, neo-gothic, art nouveau, or neo-baroque houses, many of which were converted into shops.

This destination is surrounded by vegetation, thanks to which it enjoys pleasant weather most of the day. Many green landscapes can be spotted in both its urban and rural scenes. Being one of the most attractive, its route to the El Boquerón volcano, along which is a string of restaurants, bars, and beautiful cafes that offer a view of the city of San Salvador and Santa Tecla.

27. Santa Teresa Hot Springs

Santa Teresa Hot Springs has the Santa Teresa fumarole or hot water geyser, the largest in Central America. Trails, swimming pools, and the blue pond make this destination a great attraction for those who want to rest in the quietness of nature. The waters have a rejuvenating and healing effect, allowing visitors to relax and recharge. 

28. Tamanique Waterfalls

Tamanique Waterfalls are located in the municipality of Tamanique in La Libertad, El Salvador. They’re some of the best falls in the country. Made up of four main falls, Tamanique Waterfalls are easily reached by doing a short hike.

The waterfalls are nestled in the mountains and have different heights and degrees of difficulty to get to them, as they move downstream. The main one has a majestic fall of more than 40 meters. In addition, you can enjoy a  good swim in its pools, which invite you to cool off after the hike.

29. Iglesia El Rosario

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Iglesia El Rosario was 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. 

30. Torre Futura

Torre Futura is the highest tower of the complex at the World Trade Center San Salvador. It has 19 floors and is 92 meters high which also makes it the second-highest tower in El Salvador and third in Central America excluding Panama.

One of the main innovations of the Torre Futura is the implementation of a first-class shopping mall, called Plaza Futura, which has 3,000 square metres and has exclusive restaurants and a viewpoint from where you can see much of El Salvador. 

El Salvador’s rich history, diverse landscapes, and warm hospitality make it a captivating destination for travellers seeking a unique Central American experience. This unforgettable journey through El Salvador, where natural wonders intertwine with cultural treasures, creates an experience that will linger long after your departure.