|
|
|
|
Real
Estate Data |
Travel
Data |
|
|
|
|
Real
Estate Data |
Travel
Data |
To promote local tourism the El Salvador Tourist Commission has designated 15 Turicentros located around the country. These areas are for recreation and camping and provide basic facilities and very low entrance fees.
In and Around San Salvador
Los Chorros
Los Chorros is a series of large, refreshing natural pools fed, one pool to the next, by clear spring water from overhanging volcanic cliffs. This site is part of the Turicentros program and a favorite day trip for people from San Salvador as well as visitors. Visit during the week for complete relaxation.
Balboa Park
70 acres of lush flora, myriad birds, sloth and rabbits, the park is
12 kms from downtown San Salvador and is also a part of the Turicentros program. A skating
rink, soccer field, miles of meandering trails, good examples of pre-Colombian style
sculptures and many shaded picnic areas contribute to making this park a relaxing spot for
wiling away a day.
Several outdoor cafes offer the local corn cakes stuffed with meats and beans, cooked on a
grill and called pupusas.
(take bus #12 - Mil Cumbres on avenida 29 de Agosto and 12a Calle Poniente)
The Devil's Doorway
Two huge rocks on the edge of a deep precipice frame the view of the valley lying far below. The "doorway" is approximately 1km south of Balboa Park on the summit of Chulo Hill, 1,000 meters above sea level.
Los Planes Lookout Point
Located to the east of Balboa Park on the road that goes to the
Indian village of Panchimalco the lookout, on the edge of a deep gorge, offers one of the
most beautiful panoramic views of San Salvador with Ilopango Lake in the distance. A
cafeteria serves typical foods.
(take the same bus #12 for Balboa Park)
National Zoo
Considered the most modern zoo in Central America, it houses a large
collection of local and foreign fauna. The zoo is designed so that the animals enjoy a
habitat as close as possible their own natural one. Open every day except Mondays and
Tuesdays from 9am-5pm. A small fee is charged.
(take bus #2 on Cathedral west side)
Panchimalco Indian Village
According to historians, its name in Nahuat language means "site of flags and shields". The village site is located in a picturesque geological depression and archaeological finds indicate that it was an important area during pre-Colombian times. There is an interesting colonial church here that dates from 1725 and has been classified a national historical monument.
La Laguna Botanical Garden
Perhaps the only garden in the world to be located in the crater of
an extinct volcano. The 7 acre garden centers around a small lagoon centered in the
crater's bottom and is surrounded on the slopes by dense woods which act as windbrakes.
For more than a century Salvadoreans have devoted themselves to making these gardens a
place of beauty showcasing rare species of local and foreign plants.
Open Tuesday - Friday from 10am-5pm and weekends from 10am-6pm
David J. Gusman National Museum
Home of an interesting collection of pre-Columbian objects dating
from the pre-classic period of 1500 BC until late post-classic period, around 1200-1525
AD.
Open daily except Monday from 9am-12noon and 2pm-5pm. Admission free. (take bus #34 on 4a.
Calle Poniente and 7a Avenida Sur, 1/2 block south of Hotel Ritz)
San Salvador Volcano
Towering over the city that bears its name, the long dormant volcano offers spectacular views and opportunities to hike along well maintained trails into the crater itself.
Lago de Ilopango
Formed in a giant volcano crater the lake, at 15 km long, 8 km wide and 248 metres deep, is the largest lake in El Salvador and a popular spot for fishing, boating and swimming. A Turicentro is located in the village of Apulo located near the lake and offering restaurants, picnic spots and boating. Fresh lake fish is a local speciality in the many restaurants rimming the lake in the village and there are a few basic hotels.
Northern Highlands
Montecristo Cloud Forest (El Trifinio)
The 2,418 meter summit of Montecristo marks the point where the
borders of El Salvador, Honduras and Guatemala meet and is one of Central America's
largest and most magnificent cloud forests. Cooperatively protected by the 3 countries,the
forest contains a variety of micro-climates and possibly the greatest diversity of
wildlife in Central America.
Visiting times are only from October to March in order to allow the animals to breed in
peace and the parks remoteness is also attributed to the survival and flourishing of the
animals, many of which are rare species.
Beaches
One of the major tourism assets of the country, the Pacific coast, is only 30 minutes from the capital. The 188 mile black sand coastline begins with "Garita Palmera" near the Guatemalan border and continues south with the major hotel and golf developments of La Costa del Sol to the beautiful beaches of El Espino and El Cuco and the popular surfing beach of El Zunzal.
As part of the Mayan world, El Salvador has its share of impressive
pre-Columbian sites. Highlights include:
Tazumal: Part of the large Chalchuapa site, Tazumal comprises a group of
flat-topped stepped pyramids and is still being studied by historians.
Located 78km from San Salvador on the outskirts of the city of Chalchuapa.
Guija:Close to the Guatemala border on the Guija Lake. Many archaeological
treasures can still be found, untouched, on the lakeshore.
San Andres: Another group of stepped pyramids positioned between two rivers 36km
from San Salvador in the Zapotitan Valley.
Cihuatan: Ruins of cities cover an area of 4 square kilometers. A stone wall is
still standing that was originally one of the ball courts called Tlatchli.
Joya de Ceren: A pre-Columbian settlement that was buried under 5 meters of ashes
from the eruption of Laguna Caldera Volcano in 600 AD. The site was discovered in 1978.
Located 36kms from San Salvador.
Corinto: Consists of two caves situated on a broad plain 1 km north of the village
of Corinto. Prehistoric drawings about 10,000 years old can be seen on the cave walls.
