El salvador
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El Salvador borders the Pacific Ocean in the south, and the countries of Guatemala to the west and Honduras to the north and east. The smallest country in Central America, the capital of the country and the largest city is San Salvador. The main cultural and commercial centers for Central America in general include Santa Ana, which is much more attractive, surrounded by coffee plantations and sugar cane fields and San Miguel. El Salvador is full of spectacular volcanoes and picturesque lakes, beautiful Pacific beaches, rainy and cloud forests and unique Mayan ruins, a modern and vibrant culture, perhaps the richest living cultural mix in the country, with its multitude of African-American artists. Caribbean: all combine to help Salvador be the most popular destination in the northeast, even if it is considered different from the rest of this region, in turn considered dangerous for tourists, this destination is perfect for an unusual experience.
Official language: Spanish language
What to do :
A must see is the jewel of the cerén, one of the most important archaeological finds of recent years, located about 50 miles from San Salvador. It is considered the Pompeii of America since this pre-Columbian settlement was buried in ashes approximately 1400 years ago.
Because El Salvador is so small, travelers are never far from the country's Pacific beaches. The water is over eighty degrees on average, the waves are perfect and the sands are rarely crowded. It is not surprising that surfers go to the beaches of El Salvador throughout the year, the favorites are La Libertad, Las Flores and Playa Herradura. The beaches of the Costa del Sol and San Juan del Gozo are better for those who do not surf, since they have soft white sands and quieter waters.
Four hours north of San Salvador, Montecristo National Park is a mysterious and beautiful cloud forest, located in the exact place where the borders of Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador are located. El Imposible National Park is another lovely natural destination: follow the 9 km hike to the highest point, Cerro León, to enjoy unforgettable views of volcanoes that still smoke.
Although El Salvador does not have the famous Mayan sites of Yucatan, Guatemala or Honduras, the sites here remain fascinating and beautiful places to explore. Chalchuapa is the largest and most interesting pyramid. He was "restored" when his presence was made public for the first time; Concrete has been poured over the stones to look like thousands of years ago. The effect is a bit disturbing if you expect to see a rough stone pyramid like Chichen Itza, but it's still a fascinating place worth seeing.
One of the favorite dishes "Pupusa"
You cannot leave El Salvador without eating a pupusa, and you will have to work hard to avoid them. Pupusas are served everywhere, from elegant restaurants to street carts, and you'll find a pupusa stand in each city. The corn dough (like the one used for tortillas) is wrapped around a stuffing of beans, cheese, meat or all three together. The ball is flattened in a thick pancake and grilled; The result is like a steroid quesadilla: delicious, sticky and delicious with the right amount of cheese burned outside. This is the best comfort food. It is usually covered with hot sauce and you can eat it with your hands while walking.
There is a great earthquake every 20 years in El Salvador, which means that most of the original colonial architecture in the country has been destroyed. However, there is a city that until now has been saved from destruction: Suchitoto. This charming city is full of boutique hotels, shops and restaurants located in colonial buildings that are over 200 years old. The small town is centered around the Church of Santa Lucia, and along the main square in front of the church, you will find delicious pupusas stalls.
El Salvador is a small country, but there are 26 volcanoes here, a third of which are active. Many are part of national parks that welcome visitors and hikers. On the outskirts of San Salvador, you can visit the El Boquerón crater with a short and easy hike to the edge, or a longer excursion navigating the crater. The crater is home to wildlife, such as white-tailed deer, exotic birds, ocelots, armadillos and lizards. Further from the city, Izalco is the youngest volcano in El Salvador and also welcomes visitors. At the nearby Santa Ana volcano, hikers can hire a guide for a strenuous hike to a perfectly blue crater lake.
Beyond stone pyramids, El Salvador is home to Joya de Cerén, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The site is a perfectly preserved Mayan town that was buried in volcanic ash and preserved forever—much like Pompei. Only a few of the structures have been excavated, but the site is an archaeological gold mine that gives visitors a peek into the mysterious daily life of the Mayan people.
Concepción de Ataco is a small town with cobblestone streets, some cafés and restaurants, and a tiny boutique But what really makes this town worth a visit is the street art: Almost every wall is covered with a colorful mural.
